Yefet Bin Ali
Yaphet (or HaLevi ben Ali ( Hebrew , Arabic is a Sage Karaite of the tenth century.
Grammarian , poet and polemicist, he is considered the most important biblical exegete of the current Jewish scripturalist, and was nicknamed Maskil HaGola (Teacher of Exile) by his peers.
Summary |
Biographical Elements
Originally, as indicated by his surname Arabic, Basra (now in Iraq ), he emigrated in his youth in Jerusalem , then an important center of Karaism, and there joined the sect of Avelei Tzion. His period of activity is between 950 and 980 CE.
Work
Exegesis
The great work of Yaphet is its Arabic translation of all the books of the Hebrew Bible , each accompanied by his comment, except, it seems, the Book of Lamentations , whose acquisition is, he said, needed before the theological studies.
It can use as Anan ben David , but so much smaller, with thirteen hermeneutical principles of Rabbi Ishmael , when he finds it impossible to understand the text according to its literal meaning.
He is also reluctant to allegorical interpretation of the text, often rejecting the views of Benjamin al-Nahawendi , despite the profound veneration he door. However, some of his comments follow this vein , and he admits the metaphor of the Song of Songs.
Particular emphasis is given to the polemic against Judaism Rabbinical but the Islam and Christianity , to which Yaphet was particularly violent. However, in addition to frontal attacks (Yaphet Isaiah 33:1 applies for example to Mohammed , "who cheat and plunder the nation with its own people"), his commentary contains numerous excerpts from statements made by its opponents, which he sometimes takes passages whole before the meet. This is particularly the case of Saadia Gaon , champion of Rabbinic Judaism (882-942 CE), including many texts that are hardly known by the quotations in fact Yaphet .
Other
Yaphet was also produced work of higher interest minors, including:
- an epistle in rhymed prose, published by Pinsker Simhah where Yaphet rejected criticism of Jacob ben Samuel on Karaism . It attempts to demonstrate that there is no reference to an oral tradition in the Hebrew Bible and, therefore, Mishna, Talmud and other rabbinic writings violate the prohibition not to add or subtract from the Torah
- a Hamitzvot Sefer (Book of Precepts), containing numerous controversies with Rabbinites mentioned by Yaphet in its comments on I Samuel 20: 27 and Daniel 10:3. Abraham Harkavy has found and published a few fragments.
- 'Iyyoun Tefillah, a treatise on prayer ten chapters. Yaphet insists on the importance of the Psalms, a manuscript is preserved at the Bibliotheque de France (Paris MS. No. 670).
- Kalam, a work probably liturgical also exist in manuscript.
- Berura Safa, a book mentioned by his son Yaphet ben Levi , in his Muaddimah to Deuteronomy, we do know that this reference.
Influence
The importance of Yaphet comments immediately recognized among his peers and subsequent generations. Some are short, because of their size, primarily by the Egyptian Karaites. Some are also translated into Hebrew in order to be understood by the Karaites of Constantinople, who do not speak Arabic.
Yaphet's comments are also known opponents Karaism, especially Abraham ibn Ezra , who quotes so frequently (and often in a non-controversial) that, according to Karaite tradition, he was one of his disciples . However, according to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kasher , many reviews of Yaphet found in the commentary of Ibn Ezra are actually additions made by the Karaites themselves .
Manuscripts comments are kept in all major European libraries, but so far only a part, mainly on the Prophets and the Writings, was published.
References
- a and b Japheth ben Eli Ha-Levi in the Jewish Virtual Library
- Commentary on Proverbs 1:7
- Commentary on Exodus 3:2
- See especially the glosses on Exodus 35:3 and Leviticus 23:5
- Liue admoniyyot, P. 19
- Bashiyatzi Eliyahu , Eliyahu Aderet, chap. 6
- Menachem M. Kasher, Torah Sheleme, see also (and Others) Avi Ezer (a supercommentaire Ibn Ezra) on Exodus 7:24
This article incorporates text from the Jewish Encyclopedia of 1901-1906, article "Japheth ha-Levi" by Kaufmann Kohler & Isaac Broyd , a publication now in the public domain.
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