Caleb Afendopolo
Encyclopedia
Caleb Afendopolo was a Jewish polyhistor. He was the brother of Samuel ha-Ramati, ḥakam
of the Karaite congregations in Constantinople and of Judah Bali, brother-in-law and disciple of Elijah Bashyatzi.
According to a notice found in a Paris manuscript, he supported himself by giving private instruction; but this is questioned by Steinschneider. A pupil of Mordecai Comtino
at Adrianople, Afendopolo attained great proficiency in science, and, while lacking depth and originality of thought, distinguished himself by prolific literary production, based on his large library, that included rare manuscripts, partly bought, partly copied by himself. He continued Adderet Eliyahu (Elijah's Mantle), a work on Karaite law left unfinished in his charge by his teacher, Bashyatzi, in 1490.
The wife of Bashyatzi, who was Afendopolo's sister, having died before her husband, Afendopolo no longer referred to Bashyatzi as his brother-in-law, but called him teacher. Afendopolo died before completing Bashyatzi's treatise.
in his Ginze Yisrael (Lyck, 1865), and less exactly by A. Firkovitch. His writings are:
Afendopolo also wrote some penitential hymns which are to be found in the Karaite Maḥzor
(Neubauer, Catalogue, No. 2369, 3; Zunz
, G. V., p. 425; idem, 2nd ed., p. 440); but most of these hymns were taken from Rabbinite poets (see David Kahana in Oẓar ha-Sifrut, vol. v, Cracow, 1896). Afendopolo had intended to translate the Elements of Euclid, and to write commentaries on Jabir ibn Aflaḥ
's Kitab al-Ḥiyyah (Compendium on Astronomy) and on Ptolemy
's Almagest.
Hakam
Hakam may refer to:*Al-Hakam in Arabic الحكم means the wise man, referring to the old Arab arbitrators that predated qadis.*Hakam or The National Human Rights Society, a Malaysian human rights organization*Hakham, a wise man, in Judaism*Hakam, Yemen...
of the Karaite congregations in Constantinople and of Judah Bali, brother-in-law and disciple of Elijah Bashyatzi.
According to a notice found in a Paris manuscript, he supported himself by giving private instruction; but this is questioned by Steinschneider. A pupil of Mordecai Comtino
Mordecai Comtino
Mordecai ben Eliezer Comtino was a Turkish Jewish Talmudist and scientist.The earliest date attached to any of his writings is 1425...
at Adrianople, Afendopolo attained great proficiency in science, and, while lacking depth and originality of thought, distinguished himself by prolific literary production, based on his large library, that included rare manuscripts, partly bought, partly copied by himself. He continued Adderet Eliyahu (Elijah's Mantle), a work on Karaite law left unfinished in his charge by his teacher, Bashyatzi, in 1490.
The wife of Bashyatzi, who was Afendopolo's sister, having died before her husband, Afendopolo no longer referred to Bashyatzi as his brother-in-law, but called him teacher. Afendopolo died before completing Bashyatzi's treatise.
Works
Afendopolo's own works give a fair insight into the erudition of the Karaites. Fragments only of many of them have been brought to light by Jonah Hayyim GurlandJonah Hayyim Gurland
Jonah Hayyim Gurland was a Russian and Hebrew writer born at Kleck, government of Minsk. At the age of 10, Gurland entered the rabbinical school of Wilna, from which he graduated as rabbi in 1860. He then went to St...
in his Ginze Yisrael (Lyck, 1865), and less exactly by A. Firkovitch. His writings are:
- An introductory index to Aaron ben ElijahAaron ben ElijahAaron ben Elijah , the Latter, of Nicomedia is often considered to be the most prominent Karaite theologian...
's Eẓ ha-Ḥayyim (1497), giving the contents of each chapter under the title, "Derek Eẓ ha-Ḥayyim," published by 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...
in his edition (1840) of this work. - A similar introductory index to Judah HadassiJudah HadassiJudah ben Elijah Hadassi was a Karaite Jewish scholar, controversialist, and liturgist who flourished at Constantinople in the middle of the twelfth century...
's Eshkol, under the title Naḥal Eshkol (Koslov, 1836). - Gan ha-Melek (Garden of the King), his principal work, finished in 1495, a diwanDiwan (poetry)-Etymology:The English usage of the phrase Diwan Poetry comes from the Arabic word diwan , which is loaned from Persian means designated a list or register. The Persian word derived from the Persian dibir meaning writer or scribe...
, or collection of poetical essays on love, medicine, and the active intellect. - 'Asarah Mamarot (Ten Discourses), containing homilies on the PassoverPassoverPassover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
lesson (Ex. xii.14); on the Song of SongsSong of songsSong of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon, is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. It may also refer to:In music:* Song of songs , the debut album by David and the Giants* A generic term for medleysPlays...
as read on the seventh Passover Day; on Psalm cxix, read, according to Karaite custom, on the seven SabbathsShabbatShabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
between Passover and PentecostPentecostPentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
; and on the Pentecost lesson dealing with the Sinaitic revelation. The introductory chapter, much of which is reproduced by Mordecai ben Nissim in his Dod Mordecai, dwells on the origin of the Karaite schism and the main questions at issue between the Karaites and the Rabbinites (see especially Steinschneider, Leyden Catalogue, pp. 127 et seq.). Afendopolo's view of JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
given therein is remarkable for its impartial tone. He places Jesus, it is true, a century before the Common EraCommon EraCommon Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
, but adds: "He was, according to the opinion of the lovers of truth, a wise man, pious, righteous, God-fearing, and shunning evil. Neither did he ever teach any law or practice contrary to the written law. Only after his death, a quarrel arose between his followers and those who had opposed him because of his wisdom, which was rooted in the law and not in their rabbinical additions; and many of these disciples of his, sent forth in his name, introduced practices and teachings altogether foreign to him, removing thereby the corner-stone of the Law, though winning the multitudes. Thus the New TestamentNew TestamentThe New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
originated, which separated the Christians from the Jews." - Abner ben Ner (1488), a series of Hebrew makamas, or short, rhymed narratives, introducing SaulSaul-People:Saul is a given/first name in English, the Anglicized form of the Hebrew name Shaul from the Hebrew Bible:* Saul , including people with this given namein the Bible:* Saul , a king of Edom...
