Yom-Tov Lipmann-Muhlhausen
Encyclopedia
Yom-Tov ben Solomon Lipmann-Muhlhausen (Hebrew: יום טוב ליפמן מילהאוזן) was a controversialist, Talmudist, kabalist and philosopher of the 14th and 15th centuries (birth date unknown, died later than 1420). His religious and scholarly career and influence spanned the Jewish communities of Bohemia, Poland, Austria and various parts of Germany, and his dispute with the principles of Christianity left a lasting imprint on the relations between Christianity and Judaism.
There is no comprehensive account of his life and career, which must be reconstructed from fragmentary references. According to Stephan Bodecker
, Bishop of Brandenburg
, who wrote a refutation of Lipmann's Niẓẓaḥon, Lipmann lived at Cracow. But Naphtali Hirsch Treves
, in the introduction to his Siddur, calls him "Lipmann-Mülhausen of Prague
", adding that he lived in the part of the town called "Wyschigrod." Manuscript No. 223 in the Halberstam collection contains a document issued at Prague in 1413 and signed by Lipmann-Mülhausen, as dayyan
.
, that he was acquainted with Karaite literature, that he read the New Testament
, and that he knew Latin. His authority in rabbinical matters is shown by his circular to the rabbis warning them against the use of any shofar
not made of a ram's horn (comp. S.D. Luzzatto in Kerem Ḥemed, vii. 56). There are also responsa
addressed to him by Jacob ben Moses Mölln (A. Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. No. 907, 5), and Israel Isserlein
mentions him (Terumat ha-Deshen, No. 24) as one of five scholars who met at Erfurt
. On August 16, 1399, Lipmann and many other Jews were thrown into prison at the instigation of a converted Jew named Peter, who accused them of insulting Christianity
in their works. Lipmann was ordered to justify himself, but while he brilliantly refuted Peter's accusations, as a result of the charges seventy-seven Jews were martyred on August 22, 1400, and three more, by fire, on September 11, 1400. Of the accused Lipmann alone escaped death.
In this work the author frequently mentions a cabalistic work entitled Sefer ha-Eshkol and a commentary to the Sefer Yeẓirah
was certainly a rare thing. Lipmann was compelled to justify himself (§3) by referring to the saying of Rabbi Eliezer, "Know what thou shalt answer to the heretic" (Abot ii.14). The whole work consists of 354 paragraphs, the number of days in the lunar year, each paragraph, with the exception of the last eight, beginning with a passage of the Bible
, upon which the author founds his argument. Thus his arguments rest upon 346 passages taken from all the books of the Old Testament
. The last eight paragraphs contain his dispute with the convert Peter. In the introduction, Lipmann says that he divided the work into seven parts to represent the seven days of the week. The part for the first day contains the arguments against Christians; that for the second day those against the Karaite interpretation of the Bible; those for the remaining five days contain several interpretations of obscure Biblical passages that are likely to mislead students; the reasons for the commandments; arguments against atheists; arguments against the Karaites and their rejection of the Talmud
; and an account of the sixteen things which comprehend the whole of Judaism
and which, after being indicated in the Pentateuch, are repeated in the Prophet
s and Hagiographa.
, as well as his demonstration of the falsity of the conclusions of the Christians who claim that the birth of Jesus was foretold by the Prophet
s. He constantly quotes Maimonides
, Ibn Ezra
, Naḥmanides
, Saadia
, Rashi
, Shemariah of Negropont
, and other ancient scholars. Lipmann must have written his Sefer ha-Niẓẓaḥon before 1410, for he expressed a hope that the Messiah
would arrive in that year (§335). It was first published by Hackspan (Altdorf, 1644), who seized the manuscript from the rabbi of Schneittach (Goldwurm 2001, p. 152). Wagenseil published, at the end of his Sota (Altdorf-Nuremberg, 1674), corrections of Hackspan's edition under the title of Correctiones Lipmannianæ.
