Obadja ben Jacob Sforno

Obadja ben Jacob Sforno ( Hebrew עובדיה ספורנו; * approx. 1475 in Cesena ; † approx. 1550 in Bologna ) was an Italian rabbi , philosopher and doctor who emerged as a biblical commentator (his Pentateuch commentary was often printed in rabbinical Bibles). He was one of Reuchlin's teachers .

After gaining extensive knowledge of the Hebrew language, rabbinical literature, mathematics and philosophy in his hometown, he went to Rome to study medicine. There his studies secured him a special place among the scholars, and when Reuchlin stayed in Rome (1498–1500) and wanted to complete his knowledge of Hebrew literature there, Cardinal Domenico Grimani advised him to turn to Obadja .

He enjoyed a high reputation in the field of casuistry . For example, Meir Katzenellenbogen asked for advice on legal issues. He left Rome around 1525 and led a life of wandering.

Many letters sent to his brother Hananeel in Bologna (Italy) give the impression that Obadja lived in poor conditions during this time. He then settled in Bologna, where he founded a yeshiva , which he led until his death.

Works

• Beur al Ha-Torah

literature

• Hermann Vogelstein , Paul Rieger : History of the Jews in Rome. Volume 2: 1420-1870. Mayer & Müller, Berlin 1895, p. 77ff.
• Ephraim Finkel: R. Obadja Sforno as exegete. Schatzky, Breslau 1896 (Breslau, dissertation).
• Georg Herlitz, Bruno Kirschner, Ismar Elbogen : Jewish Lexicon . Volume IV / 2: S - Z. Jüdischer Verlag, Berlin 1930, Sp. 387 f. (2nd edition, reprint of the 1st edition. Athenäum Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1987, ISBN 3-610-00400-2 ).
• Saverio Campanini: Un intellettuale ebreo del Rinascimento. 'Ovadyah Sforno ei suoi rapporti con i cristiani. In: Maria Giuseppina Muzzarelli (ed.): Verso l'epilogo di una convivenza. Gli ebrei a Bologna nel XVI secolo. La Giuntina, Florence 1996, ISBN 88-8057-035-8 , pp. 99-128.
• Fred Skolnik (Ed.): Encyclopedia Judaica . Volume 18: San - Sol. 2nd edition. Macmillan Reference USA et al., Detroit MI et al. 2007, ISBN 978-0-02-865946-6 , pp. 333-334.

Web links

• Rabbi Obadiah Sforno at Chabad.org (English)