Isaiah di Trani the Younger
Encyclopedia
Isaiah ben Elijah di Trani (the Younger) (Hebrew: ישעיה בן אליהו דטראני) was an Italian Talmud
ist and commentator who lived in the 13th century and 14th century. He was the grandson, on his mother's side, of Isaiah (ben Mali) di Trani the Elder
. He is usually quoted as ריא"ז (= "R. Isaiah Aḥaron, ז"ל"), or (ריב"א = "R. Isaiah ben Elijah").
(Leipsic, 1712), Judges
and Samuel (printed in the rabbinical Bible), Kings
(I Kings iv. 4, 5, 19, and v. 17 only being included in the principal editions of the rabbinical Bible), and Job
(printed in J. Schwarz, Tiḳwat Enosh, pp. 39 et seq., Hebr. Supplement; see Geiger
, Jüd. Zeit. vii. 142). MSS. Nos. 217-218, in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, contain commentaries by him on the prophetical books and on Psalms
; the Rome MSS. contain a commentary on the five Megillot (Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. ix. 137). The last-named are sometimes ascribed to his grandfather, but Güdemann advances several reasons in support of Isaiah ben Elijah's authorship, the principal being their identity of style with Isaiah's acknowledged commentaries (Berliner's Magazin, i. 45 et seq.).
Isaiah's commentaries are confined to simple, concise, and rational exegesis
. Their importance lies in the fact that they were the first to be issued in Italy
that were free from allegorical interpretations. In them he quotes the Spanish grammarians Ibn Janaḥ, Ibn Ḥayyuj, and Abraham ibn Ezra
.
More important, however, is his Pirḳe Halakot, a ritual code, the first produced in Italy (Halberstam MSS. and other incomplete MSS.; Paris MSS. Nos. 395, 396; Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. Nos. 643-650; Parma, De Rossi, MSS. Nos. 793, 934). Extracts from it are printed in Joshua Boas's Shilṭe ha-Gibborim, Sabbionetta, 1554, and in the editions of Isaac Alfasi
's Halakot. On the basis of the Talmudical treatises and following their sequence the Halakot are derived from the Mishnah
rather than from the Gemara
, and are clearly arranged in a precise way. The author ascribes great authority to the Jerusalem Talmud
. He is independent in his criticisms of older authorities, his grandfather not excepted, whom he often quotes (with the abbreviation מז"ה = "Mori Zeḳeni ha-Rab"). As a sort of preliminary work to the Halakot he wrote a book, Ḳonṭres ha-Re'ayot, which contained and discussed the proofs for his halakic decisions.
Isaiah also wrote a Taḥanun prayer (Zunz
, Literaturgesch. p. 363). Two other prayers, signed merely "Isaiah" (ib.), may be ascribed to him or to his grandfather, who also was a liturgical poet (see Landshuth, Ammude ha-'Abodah, p. 134). Unlike his grandfather, Isaiah was an opponent of Aristotle
and of the rest of the Greek philosophers who "denied the Torah." Religious conceptions are, according to him, a matter of tradition more than of individual meditation. He advised against religious disputations with the Gentiles and against teaching them the Torah
. He endeavored to shield the grotesque midrashim from derision on the part of Christian
theologians and baptized Jews by interpreting them as symbolic or hyperbolic.
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ist and commentator who lived in the 13th century and 14th century. He was the grandson, on his mother's side, of Isaiah (ben Mali) di Trani the Elder
Isaiah di Trani
Isaiah di Trani ben Mali , better known as the RID, was a prominent Italian Talmudist.- Biography:...
. He is usually quoted as ריא"ז (= "R. Isaiah Aḥaron, ז"ל"), or (ריב"א = "R. Isaiah ben Elijah").
Works
He wrote commentaries on the books of JoshuaBook of Joshua
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and of the Old Testament. Its 24 chapters tell of the entry of the Israelites into Canaan, their conquest and division of the land under the leadership of Joshua, and of serving God in the land....
(Leipsic, 1712), Judges
Book of Judges
The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Hebrew bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its title describes its contents: it contains the history of Biblical judges, divinely inspired prophets whose direct knowledge of Yahweh allows them to act as decision-makers for the Israelites, as...
and Samuel (printed in the rabbinical Bible), Kings
Books of Kings
The Book of Kings presents a narrative history of ancient Israel and Judah from the death of David to the release of his successor Jehoiachin from imprisonment in Babylon, a period of some 400 years...
(I Kings iv. 4, 5, 19, and v. 17 only being included in the principal editions of the rabbinical Bible), and Job
Book of Job
The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...
(printed in J. Schwarz, Tiḳwat Enosh, pp. 39 et seq., Hebr. Supplement; see Geiger
Abraham Geiger
Abraham Geiger was a German rabbi and scholar who led the founding of Reform Judaism...
, Jüd. Zeit. vii. 142). MSS. Nos. 217-218, in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, contain commentaries by him on the prophetical books and on Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
; the Rome MSS. contain a commentary on the five Megillot (Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. ix. 137). The last-named are sometimes ascribed to his grandfather, but Güdemann advances several reasons in support of Isaiah ben Elijah's authorship, the principal being their identity of style with Isaiah's acknowledged commentaries (Berliner's Magazin, i. 45 et seq.).
