Yaakov Culi
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Yaakov Culi was a Talmudist and Biblical commentator of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries who died in Constantinople
on August 9, 1732. He belonged to an exiled Spanish family, and was the grandson and pupil of Moses ibn Habib
. He edited various important works. The first fruit of his literary activity was the publication of his grandfather's writings. To this end he left Safed
, where he seemed to have taken up his abode, and relocated to Constantinople
. While engaged on the works of his grandfather, he entered (1714) into close relations with the chief rabbi of Constantinople, Judah Rosanes
(also known simply as Mishne La' Melech), at the time generally regarded the highest authority of the Orient. Rosanes appointed Culi dayan, which, together with his position as teacher, secured to him a sufficient livelihood. In 1727 Culi published his grandfather's work "Shammot ba-Arez", a book of notes on various portions of the Talmud
.
In that year Rosanes died. He left voluminous literary remains in a very chaotic condition. To introduce order into this chaos a scholar of the first rank was needed. Culi was entrusted with this task. But even for him it meant a labor of several years. First, in 1728, he edited Rosanes' book "Parashat Derakim," a work both midrashic and halachic content. Three years later he finally published Rosanes' voluminous "Mishneh la-Melek", one of the most famous commentaries on Maimonides
' Mishne Torah, enriched with numerous important notes of his own. To both these works Culi wrote a preface.
In the same year, he edited also his grandfather's "'Ezrat Nashim," in the beginning of which there are two responsa of his own.
His most important work is his commentary on the Pentateuch, entitled "Me'am Loez". This work, which is held in high regard by the Jews of the East, is a very elaborate encyclopedic commentary in Ladino
, dealing with Jewish life in all its relations. Its material was taken from the Talmud
, the Midrash
, and early rabbinic literature
. However, Rabbi Culi only managed to write his work on Genesis and on two-thirds of Exodus before he died. Because of the overwhelming popularity of the Me'am Loez, other prominent rabbis of Turkey
took over this endeavor and completed the remaining volumes.
Culi also wrote a halakic work under the title "Simanim le-Oraita," which, however, remained in manuscript
.
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
on August 9, 1732. He belonged to an exiled Spanish family, and was the grandson and pupil of Moses ibn Habib
Moses ibn Habib
Moshe ibn Habib was the Rishon LeZion , Hakham Bashi and the head of a major yeshiva in Jerusalem.-Background and family:...
. He edited various important works. The first fruit of his literary activity was the publication of his grandfather's writings. To this end he left Safed
Safed
Safed , is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and of Israel. Due to its high elevation, Safed experiences warm summers and cold, often snowy, winters...
, where he seemed to have taken up his abode, and relocated to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. While engaged on the works of his grandfather, he entered (1714) into close relations with the chief rabbi of Constantinople, Judah Rosanes
Judah Rosanes
Judah ben Samuel Rosanes was Rabbi of Constantinople and son-in-law of Abraham Rosanes I. His teachers in Talmud and rabbinics were Samuel ha-Levi and Joseph di Trani. On account of his knowledge of Arabic and Turkish he was appointed by the government as chief rabbi of the Ottoman empire...
(also known simply as Mishne La' Melech), at the time generally regarded the highest authority of the Orient. Rosanes appointed Culi dayan, which, together with his position as teacher, secured to him a sufficient livelihood. In 1727 Culi published his grandfather's work "Shammot ba-Arez", a book of notes on various portions of 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....
.
In that year Rosanes died. He left voluminous literary remains in a very chaotic condition. To introduce order into this chaos a scholar of the first rank was needed. Culi was entrusted with this task. But even for him it meant a labor of several years. First, in 1728, he edited Rosanes' book "Parashat Derakim," a work both midrashic and halachic content. Three years later he finally published Rosanes' voluminous "Mishneh la-Melek", one of the most famous commentaries on Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
' Mishne Torah, enriched with numerous important notes of his own. To both these works Culi wrote a preface.
In the same year, he edited also his grandfather's "'Ezrat Nashim," in the beginning of which there are two responsa of his own.
His most important work is his commentary on the Pentateuch, entitled "Me'am Loez". This work, which is held in high regard by the Jews of the East, is a very elaborate encyclopedic commentary in Ladino
Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish , in Israel commonly referred to as Ladino, and known locally as Judezmo, Djudeo-Espanyol, Djudezmo, Djudeo-Kasteyano, Spaniolit and other names, is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish...
, dealing with Jewish life in all its relations. Its material was taken from 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....
, the Midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
, and early rabbinic literature
Rabbinic literature
Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of rabbinic writings throughout Jewish history. However, the term often refers specifically to literature from the Talmudic era, as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writing, and thus corresponds with the Hebrew term...
. However, Rabbi Culi only managed to write his work on Genesis and on two-thirds of Exodus before he died. Because of the overwhelming popularity of the Me'am Loez, other prominent rabbis of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
took over this endeavor and completed the remaining volumes.
Culi also wrote a halakic work under the title "Simanim le-Oraita," which, however, remained in manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Preface to the Index of Ḥabib's Geṭ Pashuṭ, and to Rosanes, Mishneh la-Melek;
- responsum No. 1, end of Ḥabib's 'Ezrat Nashim;
- AzulaiChaim Joseph David AzulaiChaim 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...
. Shem ha-Gedolim, s.v., and Judah Rosanes; - Meyer KayserlingMeyer KayserlingMeyer Kayserling was a German rabbi and historian.-Life:He was educated at Halberstadt, Nikolsburg , Prague, Würzburg, and Berlin. He devoted himself to history and philosophy...
, Bibl. Esp.-Port.-Jud. pp. 55, 66; - 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...
, Hebr. Bibl. xvii. 15et seq.; - idem, Cat. Bodl. col. 2926.