Abraham Yahuda
Encyclopedia
Abraham Shalom Yahuda was a Jewish polymath
, teacher, writer, researcher, linguist, and collector of rare documents.
He was born in Jerusalem to a Jewish family originally from Baghdad
. During his early life he studied under his brother Isaac Ezekial Yahuda. In 1895, at the age of fifteen, he wrote his first book entitled Arab Antiquities. Two years later, in 1897 he attended the First Zionist Congress
in Basil, Switzerland. Afterwards he began teaching in Berlin from 1905 to 1914. Later, during the First World War, he relocated to Madrid where he continued teaching from 1915 to 1922. Eventually Yahuda would relocate once again to New York and continue his career at the New School for Social Research.
During his lifetime Yahuda was a notable linguist and writer, translating and interpreting many ancient Arabic documents including various works of pre-Islamic poetry and medieval Judeo-Arabic texts. In 1934 he published The Accuracy of the Bible, a work which would spark a significant amount of international discussion.
After his death in 1952 his book Dr. Weizmann's Errors on Trial was published. The work is a scathing attack upon Zionist policies that Yahuda had felt irreparably damaged relations between Jews and Arabs. Upon his death many of Yahuda's vast collection of rare documents were donated to the Jewish National and University Library
, including about fifteen hundred documents. Much of the donated material was of Arabic origin, however, several hundred items were in ancient Hebrew as well. Also included were a number of documents from other countries, including a number of illuminated manuscripts and unpublished documents penned by Sir Isaac Newton.
In his 1993 play Hysteria, British playwright Terry Johnson
created a character partly based on Yahuda's attempt to convince Sigmund Freud not to publish his final book, Moses and Monotheism.
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
, teacher, writer, researcher, linguist, and collector of rare documents.
He was born in Jerusalem to a Jewish family originally from Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. During his early life he studied under his brother Isaac Ezekial Yahuda. In 1895, at the age of fifteen, he wrote his first book entitled Arab Antiquities. Two years later, in 1897 he attended the First Zionist Congress
First Zionist Congress
The First Zionist Congress was the inaugural congress of the Zionist Organization held in Basel , Switzerland, from August 29 to August 31, 1897. It was convened and chaired by Theodor Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionism movement...
in Basil, Switzerland. Afterwards he began teaching in Berlin from 1905 to 1914. Later, during the First World War, he relocated to Madrid where he continued teaching from 1915 to 1922. Eventually Yahuda would relocate once again to New York and continue his career at the New School for Social Research.
During his lifetime Yahuda was a notable linguist and writer, translating and interpreting many ancient Arabic documents including various works of pre-Islamic poetry and medieval Judeo-Arabic texts. In 1934 he published The Accuracy of the Bible, a work which would spark a significant amount of international discussion.
After his death in 1952 his book Dr. Weizmann's Errors on Trial was published. The work is a scathing attack upon Zionist policies that Yahuda had felt irreparably damaged relations between Jews and Arabs. Upon his death many of Yahuda's vast collection of rare documents were donated to the Jewish National and University Library
Jewish National and University Library
The National Library of Israel , is the national library of Israel...
, including about fifteen hundred documents. Much of the donated material was of Arabic origin, however, several hundred items were in ancient Hebrew as well. Also included were a number of documents from other countries, including a number of illuminated manuscripts and unpublished documents penned by Sir Isaac Newton.
In his 1993 play Hysteria, British playwright Terry Johnson
Terry Johnson (dramatist)
Terry Johnson is a British dramatist and director working for stage, television and film. He is a Literary Associate at the Royal Court Theatre. At The Court he directed Dumb Show by Joe Penhall and opened his play Piano/Forte...
created a character partly based on Yahuda's attempt to convince Sigmund Freud not to publish his final book, Moses and Monotheism.