Isaiah's commentaries are confined to simple, concise, and rational exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
. Their importance lies in the fact that they were the first to be issued in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
that were free from allegorical interpretations. In them he quotes the Spanish grammarians Ibn Janaḥ, Ibn Ḥayyuj, and Abraham ibn Ezra
Abraham ibn Ezra
Rabbi Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra was born at Tudela, Navarre in 1089, and died c. 1167, apparently in Calahorra....
.
More important, however, is his Pirḳe Halakot, a ritual code, the first produced in Italy (Halberstam MSS. and other incomplete MSS.; Paris MSS. Nos. 395, 396; Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. Nos. 643-650; Parma, De Rossi, MSS. Nos. 793, 934). Extracts from it are printed in Joshua Boas's Shilṭe ha-Gibborim, Sabbionetta, 1554, and in the editions of Isaac Alfasi
Isaac Alfasi
for other Al-Fasi's see Al-Fasi disambiguationIsaac ben Jacob Alfasi ha-Cohen - also known as the Alfasi or by his Hebrew acronym Rif , was a Talmudist and posek...
's Halakot. On the basis of the Talmudical treatises and following their sequence the Halakot are derived from the Mishnah
Mishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
rather than from the Gemara
Gemara
The Gemara is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah. After the Mishnah was published by Rabbi Judah the Prince The Gemara (also transliterated Gemora or, less commonly, Gemorra; from Aramaic גמרא gamar; literally, "[to] study" or "learning by...
, and are clearly arranged in a precise way. The author ascribes great authority to the Jerusalem Talmud
Jerusalem Talmud
The Jerusalem Talmud, talmud meaning "instruction", "learning", , is a collection of Rabbinic notes on the 2nd-century Mishnah which was compiled in the Land of Israel during the 4th-5th century. The voluminous text is also known as the Palestinian Talmud or Talmud de-Eretz Yisrael...
. He is independent in his criticisms of older authorities, his grandfather not excepted, whom he often quotes (with the abbreviation מז"ה = "Mori Zeḳeni ha-Rab"). As a sort of preliminary work to the Halakot he wrote a book, Ḳonṭres ha-Re'ayot, which contained and discussed the proofs for his halakic decisions.
Isaiah also wrote a Taḥanun prayer (Zunz
Zunz
Zunz, Zuntz is a Yiddish surname: , Belgian pharmacologist* Leopold Zunz , German Reform rabbi* Gerhard Jack Zunz , British civil engineer- Zuntz :* Nathan Zuntz , German physiologist...
, Literaturgesch. p. 363). Two other prayers, signed merely "Isaiah" (ib.), may be ascribed to him or to his grandfather, who also was a liturgical poet (see Landshuth, Ammude ha-'Abodah, p. 134). Unlike his grandfather, Isaiah was an opponent of Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
and of the rest of the Greek philosophers who "denied the Torah." Religious conceptions are, according to him, a matter of tradition more than of individual meditation. He advised against religious disputations with the Gentiles and against teaching them the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. He endeavored to shield the grotesque midrashim from derision on the part of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
theologians and baptized Jews by interpreting them as symbolic or hyperbolic.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim, i.;
- Abraham BerlinerAbraham BerlinerAbraham Berliner was a German theologian and historian, born in Obersitzko, province of Posen, Prussia. He received his first education under his father, who was teacher in Obersitzko...
, Pletath Soferim, pp. 8, 13 et seq.; - Heinrich Grätz, Gesch. vii. 161;
- Moritz GüdemannMoritz Güdemann- Life :He was educated at Breslau , and took his rabbinical diploma at the Jewish Theological Seminary of that city. In the latter year he was called to the rabbinate of Magdeburg; in 1866 he went to Vienna as preacher, where he became rabbi in 1868, and chief rabbi in 1890.- Works :Güdemann...
, Gesch. ii. 189 et seq., 390; - Moritz SteinschneiderMoritz SteinschneiderMoritz Steinschneider was a Bohemian bibliographer and Orientalist. He received his early instruction in Hebrew from his father, Jacob Steinschneider , who was not only an expert Talmudist, but was also well versed in secular science...
, Cat. Bodl. col. 1392; - Winter and Wünsche, Die Jüdische Litteratur, ii. 332, 338, 483;
- Marco MortaraMarco MortaraMarco Mortara Marco Mortara Marco Mortara (born at Viadana, 7 May 1815; died at Mantua, 2 February 1894 was an Italian rabbi and scholar.Having graduated from the rabbinical college of Padua in 1836, he was called as rabbi to Mantua in 1842, and occupied this position until his death...
, Indice, p. 66; - Isaac Hirsch WeissIsaac Hirsch WeissIsaac Hirsch Weiss, also Eisik Hirsch Weiss was an Austrian Talmudist and historian of literature born at Velké Meziříčí, Moravia....
, Dor, v. 95 et seq.