Leon of Modena
Encyclopedia
Leon Modena or Yehudah Aryeh Mi-modena (1571–1648) was a Jewish scholar born in Venice
of a notable French
family that had migrated to Italy
after an expulsion of Jews from France.
points out, this last factor prevented his gifts from maturing: "He pursued all sorts of occupations to support himself, viz. those of preacher, teacher of Jews and Christians, reader of prayers, interpreter, writer, proof-reader, bookseller, broker, merchant, rabbi, musician, matchmaker and manufacturer of amulets."
Though he failed to rise to real distinction, Leon of Modena earned a place in Jewish history in part by his criticism
of the mystical approach to Judaism. One of his most effective works was his attack on the Kabbala
(Ari Nohem, first published in 1840). In it, he attempted to demonstrate that the "Bible of the Kabbalists" (the Zohar
) was a modern composition. He became best known, however, as the interpreter of Judaism to the Christian world.
He wrote an autobiography entitled "Chayye Yehuda," literally "the life of Judah". In this highly candid and sometimes emotional work, he admitted to being a compulsive gambler. He also mourned his children (two of whom died in his lifetime - one from natural causes and one killed by gangsters). Another son was a ne'er-do-well who traveled to Brazil and returned to Venice only after his father's death.
At the behest of an English nobleman, Leon prepared an account of Jewish customs and rituals, Historia de' riti hebraici (1637). This book was the first Jewish texts addressed to non-Jewish readers since the days of Josephus
and Philo
. It was widely read by Christians, rendered into various languages, and in 1650 was translated into English
by Edmund Chilmead
. At the time, the issue of whether Jews should be permitted to resettle in Britain was coming to the fore (See Resettlement of the Jews in England
), and Leon of Modena's book did much to stimulate popular interest. He died in Venice.
Modena was certainly a musician and a friend of Salamone Rossi
, it is not clear whether he was also a composer.
by Geraldine Brooks.
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
of a notable French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
family that had migrated to 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...
after an expulsion of Jews from France.
Life
He was a precocious child and grew up to be a respected rabbi in Venice. However, his reputation within traditional Judaism suffered for a number of reasons, including an unyielding criticism of emerging sects within Judaism, an addiction to gambling, and lack of stable character. As Heinrich GraetzHeinrich Graetz
Heinrich Graetz was amongst the first historians to write a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from a Jewish perspective....
points out, this last factor prevented his gifts from maturing: "He pursued all sorts of occupations to support himself, viz. those of preacher, teacher of Jews and Christians, reader of prayers, interpreter, writer, proof-reader, bookseller, broker, merchant, rabbi, musician, matchmaker and manufacturer of amulets."
Though he failed to rise to real distinction, Leon of Modena earned a place in Jewish history in part by his criticism
Criticism
Criticism is the judgement of the merits and faults of the work or actions of an individual or group by another . To criticize does not necessarily imply to find fault, but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an objection against prejudice, or a disapproval.Another meaning of...
of the mystical approach to Judaism. One of his most effective works was his attack on the Kabbala
Kabbala
Kabbala may refer to:*Kabbalah, is a religious philosophical system claiming an insight into divine nature*Sefer ha-Qabbalah by Abraham ibn Daud*Kabbala Denudata , a book from Christian Knorr von Rosenroth, a Christian Hebraist...
(Ari Nohem, first published in 1840). In it, he attempted to demonstrate that the "Bible of the Kabbalists" (the Zohar
Zohar
The Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
) was a modern composition. He became best known, however, as the interpreter of Judaism to the Christian world.
He wrote an autobiography entitled "Chayye Yehuda," literally "the life of Judah". In this highly candid and sometimes emotional work, he admitted to being a compulsive gambler. He also mourned his children (two of whom died in his lifetime - one from natural causes and one killed by gangsters). Another son was a ne'er-do-well who traveled to Brazil and returned to Venice only after his father's death.
