Jacob Emden (Hebrew: יעקב עמדן) (the Yabets) was a Jewish rabbi and notable talmudist, and prominent opponent of the Shabbethaians. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Rabbi (pronunciation, although in English usually) in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’ or more literally ‘my great one’ when addressing any master The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history Sabbatai Zevi, ( (other spellings include Sabetay in Turkish, Shabbethai, Sabbetai, Shabbsai; Zvi; Sabbetai He was born at Altona June 4, 1697, and died there April 19, 1776. Altona (ˈaltona is the westernmost urban borough ( Bezirk) of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Year 1776 ( MDCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a He was the son of the Chacham Tzvi, and a great-great grandson of Elijah Ba'al Shem of Chelm. Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch ben Yaakov Ashkenazi (1656 Moravia (most likely Velké Meziříčí) - May 2 1718 Lviv) ( צבי הירש בן יעקב Elijah Ba'al Shem (d 1583 was a Polish Rabbi who studied under Rabbi Solomon Luria and later became the Chief Rabbi of Chełm.
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Biography
Until seventeen Emden studied Talmud under his father Rabbi Tzvi Ashkenazi, the foremost Talmudic authority of the age, first at Altona, then from 1710 to 1714 at Amsterdam. Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch ben Yaakov Ashkenazi (1656 Moravia (most likely Velké Meziříčí) - May 2 1718 Lviv) ( צבי הירש בן יעקב Year 1710 ( MDCCX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year Year 1714 ( MDCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west In 1715 Emden married the daughter of Mordecai ben Naphtali Kohen, rabbi of Uhersky Brod, Moravia, and continued his studies in his father-in-law's yeshivah. Year 1715 ( MDCCXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Uherský Brod (ˈuɦɛrskiː ˈbrot is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. Moravia (Morava; Morawy Moravie Moravia is a historical region in central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, one of the former Czech lands. Yeshiva or yeshivah (jəʃi'və ( Hebrew: ישיבה "sitting (n Emden became well versed in Talmudic literature; later he studied philosophy, Kabbalah, and grammar, and made an effort to acquire the Latin and Dutch languages, in which, however, he was seriously hindered by his belief that a Jew should occupy himself with secular sciences only during the hour of twilight. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה lit "receiving" is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism. Grammar is the field of Linguistics that covers the Rules governing the use of any given natural language. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding This belief stems from the biblical verse (Josh. I, 8): "You will study [the Torah] day and night", leaving room for secular studies during hours which are neither truly day nor truly night.
He was opposed to philosophy, and maintained that The Guide to the Perplexed could not have been written by Maimonides, as he could not imagine that a pious Jew would write a work accepting and promoting what Emden saw as a non-Jewish theology. This page refers to the 12th century book by Maimonides For the 1977 book by E Moses Maimonides ( March 30 1135 – December 13 1204) also known as the Rambam, was a Rabbi, Physician, and PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective
Emden spent three years at Ungarish-Brod, where he held the office of private lecturer in Talmud. Then be became a dealer in jewelry and other articles, which occupation compelled him to travel. He generally declined to accept the office of rabbi, though in 1728 he was induced to accept the rabbinate of Emden, from which place he took his name. Year 1728 ( MDCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Emden is a City and Seaport in the northwest of Germany, on River Ems.
In 1733 Emden returned to Altona, where he obtained the permission of the Jewish community to possess a private synagogue. Year 1733 ( MDCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Emden was at first on friendly terms with Moses Hagis, the head of the Portuguese-Jewish community at Altona, who was afterward turned against Emden by some calumny. Moses Hagiz (1671-ca 1750 ( Hebrew: משה חגיז) was a Talmudic scholar Rabbi, Kabbalist, and author born in Jerusalem Spanish and Portuguese Jews are a distinctive sub-group of Sephardim who have their main ethnic origins within the crypto-Jewish communities of the Iberian His relations with Ezekiel Katzenellenbogen, the chief rabbi of the German community, were strained from the very beginning. Ezekiel Katzenellenbogen ben Abraham (born in Lithuania about 1670 died at Altona, July 9[[ 749]] was a Polish-German rabbi Emden seems to have considered every successor of his father as an intruder.
A few years later Emden obtained from the King of Denmark the privilege of establishing at Altona a printing-press. This is a list of Danish Monarchs, that is the Kings and Queens regnant of Denmark. He was soon attacked for his publication of the siddur (prayer book) Ammudei Shamayim, being accused of having dealt arbitrarily with the text. A siddur ( Hebrew: סידור plural siddurim) is a Jewish Prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. His opponents did not cease denouncing him even after he had obtained for his work the approbation of the chief rabbi of the German communities.
