Israel ben Joseph Halevi Caslari
Encyclopedia
Israel ben Joseph Halevi Caslari , also known as Crescas Caslari and Israel ben Joseph Halevi, was a Jewish physician and poet who lived at Avignon
in 1327. He was the author of a liturgic poem for Purim
, beginning with the words ("Who is like you?"). In a manuscript of this poem (Rev. Et. Juives, ix. 116) the signature contains the words ("To the sons of Yitzhar"), from which Neubauer concludes that Crescas Caslari belonged to the family of the Yitzhari. This opinion, shared by Leopold Zunz
, is criticized by Gross, who holds that the appellation is merely honorary, as it is in the Bible (Zech. iv. 14).
According to Zunz, Caslari was the author of a poem on the story of Esther
and Mordecai
, which he translated into the vernacular. A fragment of a Provençal poem by Maestro Crescas has been published in Romania (April, 1892). Caslari also translated Arnaud de Villeneuve's medical work entitled Liber de Regimine Sanitatis, dedicating it to Jaime II
of Aragon
.
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
in 1327. He was the author of a liturgic poem for Purim
Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
, beginning with the words ("Who is like you?"). In a manuscript of this poem (Rev. Et. Juives, ix. 116) the signature contains the words ("To the sons of Yitzhar"), from which Neubauer concludes that Crescas Caslari belonged to the family of the Yitzhari. This opinion, shared by Leopold Zunz
Leopold Zunz
Leopold Zunz was a German Reform rabbi and writer, the founder of what has been termed "Jewish Studies" or "Judaic Studies" , the critical investigation of Jewish literature, hymnology and ritual...
, is criticized by Gross, who holds that the appellation is merely honorary, as it is in the Bible (Zech. iv. 14).
According to Zunz, Caslari was the author of a poem on the story of Esther
Esther
Esther , born Hadassah, is the eponymous heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther.According to the Bible, she was a Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus...
and Mordecai
Mordecai
Mordecai or Mordechai is one of the main personalities in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. He was the son of Jair, of the tribe of Benjamin.-Biblical account:...
, which he translated into the vernacular. A fragment of a Provençal poem by Maestro Crescas has been published in Romania (April, 1892). Caslari also translated Arnaud de Villeneuve's medical work entitled Liber de Regimine Sanitatis, dedicating it to Jaime II
James II of Aragon
James II , called the Just was the King of Sicily from 1285 to 1296 and King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. In 1297 he was granted the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica...
of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
.