Solomon ben Jeroham
Encyclopedia
Solomon ben Jeroham, in Arabic Sulaym ibn Ruhaym, was a Karaite exegete and controversialist who flourished at Jerusalem between 940 and 960. He was considered one of the greatest authorities among the Karaites, by whom he is called "the Wise" ("HaHakham"), and who mention him after Benjamin Nahawendi in their prayers for their dead great teachers (Karaite Siddur, i. 137b). His principal work, one of several treatises entitled Milhamoth Adonai, was an attack on Saadia Gaon
.
and Avraham son of Rambam
) of which he produced also an Arabic
version that is no longer in existence, Solomon counters the Rabbinites, especially Saadia
. It is written in verse and is divided into 19 chapters, each of which contains 22 four-lined strophes. After having endeavored in the first two chapters to demonstrate the groundlessness of the oral tradition, he refutes the seven arguments advanced in its behalf by Saadia in the introduction to his commentary on the Pentateuch. Then he criticizes Saadia's views on the Hebrew calendar
, the laws concerning incest, the celebration of the second days of the feasts, etc., and accuses him of terms of having, in his polemics against the Karaites, used arguments which are in direct opposition to the teachings of the Mishnah
and the Talmud
, and which consequently he must have known to be false. The Milḥamot Adonai is extant in manuscript in various European libraries; parts of it have been published by Pinsker
, Geiger
, and Kirchheim
.
Saadia Gaon
Saʻadiah ben Yosef Gaon was a prominent rabbi, Jewish philosopher, and exegete of the Geonic period.The first important rabbinic figure to write extensively in Arabic, he is considered the founder of Judeo-Arabic literature...
.
Response to Saadia
In a work entitled Milḥamot Adonai, (not to be confused with books of the same title by GersonidesGersonides
Levi ben Gershon, better known by his Latinised name as Gersonides or the abbreviation of first letters as RaLBaG , philosopher, Talmudist, mathematician, astronomer/astrologer. He was born at Bagnols in Languedoc, France...
and Avraham son of Rambam
Avraham son of Rambam
Abraham ben Moses ben Maimon was the son of Maimonides who succeeded his father as Nagid of the Egyptian Jewish community....
) of which he produced also an Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
version that is no longer in existence, Solomon counters the Rabbinites, especially Saadia
Saadia
Saadia is a Jewish name and Arabic name. it can refer to several people:*Saadia Gaon - Ninth century rabbi, philosopher, and exegete of the Geonic period.*Saadia Afzaal - Pakistani journalist and television news anchor....
. It is written in verse and is divided into 19 chapters, each of which contains 22 four-lined strophes. After having endeavored in the first two chapters to demonstrate the groundlessness of the oral tradition, he refutes the seven arguments advanced in its behalf by Saadia in the introduction to his commentary on the Pentateuch. Then he criticizes Saadia's views on the Hebrew calendar
Hebrew calendar
The Hebrew calendar , or Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today predominantly for Jewish religious observances. It determines the dates for Jewish holidays and the appropriate public reading of Torah portions, yahrzeits , and daily Psalm reading, among many ceremonial uses...
, the laws concerning incest, the celebration of the second days of the feasts, etc., and accuses him of terms of having, in his polemics against the Karaites, used arguments which are in direct opposition to the teachings of 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...
and the 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....
, and which consequently he must have known to be false. The Milḥamot Adonai is extant in manuscript in various European libraries; parts of it have been published by Pinsker
Pinsker
Pinsker is a surname and may refer to:* Leon Pinsker* Simchah Pinsker, Polish Hebrew scholar and archeologist...
, Geiger
Abraham Geiger
Abraham Geiger was a German rabbi and scholar who led the founding of Reform Judaism...
, and Kirchheim
Kirchheim
Kirchheim may refer to several places:*in Austria**Kirchheim, Austria*in France* Kirchheim, Bas-Rhin, a municipality in the Bas-Rhin department*in Germany* Heidelberg-Kirchheim, a district of the city of Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg...
.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Pinsker, Liḳḳuṭe Ḳadmoniyyot, p. 130, and index;
- Fürst, Gesch. des Karäerthums, ii. 75 et seq.;
- Gottlober, Biḳḳoret le-Toledot ha-Ḳara'im, p. 196;
- A. Neubauer, Aus der Petersburger Bibliothek, p. 10;
- P. Frankl, in Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. xix. 93;
- idem, in Ha-Shaḥar, viii.;
- Kirchheim, in Orient, Lit. vii. 17 et seq.;
- Salfeld, Hohelied, p. 127;
- Steinschneider, Polemische Literatur der Juden, p. 378;
- idem, Hebr. Bibl. vii. 14, xiii. 103;
- idem, Hebr. Uebers. p. 946;
- idem, Die Arabische Literatur der Juden, § 40;
- Samuel Poznanski, in R. E. J. xli. 310;
- idem, in J. Q. R. xiii. 336;
- idem, in Monatsschrift, xliv. 105 et seq.
External links
- Jewish Encyclopedia article on Solomon ben Jeroham, by Kaufmann KohlerKaufmann KohlerKaufmann Kohler was a German-born U.S. reform rabbi and theologian.-Life and work:Kaufmann Kohler was born into a family of rabbis...
and Isaac BroydéIsaac BroydéIsaac David Broydé was a Jewish Orientalist and librarian.-Life:...
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