The Emden-Eybeschütz Controversy
- See also: Jonathan Eybeschutz
Emden is known for his controversial activities, his attacks being generally directed against the adherents, or those he supposed to be adherents, of Sabbatai Zevi. Jonathan Eybeschutz ( Kraków 1690 - Altona 1764 was a Talmudist Halachist, Kabbalist, and secret Shabbatean, holding Sabbatai Zevi, ( (other spellings include Sabetay in Turkish, Shabbethai, Sabbetai, Shabbsai; Zvi; Sabbetai Of these controversies the most prominent was that with Jonathan Eybeschütz, who in Emden's eyes was a convicted Shabbethaian. Jonathan Eybeschutz ( Kraków 1690 - Altona 1764 was a Talmudist Halachist, Kabbalist, and secret Shabbatean, holding The controversy lasted several years, continuing even after Eybeschütz's death.
Emden's assertion of the heresy of his antagonist was chiefly based on the interpretation of some amulets prepared by Eybeschütz, in which Emden professed to see Shabbethaian allusions. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief An amulet ( the Elder|Pliny]] meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble" a close cousin of the talisman (from Arabic Hostilities began before Eybeschütz left Prague, and when Eybeschütz was named chief rabbi of the three communities of Altona, Hamburg, and Wansbeck (1751), the controversy reached the stage of intense and bitter antagonism. Prague (ˈprɑːg Praha (ˈpraɦa see also other names) is the Capital and Largest city of the Czech Republic. Hamburg (English, German: ˈhambʊɐk local pronunciation Low German / Low Saxon: Hamborg) is the second-largest city in Germany Wandsbek is the second-largest of seven boroughs that make up the city of Hamburg, Germany. Year 1751 ( MDCCLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Emden maintained that he was at first prevented by threats from publishing anything against Eybeschütz. He solemnly declared in his synagogue the writer of the amulets to be a Shabbethaian heretic and deserving of excommunication. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief Excommunication is a religious Censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community In Megillat Sefer, he even accuses Eybeschütz of having an incestuous relationship with his own daughter, and of fathering a child with her.
The majority of the community favored Eybeschütz, including R. Aryeh Leib Halevi-Epstein of Konigsberg; thus the council condemned Emden as a calumniator. Aryeh Löb ben Mordecai Ha-Levi Epstein ( Ba'al ha-Pardes) (1708 – June 26, 1775) was a Polish Rabbi born in Grodno. People were ordered, under pain of excommunication, not to attend Emden's synagogue, and he himself was forbidden to issue anything from his press. A synagogue (from Greek: grc συναγωγή transliterated synagogē, "assembly" he בית כנסת beit knesset, "house of As Emden still continued his philippics against Eybeschütz, he was ordered by the council of the three communities to leave Altona. This he refused to do, relying on the strength of the king's charter, and he was, as he maintained, relentlessly persecuted. His life seeming to be in actual danger, he left the town and took refuge in Amsterdam (May 1751), where he had many friends and where he joined the household of his brother-in-law, Aryeh Löb b. Saul, rabbi of the Ashkenazic community. Aryeh Leib ben Saul Lowenstam (ca 1690 Cracow – April 2 1755 Amsterdam) was a Polish Rabbi. Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim ( Hebrew: אַשְׁכֲּנָזִים, ˌaʃkəˈnazim sing
Emden's cause was subsequently taken up by the court of Frederick V of Denmark, and on June 3, 1752, a judgment was given in favor of Emden, severely censuring the council of the three communities and condemning them to a fine of one hundred thalers. Frederick V (31 March 1723 – 13 January 1766 was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746 son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of The Thaler (or Taler or Tolar) was a Silver Coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred Years Its name lives on Emden then returned to Altona and took possession of his synagogue and printing-establishment, though he was forbidden to continue his agitation against Eybeschütz. The latter's partisans, however, did not desist from their warfare against Emden. They accused him before the authorities of continuing to publish denunciations against his opponent. One Friday evening (July 8, 1755) his house was broken into and his papers seized and turned over to the "Ober-Präsident," Von Kwalen. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1755 ( MDCCLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Six months later Von Kwalen appointed a commission of three scholars, who, after a close examination, found nothing which could inculpate Emden.