Later, the Niẓẓaḥon was reprinted, with the addition of Ḳimḥi
's Vikkuaḥ, in Amsterdam (1709 and 1711) and Königsberg (1847). Sebald Snelle published the Hebrew text with a Latin translation and refutation of the paragraph (§8) denying the miraculous birth of Jesus (Altdorf, 1643), and at various dates he published Latin translations of the paragraphs directed against Christianity
. A Latin translation of the whole work, with the exception of the passages taken from the Pentateuch, was made by Johann Heinrich Blendinger (Altdorf, 1645). As will be readily understood, the work gave rise to many polemics and called forth replies from Christians. The first was Stephen Bodecker, Bishop of Brandenburg, a younger contemporary of Lipmann, who wrote a refutation of the Niẓẓaḥon (comp. Wolf, Bibl. Hebr. i.736). The following other refutations are published: Wilhelm Schickard
, Triumphator Vapulans sive Refutatio, etc. (Tübingen, 1629); Stephen Gerlow, Disputatio Contra Lipmanni Nizzachon (Königsberg, 1647); Christian Schotan, Anti-Lipmanniana (Franeker, 1659), giving also the Hebrew text of the Niẓẓaḥon. Informally, Anti-Lipmanniana came to be used also an overall term for the entire corpus of Christian writings debating with and seeking to refute Lipman's arguments.
There is no comprehensive account of his life and career, which must be reconstructed from fragmentary references. According to Stephan Bodecker
Stephan Bodecker
Stephan Bodecker was the 37th Bishop of Brandenburg and a Christian Hebraist. He is known as the most important of all bishops of Brandenburg....
, Bishop of Brandenburg
Bishop of Brandenburg
The Bishopric of Brandenburg was a Roman Catholic diocese established by Otto the Great in 948, including the territory between the Elbe on the west, the Oder on the east, and the Schwarze Elster on the south, and taking in the Uckermark to the north. Its seat was Brandenburg upon Havel...
, who wrote a refutation of Lipmann's Niẓẓaḥon, Lipmann lived at Cracow. But Naphtali Hirsch Treves
Naphtali Hirsch Treves
Naphtali Hirsch ben Eliezer Treves was a kabalist and scholar of the 16th century who officiated as Hazzan in Frankfort-on-the-Main. He was the author of Perush , a famous cabalistic commentary on the Siddur , and probably also of Naftule Elohim , an index to Bahya ben Asher's commentary on the...
, in the introduction to his Siddur, calls him "Lipmann-Mülhausen 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...
", adding that he lived in the part of the town called "Wyschigrod." Manuscript No. 223 in the Halberstam collection contains a document issued at Prague in 1413 and signed by Lipmann-Mülhausen, as dayyan
Dayyán
Mirza Asadullah-i-Khuy , often referred to as Dayyán, was a Babi follower, a religion founded by the Báb in Persia in the mid 1850s. The Báb wrote numerous tablets of praise to Dayyán recognising his devotion to the new religion...
.
His Attainments
It is seen from his Niẓẓaḥon that, besides his rabbinical studies, Lipmann occupied himself with the study of the BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, that he was acquainted with Karaite literature, that he read the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, and that he knew Latin. His authority in rabbinical matters is shown by his circular to the rabbis warning them against the use of any shofar
Shofar
A shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Shofar-blowing is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Shofar come in a variety of sizes.- Bible and rabbinic literature :...
not made of a ram's horn (comp. S.D. Luzzatto in Kerem Ḥemed, vii. 56). There are also responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
addressed to him by Jacob ben Moses Mölln (A. Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. No. 907, 5), and Israel Isserlein
Israel Isserlein
Rabbi Israel Isserlein ben Petachia, also Israel Isserlin, Israel of Neustadt, Israel of Marpurk was a Talmudist, and Halakhist, best known for his Terumat HaDeshen, which served as one source for HaMapah, the component of the Shulkhan Arukh by Moses Isserles.- Biography :Even though...
mentions him (Terumat ha-Deshen, No. 24) as one of five scholars who met at Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
. On August 16, 1399, Lipmann and many other Jews were thrown into prison at the instigation of a converted Jew named Peter, who accused them of insulting Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in their works. Lipmann was ordered to justify himself, but while he brilliantly refuted Peter's accusations, as a result of the charges seventy-seven Jews were martyred on August 22, 1400, and three more, by fire, on September 11, 1400. Of the accused Lipmann alone escaped death.
