Meir ibn Aldabi
Encyclopedia
Meir ibn Aldabi was a writer of the 14th century, son of Isaac Aldabi, "He-Ḥasid" (The Pious), grandson of Asher ben Jehiel
, and a descendant of the exiles from Jerusalem. His name (erroneously spelled Albadi, Albalidi, Alrabi, and Altabi) is ascertained from his chief work, Shebile Emunah, wherein a poem is found in which every line begins with a letter of his name, and there it reads "Aldabi."
), caused Graetz
to assume that Meir ibn Aldabi was banished to Jerusalem. Graetz failed to take into account Aldabi's words, "He [God] led me into a waste land," which he would not have used in reference to Jerusalem.
Aldabi belonged to the class of popular writers who, possessing extensive theological and scientific knowledge, commented upon the assertions of their predecessors with a clear understanding, expressing here and there their own opinions, and presenting some subjects from the standpoint of the Kabbala
. Aldabi was also one of those Talmudists whose conception of religion was wholly spiritual and who revered the Cabala: he can not, however, be called a true cabalist. In 1360 he wrote Shebile Emunah (The Paths of Faith), an exhaustive treatise on philosophical, scientific, and theological subjects. To judge from the many editions that appeared from time to time, it was for centuries a favorite book with the educated.
Steinschneider (Hebr. Uebers. pp. 9–27) has shown Aldabi's Shebile Emunah to be a compilation from various older sources, chiefly from Gerson ben Solomon of Arles's encyclopedic work, Sha'ar ha-Shamayim, of the 13th century. From Gerson's work the chapter on the members of the human body (§2, chap. iii) is taken, and in part verbally. So are Aldabi's "Ten Questions on the Soul" (§6), interspersed with passages borrowed literally from Joseph ibn Zaddik and Hillel ben Samuel, only a modified form of the "Ten Discussions on the Soul," which Gerson himself adapted from a book on the soul, probably written by Ibn Gabirol. Against the charges of plagiarism raised in Brüll
's Jahrb. ii.166-168, see Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. 1876, p. 90.
Asher ben Jehiel
Asher ben Jehiel- Ashkenazi was an eminent rabbi and Talmudist best known for his abstract of Talmudic law. He is often referred to as Rabbenu Asher, “our Rabbi Asher” or by the Hebrew acronym for this title, the ROSH...
, and a descendant of the exiles from Jerusalem. His name (erroneously spelled Albadi, Albalidi, Alrabi, and Altabi) is ascertained from his chief work, Shebile Emunah, wherein a poem is found in which every line begins with a letter of his name, and there it reads "Aldabi."
Biography
In the preface to his book occurs the expression, "of the exiles of Jerusalem." This, together with Aldabi's statement that he was exiled from his country (AndalusiaAndalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
), caused Graetz
Heinrich Graetz
Heinrich Graetz was amongst the first historians to write a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from a Jewish perspective....
to assume that Meir ibn Aldabi was banished to Jerusalem. Graetz failed to take into account Aldabi's words, "He [God] led me into a waste land," which he would not have used in reference to Jerusalem.
Aldabi belonged to the class of popular writers who, possessing extensive theological and scientific knowledge, commented upon the assertions of their predecessors with a clear understanding, expressing here and there their own opinions, and presenting some subjects from the standpoint of the Kabbala
Kabbala
Kabbala may refer to:*Kabbalah, is a religious philosophical system claiming an insight into divine nature*Sefer ha-Qabbalah by Abraham ibn Daud*Kabbala Denudata , a book from Christian Knorr von Rosenroth, a Christian Hebraist...
. Aldabi was also one of those Talmudists whose conception of religion was wholly spiritual and who revered the Cabala: he can not, however, be called a true cabalist. In 1360 he wrote Shebile Emunah (The Paths of Faith), an exhaustive treatise on philosophical, scientific, and theological subjects. To judge from the many editions that appeared from time to time, it was for centuries a favorite book with the educated.
Shebile Emunah
Shebile Emunah (Shevilei Emunah) is divided into ten chapters, which treat respectively of:- The existence of God, His attributes, His immateriality, unity, and immutability, which is not affected by prayer or even by miracles – introducing in each case a cabalistic discussion of the names of the Deity.
- The creation of the world, which does not necessitate any change in God or any plurality in His nature; an explanation of the Biblical account being given, followed by a dissertation on the seven climates or zones of the earth as then conceived, the spheres, the stars, the sun and moon and their eclipses, and on meteorology.
- Human embryology and the generative functions.
- Human anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
- Rules for health and long life.
- The soul and its functions.
- The exaltation of the soul, which, through the fulfilment of the Law, becomes one with the Creator – the chapter being devoted chiefly to an explanation of the ethical value of the Mosaic commandments.
- Explanatory notes on the truth of the Law and of oral tradition, elucidating some of the HaggadotAggadahAggadah refers to the homiletic and non-legalistic exegetical texts in the classical rabbinic literature of Judaism, particularly as recorded in the Talmud and Midrash...
on the same lines as Solomon ben Adret. - Reward and punishment, paradise and hell, immortality of the soul and its transmigrationReincarnationReincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
in man. - The redemption of IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, the resurrectionResurrectionResurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
, and the world to come after resurrection; a general résumé of the book, followed by a poem.
Steinschneider (Hebr. Uebers. pp. 9–27) has shown Aldabi's Shebile Emunah to be a compilation from various older sources, chiefly from Gerson ben Solomon of Arles's encyclopedic work, Sha'ar ha-Shamayim, of the 13th century. From Gerson's work the chapter on the members of the human body (§2, chap. iii) is taken, and in part verbally. So are Aldabi's "Ten Questions on the Soul" (§6), interspersed with passages borrowed literally from Joseph ibn Zaddik and Hillel ben Samuel, only a modified form of the "Ten Discussions on the Soul," which Gerson himself adapted from a book on the soul, probably written by Ibn Gabirol. Against the charges of plagiarism raised in Brüll
Nehemiah Brüll
Nehemiah Brüll was a rabbi and versatile scholar.- Life :Brüll received his rabbinic-Talmudic education from his father, Jakob Brüll , who combined wide Talmudic knowledge with acute historical perception...
's Jahrb. ii.166-168, see Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. 1876, p. 90.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- 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. col. 1690; - Heinrich Grätz, Gesch. d. Juden, vii.328;
- Gustav KarpelesGustav KarpelesGustav Karpeles was a German Jewish historian of literature and editor; son of Elijah Karpeles.-Life:He studied at the University of Breslau, where he attended also the Jewish Theological Seminary...
, Gesch. d. Jüd. Lit. p. 764; - Isaac Benjacob, Oẓar ha-Sefarim, p. 265.
- Many extracts from the Shebile Emunah may be found in KaufmannDavid KaufmannDavid Kaufmann was a Jewish-Austrian scholar born at Kojetín, Moravia...
, Die Sinne, see index.