, DavidDavidDavid was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
, and the queen of Sheba into the dialogue. - Under the same title, an allegory on the Song of Songs, the same being applied to the relation of God to Israel.
- Iggeret ha-Sheḥiṭah (1497), a work on the rites used in slaughtering animals, in the form of letters addressed to his son-in-law, Jacob ben Judah; the same in condensed form written at Kramaria near Constantinople (1497).
- Seder 'Inyan Sheḥiṭah, a similar work in rhyme, is extant in manuscript (Firkovitch's MS. No. 569).
- On the use of arrack (in which the passage Deut.DeuteronomyThe Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
xxxii.38 is applied to the Moslems, and the Christian sacrifice is alluded to; see Steinschneider, Leyden Catalogue, p. 233; Polemische Literatur, p. 374). - Iggeret ha-Kimah (Letter on the PleiadesPleiadesPleiades can refer to:Astronomy and science*Pleiades , an open cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus**Pleiades in folklore and literature, interpretations and traditional meanings of the star cluster among various human cultures...
), treating of forbidden marriages, and directed against Joshua's work on the subject. - Patshegen Ketab ha-Dat (1496), on the Pentateuch lessons and the Hafṭarot and other Bible selections.
- A rejoinder to MaimonidesMaimonidesMoses 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...
in defense of the Karaite calculation of the seven weeks (Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. vii.11). - A defense of Aaron ben ElijahAaron ben ElijahAaron ben Elijah , the Latter, of Nicomedia is often considered to be the most prominent Karaite theologian...
's Gan Eden against Moses ben Jacob ha-Ashkenazi (Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. xx.122). - A commentary on the Hebrew translation of the arithmetic of Nicomachus of Gerasa (first or second century), made from the Arabic by Kalonymus ben KalonymusKalonymus ben KalonymusKalonymus ben Kalonymus ben Meir was a Provençal Jewish philosopher and translator. He studied philosophy and rabbinical literature at Salonica, under the direction of Senior Astruc de Noves and Moses ben Solomon of Beaucaire...
in 1317. The manuscript is in the Berlin Royal Library (Steinschneider, in Monatsschrift, xxxviii.76). Afendopolo has attached to this commentary a sort of general encyclopedia of the sciences. He commences with an analysis of the eight books of AristotleAristotleAristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
's Logic. Practical science, as he calls it, deals with man himself, with the house (family), and the state. Speculative science comprises physics, geometry, and metaphysics. In the same manner he runs through the other sciences, giving their various subdivisions. The highest science is theology, which treats of the soul, of prophecy, and of eschatologyEschatologyEschatology is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world or the World to Come...
. The course of instruction which Afendopolo lays down follows that of PlatoPlatoPlato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
; namely, logic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music, the science of aspects, metrology, physics, and metaphysics. After discussing future bliss, he deals with two other sciences—law, especially as regards the relation of faith to works, and controversy (Ḥokmat ha-Debarim). In the latter he cites freely from Batalyusi, without, however, giving his authority (Steinschneider, in Monatsschrift, xl.90 et seq.). - An astronomical treatise, largely made up of a commentary on the portion of Elijah's Gan Eden (Neubauer, Catalogue, No. 2054), under the title Miklal Yofi.
- Iggeret ha-Maspeḳet, a work on astronomical terminology, and on the construction of sundialSundialA sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style onto a surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. The style is the time-telling edge of the gnomon, often a thin rod or a...
s, improving upon the method of his teacher, Comtino, by adding the odd hours (Gurland, Ginze Yisrael, iii.18, 19). - Tiḳḳun Keli Rob ha-Sha'ot (1487), which was known also to Joseph del Medigo.
Afendopolo also wrote some penitential hymns which are to be found in the Karaite Maḥzor
Mahzor
The mahzor is the prayer book used by Jews on the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Many Jews also make use of specialized mahzorim on the three "pilgrimage festivals" of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot...
(Neubauer, Catalogue, No. 2369, 3; Zunz
Zunz
Zunz, Zuntz is a Yiddish surname: , Belgian pharmacologist* Leopold Zunz , German Reform rabbi* Gerhard Jack Zunz , British civil engineer- Zuntz :* Nathan Zuntz , German physiologist...
, G. V., p. 425; idem, 2nd ed., p. 440); but most of these hymns were taken from Rabbinite poets (see David Kahana in Oẓar ha-Sifrut, vol. v, Cracow, 1896). Afendopolo had intended to translate the Elements of Euclid, and to write commentaries on Jabir ibn Aflaḥ
Jabir ibn Aflah
Abū Muḥammad Jābir ibn Aflaḥ was a Muslim astronomer and mathematician from Seville, who was active in 12th century Andalusia. His work Iṣlāḥ al-Majisṭi influenced Islamic, Jewish and Christian astronomers....
's Kitab al-Ḥiyyah (Compendium on Astronomy) and on Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
's Almagest.