XVIth century CE

Italian physician born in Naples, active in Venice in the first half of the sixteenth century, who gained high reputation in the Christian world through his Latin translations of Hebrew philosophical…

Dayan in Egypt around 1600, later known as "Ba'al ha-Nes" (the man of the miracle): having become blind, then suspected of accepting bribes, he called heaven to witness his innocence before the…

Chief Rabbi of Bohemia, head of yeshiva and liturgist, died in Prague on 7 October 1542. He wrote a supercommentary on Rashi to the Pentateuch and glosses on the four Ṭurim, part of which was printed…

Jewish favorite of the sultana Baffa, wife of Murad III and mother of Mohammed III, died in 1600. Widow of Elias Chandali, she owed her influence to the protection of Baffa; a firman of Osman II of…

German author and translator, born in the Breisgau in 1555 and died in 1598. Having left for Frankfurt am Main in 1583, he had to flee the city because of the plague and composed on the way his "Ohel…

Egyptian rabbi and Kabbalist, born before 1572 and died in 1659. He studied under Moses ha-Cohen, head of the yeshiva of Egypt, alongside notably David Conforte, one of his fellow students.

Moravian rabbi, born in Cracow around 1600 and died in Mikulov on January 2, 1661. A student of Joël Sirkes, author of the "Bet Ḥadash", he opened with his permission a yeshiva that notably trained…

Spanish rabbi and scholar of the sixteenth century. Wishing to go to the Holy Land, he stopped in Tripoli, where he found the Jewish community so disorganized that he judged it more meritorious to…

Italian rabbi and physician, born on 3 February 1679 in Ferrara and died on 16 November 1756. Trained notably in Padua, where he studied medicine and philosophy, then in Mantua for his rabbinic…

A figure who presented himself as the precursor of the Messiah, appearing in Istria, near Venice, in 1502, announcing the imminent coming of the Messiah that same year if the Jews repented and…

Scholar, rabbi, and Italian poet, born in Venice on April 23, 1571, son of Isaac of Modena, and died in the same city on March 24, 1648. A precocious child, he translated into Hebrew verse, at twelve…

Provençal Jew, author, under the pseudonym of Labi ha-Levi — for fear of being condemned by the orthodox — of a Purim parody entitled « Megillat Setarim » (Venice, 1552), divided into three sections…

Rabbi and Venetian writer, critic of the Kabbalah and author of Riti ebraici.

Spanish Talmudist, active in the mid-sixteenth century, author of the « Leḥem Yehudah », commentary on the Pirḳe Avot, and the « Derush 'al ha-Neshamah », treatise on the soul, published together in…

Seven tombs of seven brothers buried side by side in Todra. Their first names are unknown and the name « Asklilila » would be of Berber origin; the time of their lives as that of their death is…

Decisor of Jerusalem, famous for his opposition to the project to restore rabbinic ordination (semikha) launched in Safed. Son of a rabbi who fled from Portugal.

Rabbi of Fez among the signatories of the Haskamah relating to the Nefiha, dated 18 Sivan 5291 (1531). Member of the rabbinic body of Fez in the first half of the sixteenth century.

Rabbi and scholar of the 16th century, born in Smyrna, he directs the academy 'Eẓ Ḥayyim in Salonika before settling in Venice, where he distinguishes himself as a preacher versed in philosophy,…

Physician and German financier born in Prague, active in Berlin in the sixteenth century, financial adviser and administrator of Jewish affairs for Elector Joachim II. After the sudden death of the…

German rabbi and kabbalist born in Frankfurt am Main in 1555, died in Worms in July 1636, descended from the family of Rashi. Educated in Frankfurt and then in Kraków under Menahem Mendel, he…

Court physician, in the service of Queen Elizabeth I of England, born in Portugal around 1525 and executed on 7 June 1594 for plotting to poison the queen. Settled in London in 1559, he becomes a…

French silk manufacturer, established in Venice. In 1587, he went to Rome to develop the manufacture of silk, whose monopoly, according to a process perfected by him, was granted to him for sixty…

Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, chief rabbi of Prague, original thinker and legendary figure. His philosophical and ethical work anticipates modern themes (human dignity, education). The legend of the…

Greek rabbi

Rabbi, 16th century. Mentioned in 5286 of the Hebrew era (1526). Son of Shmuel. Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 82-1.

