Curiosities of Judaism; Facts, opinions, anecdotes and remarks relative to the Hebrew Nation

Philip Abraham

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• Jews
• Judaism

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• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 6
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

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CURIOSITIES OF JUDAISM,
ANECDOTES,AND REMARKSFACTS, OPINIONS,
RELATIVE TO
THE HEBREW NATION,
COMPILED AND COLLECTED BY
PHILIP ABRAHAM.
"2CT nn)
" 1 will glean now gather among the standing sheaves after the reapers.'and
Ruth ii. 7.
PUBLISHED
BY AND FOR THE AUTHOR,
GOWER147, STREET, W.C
1879.LONDON
PRINTED BY WERTHEIMER, LEA AND CO.,
CIRCUS PLACE, LONDON WALL.;
PREFACE.
The Title which 1 have assumed for this little book,
bringing it, so far, in juxta-position with the world-
might lead torenowned work of the elder DTsraeli,
the expectation of elaborate disquisitions and ex-
tended remarks on various subjects, which its nature
would seem to include.
is the field of research is extensive,It true that
in treasures will, doubt,fertile, and rich its ; and no
under younger and more vigorous labourings, yield
ample and productive harvests. Herein, however,
"simplyI have gleaned Dm3221 ns^Qa, in the corners
and among the first-ripe fruits," content if I may
pointed othershave out to where plenteously to
gather in the golden grain. Repeating the words of
my prospectus, my readers will please to remember
that this is a work of little pretension. is simplyIt
a selection, with references to every original source
" it does not aspire to the dignity of history, nor even
of a chronological arrangement." Still, it is hoped
that it may be found amusing and interesting, and,
in some degree, useful to those who wish to investi-
gate affairs periods.Jewish subsequent to Scriptural
P. A.
2097042Digitized tlie Internet Arcliiveby
in 2007 witli funding from
IVIicrosoft Corporation
littp://www.arcliive.org/details/curiositiesofjudOOabraialaCURIOSITIES JUDAISM.OF
of France.Jewish Schools in the South
eclat among theLong before Poetry spread a brilliant
literary move-population of Southern France/ a remarkable
ment took place, although this was generally unknown,
branches ofbecause it operated but indirectly among the
knowledge of the Middle Ages. We refer to the studies,
and the philosophical works, which the Jews undertook
with such at this epoch, in the bosom of thegreat success,
atschools which they had founded at Narbonne, at Lunel,
Saint-Gilles, and at other towns of the South.
A Benjamin of Tudela, who travelled fromSpanish Jew,
1 160 to 1 to visit his co-religionists in various places,73,1
transmitted several interesting details respecting thesehas
establishments and those who directed them. We shall
account what the writingssupplement his by we gather from
of these celebrated rabbins themselves, but in this intro-
duction we shall simply glance on the intellectual move-
ment, and partigularly on the schools and establishments
which have favoured and advanced it, limiting ourselves
here to a general view, but reserving for further remarks
different thisparticulars of men who have taken part in
movement.
Tudela relates, admired atBenjamin of that after having
.Montpellier the science and riches of a great number of
Israelites, he visited, at Lunel, the celebrated university
B2 CURIOSITIES OF JUDAISM.
which was annexed to the synagogue of that town. At
Messulam; fivethe head of it was the renowned Rabbi
of his disciples some rabbis, versed in theo-and other
logical studies and in medicine, seconded his efforts.
This university reputation among theenjoyed a merited
Jews ; it is asserted that Solomon Jarchi (whom some
authors assert Lunel) taught thereto have been a native of
in the eleventh century. But what ought to secure it
a place in history, is the part which it undertook in the
discussions which arose during the second half of the
twelfth century, respecting the works of Maimonides. The
university maintained and defended the Talmudical tradi-
tions,, which the celebrated philosopher of Cordova seemed
inclined to sacrifice the Aristotelian philosophy. Theto
Spanish rabbis, and those of Narbonne at the head of the
latter town, sided with Maimonides ; those of Lunel, Vau-
vert, Saint-Gilles and Ptovence declared, on the contrary,
theagainst innovator {novateur)^ The quarrel burst forth
just about the time that Benjamin was visiting these locali-
ties, and the names of those whiom he mentions-^among
others, of Messulam of Lunel, and Abraham, the son of
David, of Vauvert,—were precisely ofthose who engaged in
and continued the contest. of studentsA great number
flocked to Lunel, and there received, not only learned
instruction, but also food clothing.and
About two leagues {lieus) from Lunel was a large village
called Posqui^res (now Vaubert), where the traveller found
forty Jewish families, distinguished among whom, by his
riches and his virtues, was a celebrated rabbin, whose
name was venerated among his people. This was Abra-
ham, son of David. This learned and generous man,
dispensed at the same time to his disciples nourishment
for the body and for the Surrounding him weresoul.
several intelligent names Benjamin has pre-Jews (whose