Moses Almosnino
Encyclopedia
Moses ben Baruch Almosnino (c. 1515 – c. 1580) was a distinguished rabbi
; born at Thessaloniki
about 1515, and died in Constantinople
about 1580.
He was elected rabbi of the Neveh Shalom community of Spanish Jews
in that city in 1553, and of the Livyat Hen congregation in 1560. He was eminent alike for knowledge of rabbi
nical matters and for scholarship in the science of his day, particularly natural physics
and astronomy
, furnishing commentaries upon many treatises translated from the Arabic and Latin
.
In 1565, he successfully represented his brethren at an audience with the sultan Selim II
, petitioning for the confirmation of their civil rights.
He wrote, in 1570, a lengthy Hebrew
commentary on the Biblical "Five Rolls"—the books of Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther—under the title Yede Mosheh ("The Hands of Moses"); also an exposition of the Talmud
ical treatise Abot "Ethics of the Fathers" called Pirkei Moshe, published at Salonica in 1563; and a collection of sermons delivered upon various occasions, particularly funeral orations, entitled Meammeẓ. Koah ("Reenforcing Strength.") These were published in Hebrew by his son Simon, the expense being defrayed by two other sons, Abraham and Absalom.
Another Hebrew work by Almosnino was Tefillah le-Mosheh ("The Prayer of Moses"), an apologetic work on the Pentateuch, published at Salonica in 1563, and republished at Cracow in 1598 and 1805.
In Spanish he wrote a homiletic work, Regimiento de la Vida, which treats among other things of the origin of good and evil, the influence of the stars, Providence
, the moral
life, education of children, and free will
. To this was appended a chapter on "Dreams, Their Origin and True Nature," written, as it is stated, at the request of Don Joseph Nasi
, Duke of Naxos
. Although written in Spanish, the work was printed in Hebrew characters at the press of Joseph Jaabez, Salonica, 1564, and was republished at Venice in 1604, and at Salonica in 1729. An appendix of five pages contains a list of difficult Spanish words, occurring therein, translated into Hebrew. An edition in Spanish letters was published by Samuel Mendes de Sola and associates in Amsterdam, 1729, dedicated to Aaron David Pinto. This work is considered one of the rarest in the Spanish language. A historical work by Almosnino, Extremos y Grandezas de Constantinopla, also in Spanish with Hebrew characters, was transliterated and republished by Jacob Cansino, Madrid, 1638.
According to Moritz Steinschneider
(Die Hebräischen Uebersetzungen des Mittelalters und die Juden als Dolmetscher, p. 215), Moses Almosnino was also author of a commentary upon Aristotle
's Ethics
. Eliakim Carmoly
(p. 12) mentions it under the title of Pene Mosheh ("The Face of Moses"), stating that it was written by Moses at Palestria near Salonica, and that his son Simon, after his father's death, desired to publish it (1584).
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...
; born at Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
about 1515, and died in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
about 1580.
He was elected rabbi of the Neveh Shalom community of Spanish Jews
Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
in that city in 1553, and of the Livyat Hen congregation in 1560. He was eminent alike for knowledge of 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...
nical matters and for scholarship in the science of his day, particularly natural physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, furnishing commentaries upon many treatises translated from the Arabic and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
In 1565, he successfully represented his brethren at an audience with the sultan Selim II
Selim II
Selim II Sarkhosh Hashoink , also known as "Selim the Sot " or "Selim the Drunkard"; and as "Sarı Selim" or "Selim the Blond", was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1566 until his death in 1574.-Early years:He was born in Constantinople a son of Suleiman the...
, petitioning for the confirmation of their civil rights.
He wrote, in 1570, a lengthy Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
commentary on the Biblical "Five Rolls"—the books of Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther—under the title Yede Mosheh ("The Hands of Moses"); also an exposition of the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ical treatise Abot "Ethics of the Fathers" called Pirkei Moshe, published at Salonica in 1563; and a collection of sermons delivered upon various occasions, particularly funeral orations, entitled Meammeẓ. Koah ("Reenforcing Strength.") These were published in Hebrew by his son Simon, the expense being defrayed by two other sons, Abraham and Absalom.
Another Hebrew work by Almosnino was Tefillah le-Mosheh ("The Prayer of Moses"), an apologetic work on the Pentateuch, published at Salonica in 1563, and republished at Cracow in 1598 and 1805.
In Spanish he wrote a homiletic work, Regimiento de la Vida, which treats among other things of the origin of good and evil, the influence of the stars, Providence
Divine Providence
In Christian theology, divine providence, or simply providence, is God's activity in the world. " Providence" is also used as a title of God exercising His providence, and then the word are usually capitalized...
, the moral
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
life, education of children, and free will
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
. To this was appended a chapter on "Dreams, Their Origin and True Nature," written, as it is stated, at the request of Don Joseph Nasi
Joseph Nasi
Don Joseph Nasi was a Jewish diplomat and administrator, member of the House of Mendes, and influential figure in the Ottoman Empire during the rules of both Sultan Suleiman I and his son Selim II...
, Duke of Naxos
Duchy of the Archipelago
The Duchy of the Archipelago or also Duchy of Naxos or Duchy of the Aegean was a maritime state created by Venetian interests in the Cyclades archipelago in the Aegean Sea, in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade, centered on the islands of Naxos and Paros.-Background and establishment of the...
. Although written in Spanish, the work was printed in Hebrew characters at the press of Joseph Jaabez, Salonica, 1564, and was republished at Venice in 1604, and at Salonica in 1729. An appendix of five pages contains a list of difficult Spanish words, occurring therein, translated into Hebrew. An edition in Spanish letters was published by Samuel Mendes de Sola and associates in Amsterdam, 1729, dedicated to Aaron David Pinto. This work is considered one of the rarest in the Spanish language. A historical work by Almosnino, Extremos y Grandezas de Constantinopla, also in Spanish with Hebrew characters, was transliterated and republished by Jacob Cansino, Madrid, 1638.
According to Moritz Steinschneider
Moritz Steinschneider
Moritz 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...
(Die Hebräischen Uebersetzungen des Mittelalters und die Juden als Dolmetscher, p. 215), Moses Almosnino was also author of a commentary upon Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle 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 Ethics
Nicomachean Ethics
The Nicomachean Ethics is the name normally given to Aristotle's best known work on ethics. The English version of the title derives from Greek Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, transliterated Ethika Nikomacheia, which is sometimes also given in the genitive form as Ἠθικῶν Νικομαχείων, Ethikōn Nikomacheiōn...
. Eliakim Carmoly
Eliakim Carmoly
Eliakim Carmoly was a French-Jewish scholar. He was born at Soultz-Haut-Rhin, then in the French department of Haut-Rhin. His real name was Goschel David Behr ; the name Carmoly, borne by his family in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, was adopted by him when quite young...
(p. 12) mentions it under the title of Pene Mosheh ("The Face of Moses"), stating that it was written by Moses at Palestria near Salonica, and that his son Simon, after his father's death, desired to publish it (1584).