Turkish rabbi, active at the end of the 16th century in Salonika, where he directs the yeshiva. Several reputed rabbis are among his students, including Joseph Florentin, Abraham Falcon, and his own…

Rabbi of Fes, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 82-4.

Bohemian Talmudist of the 16th century, born in Prague. He is the author of several commentaries: « Teḥillat Dibre Shemuel » on the Targum of Esther (Prague, 1594 or 1601 according to…

Hungarian author, converted to Christianity in 1534. He dedicates to his godfather, George, margrave of Brandenburg, his work « Dass Jesus Christus Sey das Ewig Wort » (1536), and also publishes «…

Italian physician, died in Damascus in 1549; his parents, originally from Tortosa (Spain), left the country during the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Trained in medicine and philosophy at Padua and…

Austrian commentator, active in Lemberg at the end of the 16th century. He publishes an ethical discourse on the Shema, « Petil Tekelet » (Prague, 1618), in three parts devoted to the love of God, to…

Italian liturgical poet, active in Ferrara in the 16th century, whose name « Dato » is the Italian equivalent of « Nathan ». He adds notes to Samuel Gallico's « 'Asis Rimmonim » (Venice, 1601);…

Converted to Christianity in the first half of the sixteenth century, born around 1500 in Regensburg, son of rabbi Jacob Margolioth, died in Vienna; baptized in 1522 at Wasserburg, he teaches Hebrew…

Galician rabbi, born in Przemysl around 1550, died in Opatów in 1606. Trained in Talmud under his uncle R. Ẓebi and Solomon Louria, he was rabbi of Bełżyce then, after a private retreat in Vladimir,…

Turkish rabbinical scholar, active in Salonika in the 16th century, died prematurely. He left several works, two of which were published in Salonika in 1597: sermons, « She'erit Ya'aḳob », and a…

Rabbi of Salonika in the 16th century, uncle of Jacob ben Salomon Matalon. A reputed Talmudist, also versed in secular sciences according to his colleague Samuel di Modena, who often cites him in his…

Rabbi of Lublin, in Poland, in the second half of the 16th century. Having obtained in 1556, thanks to the favour of the starost of Lublin, land adjoining his house, he rendered it fit for the…

Rabbi and maggid of Belgrade, died in Safed after travels in Europe.

Scribe and printer in Mantua, died in November 1583. Versed in the Talmud and friend of Moïse Provençal, he wrote forty-three scrolls for Italian communities between 1541 and 1582, including the…

Italian Talmudist and grammarian (?) of the 16th century, whose family name appears to have been "Meïri", always designated as "Meïr le-Bet Meïr". He is the author of the "Yaïr Natib" (Sabbioneta,…

Moravian Talmudist, born in Ungarisch-Brod in 1593. Known for his « Megillat R. Meïr » (Cracow, 1632), where he recounts the adventure — which earns him the surname « Ḳadosh » (saint or martyr) —…

Rabbi of Lublin (the Maharam), author of the Talmudic commentary Meir Einei Chakhamim.

Rabbi of Meknès, sixteenth century. Died in 5283 of the Hebrew era (1523). Son of Pinhas, himself son of Daniel. Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 80-4.

Rabbi and poet born in Spain around 1550, he translated part of the psalms into Spanish verse, which earned him being suspected by the Inquisition and imprisoned. Acquitted in 1611 after several…

Member of the rabbinical family Egozi of Constantinople (16th–17th c.). Author of the Gal shel Egozim, a super-commentary on Rashi's commentary on the Torah, printed in Constantinople.

Chief Rabbi of Moravia at Nikolsburg, author of the Tzemach Tzedek responsa.

Italian rabbi

Poet and commentator, probably a student of Mordecai Comtino of Constantinople, active in the 15th and 16th centuries in Adrianople or Philippopolis. He wrote commentaries on Proverbs, Ruth and…

Rabbi, masorete and poet, connected to the kabbalistic circle of Safed and Jerusalem.

Polish rabbi and author of the sixteenth century, student of Moses Isserles. He devotes his work to the annotation of texts, notably the halakhot of Isaac Alfasi and Mordecai ben Hillel, published…

Member of one of the richest and most respected Portuguese Marrano families, died around 1536, husband of Béatrice of Luna. He owns in Lisbon an important banking house, with branches in Flanders and…

Portuguese Marrano, physician to Don Alphonso, brother of the infant cardinal, active in Lisbon in the 16th century. The shoemaker Luis Diaz, who proclaimed himself the Messiah, convinced him to be…

Italian poet, active in Mantua and then in Venice at the end of the sixteenth century and beginning of the seventeenth. Corrector in Hebrew printing houses, like his father, he composes prefatory…

Rabbi of Brest-Litovsk then Cracow, author of the Chemot Gittin.

