Isaac ben Reuben Albargeloni
Encyclopedia
Isaac ben Reuben Albargeloni (born 1043) was a Spanish Talmudist and liturgical poet born in Barcelona
. He was a judge
in the important community of Denia
, where he became connected, probably as son-in-law, with ibn Alḥatosh. Among his later descendants was Moses ben Naḥman (Naḥmanides); Judah Albargeloni is said to have been Isaac's pupil. He was one of five prominent contemporaneous scholars of the name of "Isaac," and the regard in which he was held by his own and succeeding generations is indicated by the fact that he is simply designated "Ha-Rab Albargeloni." He wrote commentaries on various sections of the tractate Ketubot
, and at the age of thirty-five (1078) translated, from the Arabic
into Hebrew, Hai Gaon
's Ha-Miḳḳaḥ weha-Mimkar, on buying and selling (Venice, 1602, and frequently afterward with commentaries). Noteworthy among his liturgical poems are his Azharot , included in the rituals of Constantine
, Tlemçen
, Tunis
, Morocco
, Algeria
, and Oran
.
Of the 145 strophes in the poem each consists of three verses, ending with a Biblical quotation. Isaac's use of Biblical verses indicates great skill. Al-Ḥarizi remarked: "He has put the religious laws into rime, and has fitted them so well to Biblical passages that it almost seems as if the work had been inspired by a higher power." Isaac copies faithfully the division of the laws and interdictions of the Halakot Gedolot; at times even following its wording, while he also takes into account the regulations of traditional literature referring to Biblical prescriptions. The following poems of Isaac are also included in the Azharot:
Isaac also wrote Paḥadti mi-Yoẓeri and Yom Zeh Mekapper le-Shabim, both in three-line strophes, the latter with signature and alphabet. Rapoport
further assigns to Isaac Ayumati Yonah, ahabah for the Sabbath before the Feast of Weeks, and Yaḳush be-'Onyo, ge'ullah for the fifth Sabbath after Pesaḥ, but other scholars do not agree with Rapoport on this point.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He was a judge
Dayyán
Mirza Asadullah-i-Khuy , often referred to as Dayyán, was a Babi follower, a religion founded by the Báb in Persia in the mid 1850s. The Báb wrote numerous tablets of praise to Dayyán recognising his devotion to the new religion...
in the important community of Denia
Dénia
Dénia is a city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia, the judicial seat of the comarca of Marina Alta...
, where he became connected, probably as son-in-law, with ibn Alḥatosh. Among his later descendants was Moses ben Naḥman (Naḥmanides); Judah Albargeloni is said to have been Isaac's pupil. He was one of five prominent contemporaneous scholars of the name of "Isaac," and the regard in which he was held by his own and succeeding generations is indicated by the fact that he is simply designated "Ha-Rab Albargeloni." He wrote commentaries on various sections of the tractate Ketubot
Nashim
Nashim is the third order of the Mishnah , containing the laws related to women and family life...
, and at the age of thirty-five (1078) translated, from the 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...
into Hebrew, Hai Gaon
Hai Gaon
Hai ben Sherira , was a medieval Jewish theologian, rabbi and scholar who served as Gaon of the Talmudic academy of Pumbedita during the early 11th century. He was born in 939 and died on March 28, 1038...
's Ha-Miḳḳaḥ weha-Mimkar, on buying and selling (Venice, 1602, and frequently afterward with commentaries). Noteworthy among his liturgical poems are his Azharot , included in the rituals of Constantine
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
, Tlemçen
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
, Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, and Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
.
Of the 145 strophes in the poem each consists of three verses, ending with a Biblical quotation. Isaac's use of Biblical verses indicates great skill. Al-Ḥarizi remarked: "He has put the religious laws into rime, and has fitted them so well to Biblical passages that it almost seems as if the work had been inspired by a higher power." Isaac copies faithfully the division of the laws and interdictions of the Halakot Gedolot; at times even following its wording, while he also takes into account the regulations of traditional literature referring to Biblical prescriptions. The following poems of Isaac are also included in the Azharot:
- Alah Mosheh le-Rosh Har Sinai (introduction)
- Yom Zeh Horid (pizmon preceding the commands)
- Yaḥid Nora 'Alilah (pizmon between the commands and interdictions)
Isaac also wrote Paḥadti mi-Yoẓeri and Yom Zeh Mekapper le-Shabim, both in three-line strophes, the latter with signature and alphabet. Rapoport
Samuel Judah Löb Rapoport
Solomon Judah Löb Rapoport , was a Galician rabbi and Jewish scholar. He was born in Lemberg, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, Austria. He married the daughter of the famed Ketoz hachosen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryeh_Leib_Heller, and was instrumental in publishing the work Avnie Miluim of...
further assigns to Isaac Ayumati Yonah, ahabah for the Sabbath before the Feast of Weeks, and Yaḳush be-'Onyo, ge'ullah for the fifth Sabbath after Pesaḥ, but other scholars do not agree with Rapoport on this point.
Jewish Encyclopedia Bibliography
- Rapoport's biography of Hai Gaon in Bikkure ha-'Ittim, 1829, x. 91;
- DelitzschDelitzschDelitzsch is a large district and also an important regional center in Saxony. With over 26,300 inhabitants Delitzsch is the largest city in the northern district of Saxony...
, Zur Gesch. der Jüdischen Poesie, pp. 46, 168; - 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...
, Cat. Bodl. cols. 1149 et seq.;- idem, Hebr. Uebers. p. 910;
- Michael, Or ha-Ḥayyim, p. 510;
- Abraham GeigerAbraham GeigerAbraham Geiger was a German rabbi and scholar who led the founding of Reform Judaism...
, Jüdische Dichtungen, pp. 9 et seq. (Hebr. part, pp. 4 et seq.); - Landshuth, Ammude ha-'Abodah, p. 126;
- Leopold ZunzLeopold ZunzLeopold 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...
, Literaturgesch. pp. 201, 673; - Heinrich Grätz, Gesch. 3rd ed., vi.62 et seq.;
- Weiss, Dor, iv.281;
- HalberstamHalberstam- Etymology and history :Many other surnames beginning with "Halber" may have originated from Halberstam when immigrants came to America seeking more American-sounding names.- People :...
, introduction to Judah Albargeloni's commentary on the Sefer Yeẓirah, pp. xvii-xviii; - comp. Oẓar Neḥmad, ii.188 et seq.