Simchah ben Abraham Calimani
Encyclopedia
Simchah ben Abraham Calimani (d. August 2, 1784, Venice
) was a Venetian rabbi
and author. He was a versatile writer, and equally prominent as linguist
, poet, orator, and Talmudist. During his rabbinate Calimani was engaged as corrector at the Hebrew printing office in Venice. Among the great number of books revised by him was the responsum
of David ben Zimra (RaDBaZ), to which he added an index, and the Yad Ḥaruẓim (on Hebrew versification) of Gerson Ḥefeẓ, enriched with interesting notes of his own.
Calimani was the author of the following works: (1) II Rabbino Morale-Toscano, an Italian translation of the Mishnah
treatise Abot (in collaboration with Jacob Saraval, Venice, 1729, often reprinted); (2) Kelale Diḳduḳe Leshon 'Eber, a Hebrew grammar inserted at the end of the Bible, edited at Venice, 1739; (3) Grammatica Ebrea, an Italian translation of the preceding work, Venice, 1751; Pisa, 1815; (4) Ḳol Simḥah (Voice of Joy), an allegorical drama, with Jealousy, Folly, and Wisdom as the heroes, Venice, 1758; (5) a Hebrew-Italian dictionary, left unfinished.
Calimani was liberal in his religious views, and took part in the campaign directed by Wessely against the delivery of casuistic
lectures (pilpul
) in the synagogues.
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...
) was a Venetian rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and author. He was a versatile writer, and equally prominent as linguist
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, poet, orator, and Talmudist. During his rabbinate Calimani was engaged as corrector at the Hebrew printing office in Venice. Among the great number of books revised by him was the responsum
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...
of David ben Zimra (RaDBaZ), to which he added an index, and the Yad Ḥaruẓim (on Hebrew versification) of Gerson Ḥefeẓ, enriched with interesting notes of his own.
Calimani was the author of the following works: (1) II Rabbino Morale-Toscano, an Italian translation 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...
treatise Abot (in collaboration with Jacob Saraval, Venice, 1729, often reprinted); (2) Kelale Diḳduḳe Leshon 'Eber, a Hebrew grammar inserted at the end of the Bible, edited at Venice, 1739; (3) Grammatica Ebrea, an Italian translation of the preceding work, Venice, 1751; Pisa, 1815; (4) Ḳol Simḥah (Voice of Joy), an allegorical drama, with Jealousy, Folly, and Wisdom as the heroes, Venice, 1758; (5) a Hebrew-Italian dictionary, left unfinished.
Calimani was liberal in his religious views, and took part in the campaign directed by Wessely against the delivery of casuistic
Casuistry
In applied ethics, casuistry is case-based reasoning. Casuistry is used in juridical and ethical discussions of law and ethics, and often is a critique of principle- or rule-based reasoning...
lectures (pilpul
Pilpul
Pilpul refers to a method of studying the Talmud through intense textual analysis in attempts to either explain conceptual differences between various halakhic rulings or to reconcile any apparent contradictions presented from various readings of different texts.Pilpul has entered English as a...
) in the synagogues.
See also
- Riccardo CalimaniRiccardo CalimaniRiccardo Calimani is a renowned writer and historian, specialised on Italian and European Judaism and Jewish history....
- Venetian GhettoVenetian GhettoThe Venetian Ghetto was the area of Venice in which Jews were compelled to live under the Venetian Republic. It is from its name in Italian , that the English word "ghetto" is derived: in the Venetian language it was named "ghèto".-Etymology:...