Portuguese Marrano poet, also physician and mathematician. He began his career in Madrid as a royal mathematician and then physician to the House of Castile. Denounced to the Inquisition in 1634, he…

Moroccan rabbi of the 16th century, listed among the families of rabbis and notables of the mellah of Fès. Cited together with Dinar Anfaoui.

Rabbi and orator born around 1535 in Marrakech. He preached throughout the Ottoman world and Europe (Balkans, Turkey, Holy Land, Salonique). He is the author of collections of homilies and sermons…

Renowned rabbi of Salonika, preacher and author, died in Constantinople.

Son of Ḥayyim Alshich, he studied in Salonique under Joseph Taitatzak and Joseph Karo, whom he followed to Safed. There he served as judge (dayyan) and trained prominent disciples such as Ḥayyim…

Austrian author, active in Bisenz (Moravia) in the second half of the sixteenth century. He is the author of "Darash Mosheh" (Cracow, 1595), an explanation of Talmudic aggadot drawn from the "'En…

Italian scholar and Talmudist, born in Urbino on 30 November 1566, died in 1641. Student of Jedidiah of Rimini from 8 November 1579, he leaves observations on the treatise Ḥoullin, notes on Alfasi…

Born in Chadów, near Chavli (Lithuania), in 1449, died in the first quarter of the 16th century in Crimea, probably in Kaffa. Established for several years in Kiev, he wrote there polemical…

Educated in Jerusalem and later rabbi of Silistria (Bulgaria) in the second half of the 16th century. Author of a commentary on the Shulhan Arukh, Yoré Dea.

Rabbi and kabbalist of Safed, author of the Seder ha-Yom (prayer Modeh Ani).

Kabbalist of Safed, author of the Pardes Rimonim, the first systematic synthesis of Kabbalah. He was the teacher of Isaac Luria.

Halakhic authority of Safed, one of the city's leading rabbis alongside Joseph Caro. Author of the Kiryat Sefer and numerous responsa.

Greek talmudist and liturgical poet, active at the end of the 16th century, rabbi or head of the yeshivah of Corfu. Author of the « Yashir Mosheh » (Mantua, 1612), versification of the Book of Esther…

Prominent rabbi of the first half of the sixteenth century, father of Solomon Alkabetz. He serves as dayyan in Safed around 1530 and seems to have studied Kabbalah, since Isaac ibn Chochan of Safed…

Karaite scholar, active in Constantinople in the second half of the 16th century, younger contemporary of Juda Poki whose « Sha'ar Yehudah » he praised. A prolific author, only a fragment of his…

Rabbi of Emden and one of the founders of the Sephardic community of Amsterdam, born in 1544, probably in Wittmund, died after 1622 in Emden. In 1593, a ship of marranos led by Jacob Tirado, blown…

Portuguese physician, born in Castelo Branco in the mid-sixteenth century, died in Tours in 1616. Raised in Judaism by his Marrano parents, he left Spain for Italy, first settling in Livorno (c.…

Rabbinic and Talmudic scholar of the mid-sixteenth century, originating from Tétouan (Morocco), where he practices commerce before settling successively in Algiers, Oran and Cairo. In Cairo, a…

Rabbi of the late sixteenth century, died in Constantinople. Pupil of Betsalel Achkenazi, he was nicknamed by his contemporaries « Sinaï vé-Oker Harim » (Polyhistor and Rooter of Mountains) for his…

Polish translator, active in Cracow, died in 1575. He translates into Judeo-German, with commentaries in Hebrew, the book of Proverbs (Cracow, 1582) and the book of Job (Prague, 1597), both published…

Polish ritualist, active in Lamkumsh, died in 1584. He edits the Maḥzor with the commentary of Abraham Abigdor, adding to it his own notes (Lublin, 1567), then the seliḥot of the same author (Krakow,…

Cabalist and scholar, active in the second half of the 16th century, disciple of the famous cabalist Israël de Curiel and contemporary of R. Joseph di Trani, who mentions him in his responsa. He…

Born in Prague, student of Moses Isserles and Salomon Luria (and of Mattithiah Delacrut in Kabbalah). Rabbi in several major communities of Central and Eastern Europe. Author of the Levush Malkhut, a…

Rabbi and preacher of Salonika, head of the Portuguese yeshiva.