Analysis
The truth or falsity of his denunciations against Eybeschütz can not be proved, but the fact remains that Emden quarreled with almost all his contemporaries. He considered that every man who was not for him was against him, and attacked him accordingly. Still, he enjoyed a certain authority, even among the Polish rabbis. In 1756 the members of the Synod of Constantinov applied to Emden to aid in repressing the Shabbethaian movement. Year 1756 ( MDCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Also not to be confused with Subbotniks or Sabbatarians. Note Most Sabbateans during and after Sabbatai Zevi were Jews As the Shabbethaians referred much to the Zohar, Emden thought it wise to examine that book, and after a careful study he concluded that a great part of the Zohar was the production of an impostor. For the village in southern Israel see Tzohar The Zohar (זהר lit Splendor or Radiance) is widely considered the most important
Emden's works show him to have been possessed of critical powers rarely found among his contemporaries, who generally took things for granted. He was strictly Orthodox, never deviating the least from tradition, even when the difference in time and circumstance might have fairly been regarded as warranting a deviation from the old custom. In 1772 the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin having issued a decree forbidding burial on the day of death, the Jews in his territories approached Emden with the request that he demonstrate from the Talmud that a longer exposure of a corpse would be against the Law. Year 1772 ( MDCCLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a Duchy (from 1815 a Grand duchy) in northern Germany, formed by a partition of the Duchy of Mecklenburg. Emden referred them to Mendelssohn, who had great influence with Christian authorities; but as Mendelssohn agreed with the ducal order, Emden wrote to him and urged the desirability of opposing the duke if only to remove the suspicion of irreligiousness he (Mendelssohn) had aroused by his associations. Moses Mendelssohn ( Dessau, 6 September 1729 4 January 1786 in Berlin) was a German Jewish Philosopher A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth
External links and references
- Emden, Jacob Israel Ben Zebi Ashkenazi, jewishencyclopedia. com
- Jacob Emden, jewishvirtuallibrary. org
- Cohen, Mortimer J. (1948), "Was Eibeschuetz a Sabbatian?", The Jewish Quarterly Review XXXIX (1): 51–62.
His Works
'Edut be-Ya'aḳov, on the supposed heresy of Eybeschütz, and including Iggeret Shum, a letter to the rabbis of the "Four Lands. " Altona, 1756.
Shimmush, comprising three smaller works: Shoṭ la-Sus and Meteg la-Hamor, on the growing influence of the Shabbethaians, and Sheveṭ le-Gev Kesilim, a refutation of heretical demonstrations. Amsterdam, 1758-62.
Shevirat Luḥot ha-Aven, a refutation of Eybeschütz's "Luḥot 'Edut. " Altona, 1759.
Seḥoḳ ha-Kesil, Yeḳev Ze'ev, and Gat Derukah, three polemical works published in the "Hit'abbeḳut" of one of his pupils. Altona, 1762.
Miṭpaḥat Sefarim, showing that the Zohar is not authentic but a later compilation
Ḥerev Pifiyyot, Iggeret Purim, Teshubot ha-Minim, and Zikkaron be-Sefer, on money-changers and bankers (unpublished).
Leḥem Shamayim, a commentary on the Mishnah, with a treatise in two parts, on Maimonides' "Yad," Bet ha-Beḥirah. Altona, 1728; Wandsbeck, 1733.
Iggeret Biḳḳoret, responsa. Altona, 1733.
She'elat Ya'abeẓ, a collection of 372 responsa. Altona, 1739-59.
Siddur Tefillah, an edition of the ritual with a commentary, grammatical notes, ritual laws, and various treatises, in three parts: Bet-El, Sha'ar ha-Shamayim, and Migdal 'Oz. It also includes a treatise entitled Eben Boḥan, and a criticism on Menahem Lonzano's "'Avodat Miḳdash," entitled Seder Abodah. Menahem ben Judah ben Menahem de Lonzano was a Palestinian Masoretic and Midrashic scholar Lexicographer, and Poet. Altona, 1745-48.
'Eẓ Avot, a commentary to Avot, with Leḥem Neḳudim, grammatical notes. Amsterdam, 1751.
Sha'agat Aryeh, a sermon, also included in his Ḳishshurim le-Ya'aḳov. Amsterdam, 1755.
Seder 'Olam Rabbah ve-Zuṭa, the two Seder 'Olam and the Megillat Ta'anit, edited with critical notes. Hamburg, 1757.
Mor u-Ḳeẓi'ah, novellæ on the Oraḥ. Ḥayyim, in two parts: the first part, Miṭpaḥat Sefarim, being an expurgation of the Zohar; the second, a criticism on "Emunat Ḥakamim" and "Mishnat Ḥakamim," and polemical letters addressed to the rabbi of Königsberg. Altona, 1761-68.
Ẓiẓim u-Feraḥim, a collection of kabalistic articles arranged in alphabetical order. Altona, 1768.
Luaḥ Eresh, grammatical notes on the prayers, and a criticism of Solomon Hena's "Sha'are Tefillah. " Altona, 1769.
Shemesh Ẓedaḳah. Altona, 1772.
Pesaḥ Gadol, Tefillat Yesharim, and Ḥoli Ketem. Altona, 1775.
Sha'are 'Azarah. Altona, 1776.
Divre Emet u-Mishpaṭ Shalom (n. d. and n. p. ).
His unpublished rabbinical writings are the following:
Ḳishshurim le-Ya'aḳob, collection of sermons.
Ẓa'aḳat Damim, refutation of the blood accusation in Poland.
Halakah Pesuḳah.
Hilketa li-Meshiḥa, responsum to R. Israel Lipschütz.
Mada'ah Rabbah.
Gal-'Ed, commentary to Rashi and to the Targum of the Pentateuch.
Em la-Binah, commentary to the whole Bible.
Em la-Miḳra we la-Masoret, also a commentary to the Bible.
Marginal novellæ on the Talmud of Babylon.
Megillat Sefer, containing biographies of himself and of his father.
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