Malachi ben Jacob
Encyclopedia
Malachi ben Jacob ha-Kohen
was a renowned Talmud
ist, methodologist, and one of the greatest Kaballists of the 18th century. He was a student of the famous kaballist Rabbi Joseph Ergas, author of the original kaballistic text known as 'Shomer Emunim'. Born in Livorno sometime between 1695–1700, he is considered the last of the great rabbinical authorities of Italy
. While his exact birthdate and date of death are unknown, he died before 1790. Praised effusively by his contemporaries and quoted by major halakhic authorities of the 18th and 19th centuries, he served as Rabbi of Livorno
, Italy, and apparently lived to an old age. A decision by him, dated Nisan, 1732, and referring to a civil case at Rome, is included in the responsa of Rabbi Isaiah Bassani of Reggio (Todat Shelamim, No. 11, 1741). During the controversy between Jonathan Eybeschutz
and Jacob Emden
he sided with the former (letter of the rabbinate of Leghorn in "Luḥot 'Edut," p. 22). He is most famous for his Yad Mal'aki (1766-7), a methodological work in three parts: part one contains an alphabetical list of all the rules and technical terms found in the Talmud, with explanations; part two deals with rules regarding the codifiers; part three deals with the rules relating to legal decisions, explaining certain general principles of legal responsa
. Malachi wrote also a liturgical work, Shibḥe Todah(1744), containing prayers for the 22d of Shebaṭ, a fast-day instituted by the community of Leghorn. In addition to these, Malachi also wrote a Sefer Torah in his own hand which then became an authoritative reference for many details regarding the correct formation of various Hebrew letters.
"Every reader of this book will be amazed by the way this living lion, the high priest.....dives in the mighty waters, the sea of the talmud. No secret is hidden from him", while Rabbi Chaim Joseph David Azulai
(the 'Chida') wrote;
"And after much time, the sun shone upon the land.... with the precious book 'Yad Malachi', and as the eyes of servants to the hand of their masters, I have raised my eyes and seen..." The 'Yad Malachi' was printed again in the late 20th century, and a new edition with greatly improved fonts, format, and biographical detail was printed in Israel in 2001.
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
was a renowned Talmud
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, methodologist, and one of the greatest Kaballists of the 18th century. He was a student of the famous kaballist Rabbi Joseph Ergas, author of the original kaballistic text known as 'Shomer Emunim'. Born in Livorno sometime between 1695–1700, he is considered the last of the great rabbinical authorities of 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...
. While his exact birthdate and date of death are unknown, he died before 1790. Praised effusively by his contemporaries and quoted by major halakhic authorities of the 18th and 19th centuries, he served as Rabbi of Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
, Italy, and apparently lived to an old age. A decision by him, dated Nisan, 1732, and referring to a civil case at Rome, is included in the responsa of Rabbi Isaiah Bassani of Reggio (Todat Shelamim, No. 11, 1741). During the controversy between Jonathan Eybeschutz
Jonathan Eybeschutz
Jonathan Eybeschutz , was a Talmudist, Halachist, Kabbalist, holding positions as Dayan of Prague, and later as Rabbi of the "Three Communities": Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek. With Jacob Emden, he is well known as a protagonist in the Emden-Eybeschütz Controversy.-Biography:Eybeschütz's father was...
and Jacob Emden
Jacob Emden
Jacob Emden also known as Ya'avetz, , was a leading German rabbi and talmudist who championed Orthodox Judaism in the face of the growing influence of the Sabbatean movement...
he sided with the former (letter of the rabbinate of Leghorn in "Luḥot 'Edut," p. 22). He is most famous for his Yad Mal'aki (1766-7), a methodological work in three parts: part one contains an alphabetical list of all the rules and technical terms found in the Talmud, with explanations; part two deals with rules regarding the codifiers; part three deals with the rules relating to legal decisions, explaining certain general principles of legal responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
. Malachi wrote also a liturgical work, Shibḥe Todah(1744), containing prayers for the 22d of Shebaṭ, a fast-day instituted by the community of Leghorn. In addition to these, Malachi also wrote a Sefer Torah in his own hand which then became an authoritative reference for many details regarding the correct formation of various Hebrew letters.
Yad Malachi
His major work, the 'Yad Malachi', first printed in Livorno (1766), and later Berlin (1857), was praised by his contemporaries as well as halakhic authorities of later generations. Rabbi Yitzchak Shmelkes wrote that;"Every reader of this book will be amazed by the way this living lion, the high priest.....dives in the mighty waters, the sea of the talmud. No secret is hidden from him", while Rabbi Chaim Joseph David Azulai
Chaim Joseph David Azulai
Chaim Joseph David Azulai ben Isaac Zerachia , commonly known as the Chida , was a Jerusalem born rabbinical scholar, a noted bibliophile, and a pioneer in the publication of Jewish religious writings.- Biography :Azulai was born in Jerusalem, where he received his education...
(the 'Chida') wrote;
"And after much time, the sun shone upon the land.... with the precious book 'Yad Malachi', and as the eyes of servants to the hand of their masters, I have raised my eyes and seen..." The 'Yad Malachi' was printed again in the late 20th century, and a new edition with greatly improved fonts, format, and biographical detail was printed in Israel in 2001.