Ovadia Ben Abraham Sforno
Ovadia Sforno ( Hebrew : ) is a rabbi , physician and philosopher , considered one of the most important Jewish scholars of the Bible , and one of the great figures of Italian Jewry in the Renaissance ( Cesena , Italy , 1470 - Bologna , 1550 ).
Biography
Leading figure of Italian medieval Judaism, Ovadia ben Jacob Sforno enjoyed a period when relations between the clouded Jews and Gentiles in Italy, following the Inquisition Spain , the establishment of anti-Jewish laws in Italy and enmity Pope.
He received a full religious and secular education, enrolled at the University of Rome , where he studied philosophy , the mathematics and medicine. He graduated doctor in 1501 and then moved to Bologna , where he founded a yeshiva.
Unfortunately, if The Young Ovadia Sforno are characterized by a relatively peaceful coexistence of both peoples, they would deteriorate as quickly as seriously, which is reflected in the writings of Sforno.
He died in 1550 , just before the application of anti-Jewish laws, persecution, including a Cremation Service of the Talmud in 1553 accompanied by a prohibition of the study. Italian Jews should therefore focus on the Ein Yaakov, a book compiling all the passages aggadic the Babylonian Talmud.
Although he was considered the greatest halachic authority of Italy, his fame is mainly due to his biblical commentary, known to posterity under the name of Sforno.
His comments are trying to make a direct explanation in text. Nevertheless, one can find traces of his interests in politics and science, particularly those adjacent to medicine, with biology.
In the introduction to his commentary, he writes that he felt compelled to do so because "our people wandering in foreign lands, and focuses on the accumulation of wealth, sensing that it will protect them from the requirements of their time. This leads to a state in which they have no time for miracles and wisdom of our Torah, and brings even call into question its importance, becoming closed to his teachings because they do not understand it properly. "
Although Sforno is the child of his time, and is designed for the Jews of his time, he remains very current.
Bibliography
- Saverio Campanini, A intellettuale Ebreo del Rinascimento. 'Ei suoi rapporti Ovadyah Sforno con i Cristiani, in MG Muzzarelli (ed.), Verso's Epilogo di una convivenza. Gli ebrei in Bologna nel secolo XVI, The Giuntini, Florence, 1996, p. 98-128.
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