Rabbi of Fès, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Recorded in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 87-1.

Rabbi of Fez, 16th century. Mentioned in 5290 of the Hebrew era (1530). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 88-3.

Rabbi, poet and Italian philosopher of the 16th century, born in Osimo, near Ancona, died in Mantua before 1594. Established in Mantua after the expulsion of Jews from the Papal States in 1554, he…

16th-century Jewish scholar

rabbi

Turkish rabbi

According to the onomastic dictionary of Abraham I. Laredo ("The Names of the Jews of Morocco"), Moshe Abutam was chief of the Jews of Fez and counselor to Sultan Moulay Bou Hassoun in the sixteenth…

Rabbi of Fès, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Son of Yosef. Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 93–3.

Rabbi of Fès, 16th century. Mentioned in 5330 of the Hebrew era (1570). Registered in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 92-3.

Rabbi of Fez, sixteenth century. Mentioned in 5310 of the Hebrew era (1550). Registered in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 89-2.

Rabbi of Fès, 16th century. Mentioned in 5312 of the Hebrew era (1552). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 94-2.

Rabbi of Galicia, author of the Maté Moché on practical ritual law.

Rabbi of Fès, sixteenth century. Mentioned in 5286 of the Hebrew era (1526). Recorded in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 93-3.

Rabbi of Vallée du Draa, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 92-3.

Rabbi, 16th century. Mentioned in 5335 of the Hebrew era (1575). Son of Maimon. Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 95-4.

Rabbi of Fès, 16th century. Mentioned in 5330 of the Hebrew era (1570). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 92-3.

Rabbi, 16th century. Died in 5286 of the Hebrew era (1526). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 90-2.

Rabbi of Salé, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 96-1.

Rabbi of Fès, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Recorded in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 92-2.

Chief rabbi of Mantua, Hebrew grammarian and decisor of the 16th century.

Rabbi, 16th century. Died in 5330 of the Hebrew era (1570). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), p. 92-4.

According to the onomastic dictionary of Abraham I. Laredo (« The Names of the Jews of Morocco »), Mosseh Atejar, inhabitant of Fès, was a rabbi and member of the Rabbinical Court in the sixteenth…

Rabbi of Fez, 16th century. Mentioned in 5330 of the Hebrew era (1570). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 81-1.

German Kabbalist born in Frankfurt am Main in the second half of the sixteenth century, he lived in Palestine where he was a disciple of Isaac Louria. He is the author of « 'Emek ha-Melek »,…

Rabbi of Fès, 16th century. Mentioned in 5286 of the Hebrew era (1526). Recorded in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 98-2.

President of the community of Lemberg in the sixteenth century. He is the author of « Perush ha-Millot », explanations of difficult words in the Midrash Rabba, published in Cracow in 1569.

Duchess of Naxos, born in Portugal, only daughter of the Marrano Francisco Mendès-Nasi and of Gracia Mendesia (Beatrice of Luna). She lived with her mother in Antwerp then in Venice, before joining…

Chief Rabbi of Cracow, kabbalist, author of the Megale Amoukot.

Sixteenth-century Austrian mathematician, scribe of R. Judah Löw ben Betsalel (the Maharal) of Prague. He is the author of a treatise on mathematics, the "Berit Abraham", published in Prague in 1609,…

Kabbalist who lived in Safed in the early sixteenth century, contemporary of Moïse de Trani. Known chiefly as a commentator, he annotated the "Sefer ha-Yir'ah" and the "Dat ha-Nashim" of Jonas de…

Italian physician and rabbi of the sixteenth century, established in Rome in 1563, where he exercised the function of rabbi and enjoyed a great reputation as a talmudic authority — one of his…

Italian converted to Christianity, born around 1540, died in Rome around 1602. Nothing is known of his life before his conversion, except that he was the Hebrew tutor of Thomas Aldobrandini, brother…

Judeo-Portuguese convert to Christianity, born in Borba, Portugal, died in July 1524. Baptized in Castile, he entered the service of the Inquisitor Lucero and was then recalled by King John III of…

Daughter of the Portuguese marrano Gaspar Lopez Homem and Mayor Rodriguez, she lived in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. To escape the Inquisition, she attempted to emigrate to Holland with…

