Rabbi Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari, known as the "Saba Kadisha" (the holy grandfather), was born in Constantinople around 1826 (some say as early as 1820), the son of Rabbi Yaakov Alfandari, of a rabbinic family tracing its descent to Betzalel ben Uri; his grandfather, Rabbi Chaim Alfandari, wrote Maggid MeReishit. A few years after his marriage he began taking young orphans into his home and raising them.

Around 1852 he became a teacher at the yeshiva of the notable Avraham Fua in Constantinople, refusing any salary higher than the avreichim's stipend. In 1895 the community of Damascus, with the pasha's approval, chose him as Chacham Bashi (chief rabbi), a post he held for twenty years, until after the First World War. Later invited by the sages of Safed to restore peace there, he became its chief rabbi.

A great kabbalist and halachic authority, known for his strict rulings and uncompromising devotion to tradition, he strongly encouraged marriage, refusing to receive bachelors and sending them away with the advice to marry. His responsa were published as She'elot uTeshuvot Maharsha Alfandari.

He passed away on 22 Iyar 5690 (1930) at a very great age; tradition speaks of more than a hundred years. He rests on the Mount of Olives.