At the behest of an English nobleman, Leon prepared an account of Jewish customs and rituals, Historia de' riti hebraici (1637). This book was the first Jewish texts addressed to non-Jewish readers since the days of Josephus
Josephus
Titus Flavius Josephus , also called Joseph ben Matityahu , was a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, which resulted in the Destruction of...
and Philo
Philo
Philo , known also as Philo of Alexandria , Philo Judaeus, Philo Judaeus of Alexandria, Yedidia, "Philon", and Philo the Jew, was a Hellenistic Jewish Biblical philosopher born in Alexandria....
. It was widely read by Christians, rendered into various languages, and in 1650 was translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
by Edmund Chilmead
Edmund Chilmead
Edmund Chilmead was an English writer and translator, who produced both scholarly works and hack writing. He is also known as a musician.He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. in 1631...
. At the time, the issue of whether Jews should be permitted to resettle in Britain was coming to the fore (See Resettlement of the Jews in England
Resettlement of the Jews in England
The resettlement of the Jews in England was a historic commercial policy dealing with Jews in England in the 17th century, and forms a prominent part of the history of the Jews in England.-Background:...
), and Leon of Modena's book did much to stimulate popular interest. He died in Venice.
Modena was certainly a musician and a friend of Salamone Rossi
Salamone Rossi
Salamone Rossi or Salomone Rossi was an Italian Jewish violinist and composer. He was a transitional figure between the late Italian Renaissance period and early Baroque.-Life:...
, it is not clear whether he was also a composer.
Writings
Magen wa-hereb (Hebrew מגן וחרב "Shield and Sword") is his polemic masterpiece; an attack upon Christian dogmas. It was published in part together with the Magen wa-Zinnah ("Shield and Buckler") his defense of the Cabala against the attacks of Judah de Modena, by A. Geiger, Breslau, 1856. A new translation appeared in 2001. In Magen wa-hereb Leon Modena takes to task Christians their interpretations of Hebrew scriptures and refutes the claims of Jesus.Works
His written works include:- She'elot u-Teshuvot Ziqnei Yehudah (Collected Responsa, Mossad ha-Rav Kook ed. Shelomo Simonson, 1956 http://www.hebrewbooks.org/20739)
- Beit Lechem Yehudah (Anthology of statements of Hazal organized by topic, Venice, 1625http://www.hebrewbooks.org/11683 and Prague, 1705 http://www.hebrewbooks.org/19495
- Diwan (Collected Poems, JTS Publications, ed. Shimon Bernstein, 1932 http://www.hebrewbooks.org/37185
- Ari Nohem (See above)
- Kitvei Y. A. Modena (Letters and musings, ed. Yehuda Blau, Budapest, 1906)
- Magen ve-Tzinah (Responsa, ed. A. Geiger, Breslau, 1857)
- Tzemach Tzadiq (Ethical Treatise: a recent translation into English of this work is now available on the Web)
- Lev ha-Aryeh (Monograph on Memory improvement and Mnemonics, in which he greatly extols the use of the method of lociMethod of lociThe method of loci , also called the memory palace, is a mnemonic device introduced in ancient Roman rhetorical treatises . It relies on memorized spatial relationships to establish, order and recollect memorial content...
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/37392) - Sur me-Ra (A philosophical dialogue on gambling, written at the age of 13, Amsterdam 1692 http://www.hebrewbooks.org/24711, Vilna 1896 http://www.hebrewbooks.org/34262
- Historia de' riti hebraici (See above, translated into Hebrew by Shelomo Rabin, Vienna, 1867 http://www.hebrewbooks.org/35226)
- Pi ha-Aryeh (Italian-Hebrew dictionary of all difficult words in TanakhTanakhThe Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
, Venice 1640 http://www.hebrewbooks.org/11833
Appearances in popular culture
Leon of Modena is the basis of the character Judah Aryeh in the novel People of the BookPeople of the Book (novel)
People of the Book is a 2008 historical fiction novel by Geraldine Brooks. The story focuses on an imagined past of the still extant Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the oldest surviving Jewish illuminated texts.-Plot summary:...
by Geraldine Brooks.