Talmudist, poet and Turkish polemicist, active in Constantinople around the middle of the sixteenth century, friend of Don Joseph Nasi, Duke of Naxos, whose religious disputation with a Christian…

Rabbi of Prossnitz, Moravia, in the sixteenth century, born in Bohemia. He is the author of "Hiddoushei...," novellae and responsa on the laws of marriage from the tractates Ketouvot and Kiddouchin…

Italian scholar of the sixteenth century, of German origin, died around 1570. Established in Ettlingen and then Cremona, where he directed a school, he had a falling-out with Joshua dei Cantori, who…

Envoy of the King of Morocco to the Netherlands around 1591, then consul in The Hague, where he died in 1616. He attempted unsuccessfully to make Middelburg, in Zeeland, a refuge for Marranos, but…

Judeo-German author of the sixteenth century, settled in the ghetto of Prague at the time of Mordekhaï Meisel, daughter of Rabbi Moses Löb Pizker and wife of Rabbi Jacob Pan. Like other poets of her…

Hebrew printer in Venice from 1580 to 1600, brother of printer Meïr b. Jacob. Employed by Giovanni Bragadin, he printed a great number of Hebrew works, including the commentary on the Pentateuch by…

Converted to Christianity, born around 1540 in Chełm, Poland, died in Prague toward the end of the sixteenth century. Baptized for the first time in Nuremberg in 1556, he was rebaptized in Chełm in…

Viceroy of Naples, friend and protector of Jews, who employs around 1530 Don Samuel Abravanel, youngest son of Don Isaac Abravanel, as minister of finance, and allows his daughter Leonora — future…

Scholar whose date and place of activity are unknown, author of « Or 'Enayim », treating the influence of constellations on men, the days of Creation and the wisdom of the patriarchs (Constantinople,…

Turkish commentator of the second half of the sixteenth century, author of « Yesha' Elohim », commentary on the Hoshanot and various biblical texts (Constantinople, 1567; 2nd ed. Salonique, 1569), in…

German rabbi mentioned in the « Likouté Maharil », in the sections on Sabbath and Yom Kippur. He addressed two letters to the community of Halberstadt, in which he discussed commandments and…

Pius IV (Gian Angelo Medici) is Pope from 1559 to 1565, of modest Milanese origin, who became cardinal under Paul III and was elected upon the death of the rigorist Paul IV, whose policy he…

David ben Eliezer ha-Levi of Pizzighettone is an Italian Talmudist and physician, active in the first half of the 16th century. Physician in Cremona, he also works as an editor in Venice, where he…

Jacob (Joseph) b. Mordekhaï Poggetti, also called Pavieti, was an Italian Talmudist and moralist born in Asti, Piedmont, active in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. His only known work, «…

Moses Potchi is a Karaite scholar, active in Constantinople in the second half of the sixteenth century, member of the Maruli family whose name was taken up by his son Joseph. Simḥa Luzki attributes…

Rabbi of Fès and Taroudant in the 16th century, author of a collection of sermons entitled « Sefer Hadrachot », known but never printed.

Disciple of Rabbi David Halevi Draa, trained by him in Kabbalah.

Expelled from Spain in 1492, a man of letters already enjoying renown there among the authorities. He first settled in Tlemcen (Algeria), where he co-signed a responsa with Rabbi Yaakov Berab and…

Buried in the cave-mausoleum of Oufran. His epitaph reads: "Gravestone of our master and our rabbi, the Rav David ben-Yisso, blessed are you", dated to the year 5328 (1568). Mentioned by Rabbi Yosef…

According to local tradition he was an emissary of the Land of Israel; another version says he was an exile from Seville (Spain) in 1492, settled in Morocco. He studied the Torah in Fès under the…

Pious and charitable rabbi of Béja, renowned for his knowledge of Torah and healing powers. Buried at Testour, where his mausoleum is the object of an important annual North African pilgrimage…

Described in the Benzimra family record as one of the most celebrated poets of North Africa; active in Tlemcen.

Rabbi in Fès and Taroudant, author of a collection of sermons (Sefer Hadrachot) composed around 1570, which remained in manuscript.

Chief rabbi of Kraków, he completed Joseph Caro's Shulhan Arukh with his glosses (Mappah, "the tablecloth") reflecting Ashkenazi customs. Without the Rema, Caro's code would have remained a Sephardic…

Disciple of Rabbi Yosef Taitazak, signatory of the communal ordinances of Salonika, teacher at the Calabria-Yashan congregation (Neveh Shalom), renowned halakhic arbiter « versed in all sciences ».…

Disciple of Rabbi David Halevi Draa, from whom he received teaching of the Kabbalah.

