Dictionary of Jewish Biography. Dan Cohn-Sherbok.
ALSHEKH, MOSES — (d. after 1593), rabbi and Bible commentator, born in Adrianople. He studied in Salonika under Joseph Taitaẓak and Joseph caro , and then emigrated to Ereẓ Israel, settling in Safed, where he gained prominence as an halakhic authority, a teacher… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
VITAL, ḤAYYIM BEN JOSEPH — (1542–1620), one of the greatest kabbalists. Vital was born in Ereẓ Israel, apparently in Safed. His father, Joseph Vital Calabrese, whose name indicates his origin from Calabria, South Italy, was a well known scribe in Safed (see responsa of… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
LURIA, ISAAC BEN SOLOMON — (1534–1572), kabbalist, referred to as Ha Ari (האר״י; the (sacred) lion from the initials of האלוהי רבי יצחק; Ha Elohi Rabbi Yiẓḥak, the divine Rabbi ). This cognomen was in use by the end of the 16th century, apparently at first in kabbalistic… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
WALDEN, AARON BEN ISAIAH NATHAN — (1838–1912), ḥasidic author and bibliographer in Poland. Born in Warsaw, Walden was a Ḥasid of R. Menahem Mendel of Kotsk and R. Isaac Meir Alter of Gur. For many years he worked as proofreader at Ephraim Baumritter s publishing house in Warsaw.… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
ANGEL, MEIR BEN ABRAHAM — (c. 1564–c. 1647), rabbi and preacher. Angel was born in Sofia, where his father was a communal leader. His family immigrated to Safed in his youth and there he studied under samuel uceda , Eleazar Ascari, and Ḥayyim Vital ; he also mentions… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
RESPONSA — (Heb. שְׁאֵלוֹת וּתְשׁוּבוֹת; lit. queries and replies ), a rabbinic term denoting an exchange of letters in which one party consults another on a halakhic matter. Such responsa are already mentioned in the Talmud, which tells of an inquiry… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
SHELUḤEI EREẒ ISRAEL — (Heb. emissaries of Ereẓ Israel ), the name for messengers from Ereẓ Israel sent abroad as emissaries to raise funds. During the patriarchate after the destruction of the Second Temple, emissaries were sent in groups (TJ, Hor. 3:7, Pes. 4:8);… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
HOMILETIC LITERATURE — The scope of this article extends from the Middle Ages to modern times (for the talmudic period see midrash , aggadah , and preaching ) and deals with the nature of the homily and works in the sphere of homiletic literature. For a discussion of… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
DAMASCUS — DAMASCUS, capital of Syria; in olden times a caravan center at an oasis in Southern Syria, on the principal crossroads between Mesopotamia Syria and Palestine Transjordan. In the Bible The name appears as דַּמֶּשֶׂק Dammesek (but once as… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
PRINTING, HEBREW — pre modern period The first mention of Jews in connection with printing is found in Avignon c. 1444 (before Gutenberg) when a Jew, Davin de Caderousse, studied the new craft. The first Hebrew books were printed at least within 35 years after the… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