His Works
Lipmann was the author of:- Sefer ha-Niẓẓaḥon, a refutation of ChristianityChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Karaism and a demonstration of the superiority of rabbinical Judaism - Zikron Sefer ha-Niẓẓaḥon a refutation of Christianity, an abstract in verse of the preceding work (pp. 107–117 in the Tela Ignea Satanæ of WagenseilJohann Christoph WagenseilJohann Christoph Wagenseil was a German Christian Hebraist.In 1667 he was made professor of history at Altdorf, and was professor of Oriental languages at the same university from 1674 to 1697, after which he occupied the chair of ecclesiastical law until his death...
, who supplied a Latin translation and added a long refutation, Freiburg, 1681; A. Geiger, in Bresslauer's Deutscher Volkskalender, iii.48, declares Lipmann's authorship of this poem doubtful) - a commentary to the Shir ha-Yiẓud (Freiburg, 1560)
- In Samson ben Eleazar's Baruk she-Amar (Shklov, 1804) there is a kabalistic treatise on the Hebrew alphabetHebrew alphabetThe Hebrew alphabet , known variously by scholars as the Jewish script, square script, block script, or more historically, the Assyrian script, is used in the writing of the Hebrew language, as well as other Jewish languages, most notably Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic. There have been two...
, entitled Sefer Alfa Beta, the author of which is given as מהר"ל שלי"ו. S. Sachs and Steinschneider concluded that the author was Lipmann-Mülhausen. This work discusses:
- the form of the letters
- the reason for their form
- the mystery of their composition, order, and numerical value, and
- the kabalistic explanation of their form
In this work the author frequently mentions a cabalistic work entitled Sefer ha-Eshkol and a commentary to the Sefer Yeẓirah
- Menahem Ẓiyyoni's Ẓefune Ẓiyyoni is ascribed, in a pamphlet quoted by Reuben Hoshke (Yalḳ., Reubeni, section "Naso"), to a certain R. Ṭabyomi, whom Steinschneider (Cat. Bodl. col. 1411) identifies with Lipmann-Mülhausen.
- Lipmann promises, in his Niẓẓaḥon (§197), a commentary to Pirḳe Abot, but such a work is not extant.
- Finally, it may be added that Manuscript 820 in OppenheimerOppenheimerOppenheimer as a surname may refer to:* Alan Oppenheimer , film actor* Andrés Oppenheimer , Argentine author and journalist known for his analysis of Latin American politics...
's collection was supposed to be a Biblical commentary by the author of the Sefer ha-Niẓẓaḥon, but DukesDukes-Albums:-EPs:-Singles:...
(Orient, Lit. xi.299) declares that it is nothing else than the Niẓẓaḥon itself.
Contents of the Niẓẓaḥon
Lipmann's reputation is dependent, mainly, upon his Niẓẓaḥon (ספר ניצחון). That a rabbi in the 15th century should occupy himself with the Latin language and the New TestamentNew Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
was certainly a rare thing. Lipmann was compelled to justify himself (§3) by referring to the saying of Rabbi Eliezer, "Know what thou shalt answer to the heretic" (Abot ii.14). The whole work consists of 354 paragraphs, the number of days in the lunar year, each paragraph, with the exception of the last eight, beginning with a passage of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, upon which the author founds his argument. Thus his arguments rest upon 346 passages taken from all the books of the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
. The last eight paragraphs contain his dispute with the convert Peter. In the introduction, Lipmann says that he divided the work into seven parts to represent the seven days of the week. The part for the first day contains the arguments against Christians; that for the second day those against the Karaite interpretation of the Bible; those for the remaining five days contain several interpretations of obscure Biblical passages that are likely to mislead students; the reasons for the commandments; arguments against atheists; arguments against the Karaites and their rejection 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....
; and an account of the sixteen things which comprehend the whole of Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and which, after being indicated in the Pentateuch, are repeated in the Prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
s and Hagiographa.
Translations and Refutations
Very characteristic is Lipmann's refutation of the assumed miraculous birth of JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, as well as his demonstration of the falsity of the conclusions of the Christians who claim that the birth of Jesus was foretold by the Prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
s. He constantly quotes Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses 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...
, Ibn Ezra
Ibn Ezra
Ibn Ezra was a prominent Jewish family from Spain spanning many centuries.The name ibn Ezra may refer to:* Abraham ibn Ezra , a Rabbi who lived in the eleventh and twelfth centuries...
