David Encaoua's article published in Généalo-J (no. 135, Autumn 2018) constitutes the most direct contribution to the history of the family lineage.
While working on the genealogy of his lineage, he brought to light four “conveyors of Jewish thought”: Israël Al-Naqua (†1391, author of the Menorat HaMaor), Ephraïm Al-Naqua (1359-1442, author of the Sha'ar Kevod Hashem), Abraham Ankawa (1812-1890, author of the Keren Hemer), and Raphaël Encaoua (1848-1935, first president of the High Rabbinical Court of Morocco).
The concept of the “conveyor of Jewish thought” is at the heart of David Encaoua's article. It designates an individual who, at a pivotal moment in history, takes on the responsibility of transmitting the intellectual and spiritual heritage of Judaism to the next generation, while adapting it to new circumstances. He is not a mere copyist or compiler: he is a creator who, in receiving a tradition, transforms and enriches it. Each of the four conveyors identified by David Encaoua illustrates this dynamic: Israël Al-Naqua made the Torah accessible to the people; Ephraïm defended the philosophy of Maïmonide; Abraham codified rabbinic law; Raphaël unified the jurisdiction of Moroccan Judaism.