Moshe Provençal
Moshe ben Avraham Provençal (1503–1576) was an Italian posek, Hebrew grammarian, and mathematician.[1]
Biography
Provençal's surname suggests that his family hailed from Provence. In the aftermath of Provence's incorporation into France in 1480s, the local Jewish population was expelled between 1498 and 1501.[2] Like much of the exiled Jewish population,[3] it is likely that Provençal's family fled from Provence to Italy in the years shortly before his birth.
Provençal was born in Casale Monferrato in north-west Italy. In 1535, he composed a poetic guide to the rules of Hebrew grammar entitled B'shem Kadmon, which was later published in Venice by the author's grandchildren in October or November 1596.[4][5] By 1550, he was Chief Rabbi of Mantua, in the North-Italian Duchy of Mantua.[6]
During the infamous Tamari-Venturozzo divorce scandal of 1564, the Italian rabbinate was split over the validity of Samuel Venturozzo's bill of divorce. The halakhic debate quickly descended into a fierce and raging legal feud which eventually came to include halakhic giants from Safed and Thessaloniki. Provençal spearheaded the rabbinic group arguing that Venturozzo's bill of divorce was invalid.[7] In 1566, Provençal published a pamphlet making his case and arguing that the opposing rabbis did not follow proper judicial protocol.[8] By 1574, the debate was resolved, and the Italian rabbinate was reconciled. Provençal died on 30 July 1576.[9]
Provençal's responsa, known as She'elot u'Teshuvot Rabbeinu Moshe Provençal (first printed: 2 vols., Jerusalem, 1989–98), have often been studied and quoted by later rabbinical authorities.
References
- ↑
Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Moṭoṭ, Simeon ben Moses ben Simeon". Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company. - ↑ Roth, Norman (2014). Medieval Jewish Civilization: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 537. ISBN 9781136771552.
- ↑ Baskin, Judith R.; Seeskin, Kenneth (2010). The Cambridge Guide to Jewish History, Religion, and Culture. Cambridge University Press. p. 142. ISBN 9780521869607.
- ↑ https://www.otzar.org/wotzar/book.aspx?146935
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=hNvAfhEb6gsC&pg=PA51%5Bdead+link%5D
- ↑
Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Amico, Joseph". Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company. - ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ↑ http://www.hebrewbooks.org/20567
- ↑ Frisch, Ephraim (1904). Hebrew Union College Annual. 77. Students of the Hebrew Union College. p. 360.