, Naḥmanides
Nahmanides
Nahmanides, also known as Rabbi Moses ben Naḥman Girondi, Bonastruc ça Porta and by his acronym Ramban, , was a leading medieval Jewish scholar, Catalan rabbi, philosopher, physician, kabbalist, and biblical commentator.-Name:"Nahmanides" is a Greek-influenced formation meaning "son of Naḥman"...
, Saadia
Saadia
Saadia is a Jewish name and Arabic name. it can refer to several people:*Saadia Gaon - Ninth century rabbi, philosopher, and exegete of the Geonic period.*Saadia Afzaal - Pakistani journalist and television news anchor....
, Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
, Shemariah of Negropont
Shemariah of Negropont
Shemariah ben Elijah Ikriti of Negropont was an Jewish-Italian philosopher and Biblical exegete, contemporary of Dante and Immanuel. He was born probably at Rome, the descendant of a long line of Roman Jews...
, and other ancient scholars. Lipmann must have written his Sefer ha-Niẓẓaḥon before 1410, for he expressed a hope that the Messiah
Jewish Messiah
Messiah, ; mashiah, moshiah, mashiach, or moshiach, is a term used in the Hebrew Bible to describe priests and kings, who were traditionally anointed with holy anointing oil as described in Exodus 30:22-25...
would arrive in that year (§335). It was first published by Hackspan (Altdorf, 1644), who seized the manuscript from the rabbi of Schneittach (Goldwurm 2001, p. 152). Wagenseil published, at the end of his Sota (Altdorf-Nuremberg, 1674), corrections of Hackspan's edition under the title of Correctiones Lipmannianæ.
Later, the Niẓẓaḥon was reprinted, with the addition of Ḳimḥi
Kimhi
Kimhi may refer to:* Alona Kimhi , an Israeli authoress and actress* David Kimhi* Joseph Kimhi* Moses Kimhi* Solomon Kimhi, a Turkish rabbi-See also:* Kimchi...
's Vikkuaḥ, in Amsterdam (1709 and 1711) and Königsberg (1847). Sebald Snelle published the Hebrew text with a Latin translation and refutation of the paragraph (§8) denying the miraculous birth of Jesus (Altdorf, 1643), and at various dates he published Latin translations of the paragraphs directed against Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. A Latin translation of the whole work, with the exception of the passages taken from the Pentateuch, was made by Johann Heinrich Blendinger (Altdorf, 1645). As will be readily understood, the work gave rise to many polemics and called forth replies from Christians. The first was Stephen Bodecker, Bishop of Brandenburg, a younger contemporary of Lipmann, who wrote a refutation of the Niẓẓaḥon (comp. Wolf, Bibl. Hebr. i.736). The following other refutations are published: Wilhelm Schickard
Wilhelm Schickard
Wilhelm Schickard was a German polymath who designed a calculating machine in 1623, twenty years before the Pascaline of Blaise Pascal. Unfortunately a fire destroyed the machine as it was being built in 1624 and Schickard decided to abandon his project...
, Triumphator Vapulans sive Refutatio, etc. (Tübingen, 1629); Stephen Gerlow, Disputatio Contra Lipmanni Nizzachon (Königsberg, 1647); Christian Schotan, Anti-Lipmanniana (Franeker, 1659), giving also the Hebrew text of the Niẓẓaḥon. Informally, Anti-Lipmanniana came to be used also an overall term for the entire corpus of Christian writings debating with and seeking to refute Lipman's arguments.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Fuenn, Keneset Yisrael, p. 443;
- Fürst, Bibl. Jud. ii. 403;
- Grätz, Gesch. 3d ed., viii. 71-72;
- S. Sachs, in Kerem Ḥemed, viii. 206 et seq.;
- Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. cols. 1410-1414;
- idem, Jewish Literature, pp. 113, 129, 145;
- Wolf, Bibl. Hebr. i., iii., No. 1364;
- ZunzZunzZunz, Zuntz is a Yiddish surname: , Belgian pharmacologist* Leopold Zunz , German Reform rabbi* Gerhard Jack Zunz , British civil engineer- Zuntz :* Nathan Zuntz , German physiologist...
, Z. G. pp. 124, 129, 194, 380.
External links
- Jewish Encyclopedia article on Yom-Tov Lipmann-Muhlhausen, by Gotthard DeutschGotthard DeutschGotthard Deutsch , also spelled Gottard Deutsch, was a scholar of Jewish history.- Education :...
and M. Seligsohn.