At the head of a group of kabbalists in Taroudant, he lived at the time of the Ari (approximately 450 years ago) and trained many disciples. His work « Heikhal haKodesh » was published by Rabbi…

Rabbi of Fès, disciple of Rabbi Yehuda Ouziel. Author of a two-volume Torah commentary, « Pri Etz Hagan », and of « Guefen Poriah » (both printed in Jerusalem in 1904), as well as of a collection of…

Nephew (brother's son) of Rabbi Mordechaï Matalon of Salonika. He died young, leaving two works, She'erit Ya'akov and Toldot Ya'akov. The Matalon family was among the rabbinical lineages of Salonika…

Renowned Gaon and recognized decisioner of Fès. He was the master of Rabbi David Halevi Draa, who studied the Torah under him in Fès after his arrival in Morocco.

Lived in the 15th century and during the first half of the 16th century. Counted among the sages of Safi, he composed « Kaf-Nahat », a commentary on the Mishna.

Sage of Moroccan origin, he counted among the disciples of the Ari (Rabbi Yitzhak Louria).

Italian rabbi and author, active in Porto, near Verona, then in Cremona, where he died on December 30, 1596; descendant of the Rapa family, he changed his name to Rapoport. Trained in Venice in…

Italian talmudist of the 16th century, author of the "Be'er Mayim Ḥayyim" (Corfu, 1599), on talmudic subjects, and of "Ereẓ Ḥefeẓ," undated, on biblical and talmudic subjects.

Italian convert to Christianity, active in Venice in the early sixteenth century, renowned halakhist who had reportedly been a grand rabbi before his conversion. Consulted by Henry VIII of England on…

Rabbi of Safed and Kabbalist, born in 1522, died on June 25, 1570, from a Spanish family probably originating from Córdoba, hence his name. Trained in rabbinical literature under Joseph Caro, he is…

Rabbi of Fès, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 104-3.

Rabbi of Fez, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 104-2.

Former Portuguese marrano (Paulo de Pina), he joined Amsterdam in 1604 and openly returned to Judaism under the name Reuel Jesurun. In 1624, he composed a dramatic poem in praise of Judaism, recited…

Jew converted to Christianity in the first half of the 16th century, originally from Germany, who became professor of philosophy at the University of Pavia then physician to the emperor Maximilian I.…

Monk, physician and Spanish poet born around 1600 to Marrano parents in Valencia, and died on April 8, 1684 in Amsterdam. Having become a Dominican monk under the name Vicente de Rocamora and…

Bibliographer and scholar of Spanish origin, born in Constantinople around 1570 and died in Jerusalem in 1650, Jacob Roman ibn Bakoda is said to have known the entire Mishna by heart and spoke…

Physician, mathematician, astrologer and poet born in 1588 (or 1593 according to some) in Lisbon, and died in Florence or Livorno in 1662 or 1668, son of the Marrano physician Fernando Bocarro.…

Scholar and liturgical poet of the first half of the 16th century, born in Barcelona into a prominent family. Expelled from Naples during the expulsion of Jews in 1541, he took refuge in Avignon,…

Italian physician and scholar, born in Mantua in 1513 or 1514 and died in 1578, he distinguished himself by his mastery of Hebrew, Latin and Italian, studying medicine, archaeology and history alike.…

Rabbi of Fès, sixteenth century. Mentioned in 5351 of the Hebrew era (1591). Son of Amron. Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 100-2.

Rabbi of Fez, 16th century. Mentioned in 5351 of the Hebrew era (1591). Son of Moshe. Recorded in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 99-4.

Rabbi of Bagris, active in the 4th century of the Hebrew era (1540–1639). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 100-1.

