Mourad Farag Lichaa

1867-1956

He was born in 1867 in a family whose hereditary occupation was goldsmithing. His father meant him to follow this tradition and provided with no formal general schooling, but Farag nevertheless proceeded to educate himself, studying both Hebrew and Arabic, as well as jurisprudence, and eventually qualifying as attorney at law (Arabic muhamy). In this profession he distinguished himself in a number of prominent  legal cases,  including that of a Jew accused of ritual murder. 

The reputation thus acquired led to his service as legal counsel to the Karaite Beth Din as well as to the reigning Khedive “Abbas Hilmi”  (up to the latter’s abdication in 1914) and won him the friendship of the Rabbanite chief rabbi of Egypt Hayyim Nahum.

From Mr. el Kodsi personal recollections of Mourad Farag it appears that the latter was blessed with a most attractive personality, and gained the respect and affection of all those who came in contact with him.  He died in 1956.