Ephraim Alnaqua

Rabbi Ephraim ben Israel Alnaqua (1359–1442) (also, "Al-Nakawa", "Al-Nakava", "Ankava", "Ankoa", "Enkaoua", "Alnucawi", etc., Hebrew: "נקוה", "אלנאקוה", "אנקווה", "אנקאווא") was a physician, rabbi, theological writer, and founder of the Jewish community at Tlemçen (Algeria), where he died in 1442.

According to a legend, Alnaqua escaped from the Spanish Inquisition, which had martyred his father (Rabbi Israel Ben Joseph Alnaqua) Above the rabbi's chair, on which a verse from the Book of Jeremiah is engraved: "A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary" (Jeremiah 17:12, Hebrew: ירמיהו יז יב) and a lamp burns there perpetually. Alnaqua's grave, surrounded by those of his family, is in the old cemetery: it is sacred to North African Jews, and by pilgrims from all Algeria. He is also venerated by Moroccan Jews.

Alnaqua had two sons, Israel and Judah. The latter lived at Oran, Mostaganem, and, later, at Tlemçen, and became the father-in-law of the son of Solomon ben Simon Duran. Alnaqua wrote for his elder son Israel Shaar Kevod Adonai (Entrance to the Glory of God), containing answers to the criticisms of Nahmanides on the Moreh of Maimonides. Manuscripts of this work exist in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. He also wrote some hymns.

Other family members Israel Alnaqua Jacky N'Kaoua, aka Papi Jacky

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim, s.v.; Benjacob, Oẓar ha-Sefarim, p. 599; Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. Nos. 939, 2; 1258, 2; Revue Africaine, 1870, pp. 377–383; Zunz, Z. G. p. 435; idem, Literaturgesch. p. 524.