Rabbi of Fes, sixteenth century. Mentioned in 5310 of the Hebrew era (1550). Son of Shmuel. Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 101-1.

author

Salomon ben Nathan Ashkenazi (c. 1520-1602), born in Udine into a Jewish family of German origin, trained in medicine in Padua and as a rabbi, was court physician in Cracow and then Constantinople…

Yemenite Talmudist of Sanaa and Aden, author of Melekhet Shlomo on the Mishna.

rabbi, poet and Jewish kabbalist of the Ottoman Empire

Solomon ben Abraham ha-Cohen of Sérès (MaHaRShaQ), Eastern talmudist, lives in Salonique in the second half of the sixteenth century and studies under Joseph Firman. He is the author of the "Che'elot…

Salomon ben Eliezer ha-Levi, Turkish Talmudist of the 15th and 16th centuries, brother of Abraham b. Eliezer ha-Levi who cites him in his « Ma'amar ha-Yiḥoud », is the author of the « Moré Tsedeq »,…

Salomon ben Mazal Tov, Hebrew-versed poet and proofreader—or perhaps printer—Turkish, distinguished himself in Constantinople in the first half of the sixteenth century. Active in Hebrew printing…

Born around 1505 in a Sephardic family of Salonique. Kabbalist, he composed the hymn welcoming the Sabbath Lekha Dodi (c. 1579), which entered all liturgies. Author of commentaries: Manot ha-Levi on…

Polish decisor, author of the Yam chel Chlomo, an independent Talmudist who favored a return to the sources over the codes. He headed the yeshiva of Lublin.

Rabbi and kabbalist, martyr of the 1648 massacres, author of kabbalistic commentaries.

Kabbalist, son of Hayyim Vital, editor and transmitter of Lurianic writings.

Talmudist of Safed in the sixteenth century, descendant of a family from Uceda banished from Spain. Head of the talmudic school of Safed thanks to the generosity of the wealthy Salomon di Shiraz, he…

Rabbi of Ferrara in the 16th century, whose mastery of halakha is mentioned in the responsa of Jehiel b. Azriel Trabot. Author of a work of glosses on the code of Alfasi.

One of the three founders of the Paradesi synagogue in Cochin, built in 1568 with David Belila and Joseph Levi, on land given by the Raja of Kochi, for the Sephardic community of the 'White Jews'…

Dutch-Jewish physician

rabbi

Commentator and kabbalist of Safed, author of the Midrash Shmuel on the Pirké Avot.

Rabbi (the Maharcha), author of the Hidouchei Halakhot, major Talmudic commentary.

Rabbi of the sixteenth century, author of « Derekh Ḥayyim », on the 613 commandments, of « Ner Mitsva » (Venice, 1598), seventeen homilies on the thirteen articles of faith, and of « Torah Or »…

Royal Prussian-born English polymath c. 1600–1662

Maternal grandson of Samuel de Modena, who lived in Salonika in the sixteenth century. He composed « Bene Shemuel », a collection of Talmudic tales on the Ṭour Ḥoshen Mishpaṭ as well as on the laws…

Rabbi of Venice, son of the Maharam of Padua, renowned talmudic scholar.

Rabbi and exegete of Aleppo, author of biblical commentaries « Keli Yakar », surnamed Baal ha-Kelim.

Jewish-Moroccan merchant, diplomat and pirate

Preacher and actuary of the rabbinate of Prague under Ephraïm Salomon of Lenczyca, in the second half of the sixteenth century. He is the author of « Peroush al ha-Massoret », a complement to the…

Court physician to the popes Alexander VI and Julius II, died around 1519, probably from southern France. At the coronation of Julius II, he presented on behalf of the Jews a petition for the…

Poet and Jewish intellectual of Venice, known for her philosophical correspondence with the monk Ansaldo Cebà and her literary salon which attracted scholars from northern Italy; accused of heresy in…

Editor, and perhaps author, active in the sixteenth century. He edited the « Maḥzor Sefardi » (Venice, 1584) and had printed at his own expense, the same year, a Jewish calendar covering the period…

Dutch rabbi

Rabbi of Fès, head of the beth-din, halakhist and chronicler; author of Divrei ha-Yamim de Fès.

king for a day in Polish Jewish folklore

Moravian Talmudist of the 16th century, student of Moses Isserlès, who addressed him with a large number of his responsa, most devoted to the Sefer ha-Mordekhaï; he seems to have resided in Posen…

Italian Christian merchant, active in Rome in the 16th century. He concludes with the Jew Samson Ceneda a wager on the conquest of Saint-Domingue, stipulating that in the event of defeat Ceneda would…

English jurist and orientalist, born December 16, 1584 in Salvington, Sussex, died at Whitefriars, London, on November 30, 1654. Admitted to the Inner Temple in 1612, he became one of the principal…

Polish rabbi

Kabbalistic author of Shefa Tal, disseminator of Cordoverian doctrine.