Moses ben Avraham Avinu
Encyclopedia
Moses ben Avraham Avinu was an Czech-Austrian
printer and author who was a Christian convert to Judaism. His father, Jacob, was also a convert.
Moses was born at Nikolsburg (now Mikulov
). He became a native of Prague
, and was circumcised at Amsterdam
. In 1686-87, he worked for two printers of Amsterdam, but from 1690 to 1694 seems to have owned a printing establishment and to have printed several Hebrew books, including his own Judeo-German translation of Hannover
's Yewen Mezulah. He assisted with the engravings for the 1695 Passover Haggadah
, which was printed by Kosman Emrich. In 1709, Moses established a printing-office at , where in 1712 he printed his Tela'ot Moshe (or "Weltbeschreibung"), a Judeo-German work on the Ten Tribes
, having collected the material from a number of sources, particularly from Abraham Farissol and Gedaliah ibn Yahya
. He continued printing in Halle until 1714, in which year he printed Tefillat Moshe, a prayer-book, and Berechiah Baruch's Zera' Berak. Owing to anti-Christian passages in these two works, his printing-office was closed by royal order. He was imprisoned, and his books were confiscated. His coreligionists, however, helped him to escape to Amsterdam, where he printed in the same year (1714) Mesechtas Rosh ha-Shanah
. He died in Amsterdam in 1733 or 1734. His children also became printers in Amsterdam.
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
printer and author who was a Christian convert to Judaism. His father, Jacob, was also a convert.
Moses was born at Nikolsburg (now Mikulov
Mikulov
Mikulov is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic with a population of 7,608 . It is located directly on the border with Lower Austria. Mikulov is located at the edge of a hilly area and the three Nové Mlýny reservoirs...
). He became a native of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, and was circumcised at Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. In 1686-87, he worked for two printers of Amsterdam, but from 1690 to 1694 seems to have owned a printing establishment and to have printed several Hebrew books, including his own Judeo-German translation of Hannover
Nathan ben Moses Hannover
Nathan ben Moses Hannover was a Ruthenian Jewish historian, Talmudist, and kabbalist; he died, according to Leopold Zunz , at Ungarisch-Brod, Moravia, July 14, 1663. Jacob Aboab, however, in a letter to Unger Nathan (Nata) ben Moses Hannover (Hebrew: נתן נטע הנובר) was a Ruthenian Jewish...
's Yewen Mezulah. He assisted with the engravings for the 1695 Passover Haggadah
Haggadah of Pesach
The Haggadah is a Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder. Reading the Haggadah at the Seder table is a fulfillment of the Scriptural commandment to each Jew to "tell your son" of the Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt as described in the Book of Exodus in the Torah...
, which was printed by Kosman Emrich. In 1709, Moses established a printing-office at , where in 1712 he printed his Tela'ot Moshe (or "Weltbeschreibung"), a Judeo-German work on the Ten Tribes
Ten Lost Tribes
The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel refers to those tribes of ancient Israel that formed the Kingdom of Israel and which disappeared from Biblical and all other historical accounts after the kingdom was destroyed in about 720 BC by ancient Assyria...
, having collected the material from a number of sources, particularly from Abraham Farissol and Gedaliah ibn Yahya
Gedaliah ibn Yahya ben Joseph
Gedaliah ibn Yahya ben Joseph was a talmudist born at Imola, Italy. He studied in the yeshibah at Ferrara under Jacob Finzi and Abraham Rovigo and Israel Rovigo. In 1549 he settled in Rovigo, where he remained until 1562, in which year the burning of the Talmud took place in Italy...
. He continued printing in Halle until 1714, in which year he printed Tefillat Moshe, a prayer-book, and Berechiah Baruch's Zera' Berak. Owing to anti-Christian passages in these two works, his printing-office was closed by royal order. He was imprisoned, and his books were confiscated. His coreligionists, however, helped him to escape to Amsterdam, where he printed in the same year (1714) Mesechtas Rosh ha-Shanah
Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)
Rosh Hashanah is the name of a text of Jewish law originating in the Mishnah which formed the basis of tractates in both the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud of the same name. It is the eighth tractate of the order Moed...
. He died in Amsterdam in 1733 or 1734. His children also became printers in Amsterdam.