Jacob Judah Leon
Jacob Judah Leon (* 1602 near Coimbra , Portugal ; † July 17, 1675 in Amsterdam ) was a Sephardic rabbi and school teacher who was best known for a model of the Solomonic Temple . This model was exhibited in Amsterdam and London until the 18th century and attracted numerous visitors, including Christian. Leon published a description of the temple that has been translated into numerous languages. Today the model is lost.
Life
Jacob Judah Leon's father was Abraham de Leão, his mother Felipa de Fonseca. His own name is indicated differently as Jacob Judah Leon, Jacob Judah Leon (Aryeh) Templo or Jacob Judah Leon Templo.
Leão (Portuguese), Leon (Spanish) or Aryeh (Hebrew) each means lion and stands as a heraldic animal for the Israelite tribe of Judah, according to Genesis 49.9 EU “A young lion is Judah.” The suffix “Templo” was a nickname , which referred to the temple model. It was not used by himself, but only accepted by his sons.
Leon's life story can only be reconstructed from scattered information. Jehuda Leon was born near Coimbra in 1602 . He comes from a Marran family who fled to Amsterdam via Seville and France in 1605.
Leon received his training as a rabbi in Amsterdam from Isaac Uziel . In the following years he worked in various small communities and in 1628/29 he was a rabbi in one of the three Hamburg communities, where his classmate Isaac Athias had also been a rabbi until 1622 . In 1635 he was in a similar position in Amsterdam. In 1639 Leon probably had to give up his position because several small Amsterdam communities joined forces. From 1640 he was rabbi and private tutor in Middelburg in Zeeland . By this time the small Sephardic community had obtained official permission to practice their religion privately. A cemetery, an important sign of solid community structures, was not created until 1655. It was around this time that Leon and Adam Boreel began working together .
The collaboration with Adam Boreel on the Mishnah
Boreel was a Dutch theologian and Hebraist who advocated non-denominational Christianity. Boreel was in contact with a circle around Samuel Hartlieb made up of English and Dutch scholars who, among other things, pursued philosemitic projects. Although their ultimate goal was to convert the Jews to Christianity, they took a more friendly attitude towards Judaism than many of their contemporaries. In part, their attitude was shaped by millenarianism , the hope of an early establishment of the kingdom of God and the coming of the Messiah . The conversion remained the work of God. Boreel's friend Petrus Serrarius not only wished the Jews that the biblical promises of the Old Testament would come true for them, but also expected the re-establishment of the temple in Jerusalem and the reinstatement of the sacrificial cult. Boreel himself, however, was cautious about millenarianism.
These Hartlieb Circle projects included the translation of the Mishnah into Latin , the translation of the New Testament into oriental languages, and the edition of writings designed to convince the Jews of the divinity of the New Testament. To this end, it was planned to set up a college for Jewish studies. The construction of a temple model was also one of the planned activities.
The edition and translation of the Mishnah, the oldest layer of the Talmud , was intended to bring Christians closer to an understanding of Judaism, for most Christian scholars were unfamiliar with rabbinic literature and contemporary Judaism.
The edition of the Mishnah, as Boreel intended, comprised a vocalized version of the Hebrew text and a translation into Spanish and Latin. The vocalized version made it easier to understand and was intended for Jews and Christians who did not speak Hebrew very well. The Latin translation was intended to familiarize Christians with the content of rabbinic Judaism .
The vocalized edition was printed by Menasse ben Israel in 1647 . It was financed by two Christian merchants. Menasse and Leon each write a foreword. In it, they emphasize the importance of vocalization for difficult passages and readers who have not mastered Hebrew very well. Boreel is purposely omitted in the book in order to maintain credibility with Jewish readers. The Latin translation did not appear before Boreel's death in 1665; It was not until 1698 that Willem Surenhusius published a Latin translation of the Mishnah, based on several different partial translations. After Surenhusius spent a long time trying to find suitable illustrations, he finally received two hundred templates from his father's inheritance from Leon's son Solomon. Even if Leon is mentioned as a draftsman in the older literature, he is more likely to be a collector and commissioner of images related to the temple.
In Middelburg, Leon and Boreel lived together for a time. Boreel learned Spanish and Portuguese in order to be able to discuss the content with Leon. They worked with great intensity on the Mishna edition. Leon provided the vocalization and the translation into Spanish, Boreel commented and translated into Latin, while Leon Boreel explained the meaning in Judaism. The Mishnah edition, however, proved to be almost unsaleable among Christians. Hartlieb sent back two hundred to three hundred copies in 1660 without having sold anything.
The temple model
The construction of the temple model was also a fruit of the collaboration with Boreel, who financed the model. Leon began work around 1640. Like the two Middelburg preachers Willem Apollonius and Willem Goeree, Boreel took part in the progress of the model building almost every day.
The source for the reconstruction was, among other things, the influential work of the Spanish Jesuit Juan Bautista Villalpando , whose illustrations contributed a lot to the general idea of the Temple of Solomon . Leon also used Jewish sources, in particular the Mishnah and Talmud describe the sacrificial liturgy of the temple. The credibility of the model among Christians was also based on the fact that Leon, as a rabbi, was seen as an expert per se.
Leon chose a scale of 1: 300 for his temple. The exact size is not known, it is given differently by Leon himself. Reconstructions speak of 6 × 3 × 2 meters or only 130 × 120 × 60 centimeters. The model not only represented the temple itself, but also its outbuildings. The fortified form of the Temple Mount took up a large part . Smaller details of the temple, which are described in the biblical text, could only be seen painted on. The model was made of wood and could be dismantled. Images in particular provide information about its shape.
In 1642 Leon published a description of the temple in Dutch and Spanish , the literary and scholarly language of the Sephardi. The work is divided into chapters and short paragraphs and describes in a popular way the temple in general, its shape, the altars and the surrounding buildings. The work is dedicated to dignitaries of the province of Zeeland and the city of Middelburg and received a printing privilege from the states of Zeeland to protect it from being reprinted. Only Jewish sources are cited in the work. However, it was addressed to Jewish and Christian readers alike. Translations into Hebrew, French and Latin followed.
In 1643 Leon signed a contract with Pieter Willemsz, an expert in perspective drawings, for drawings of the temple as templates for engravings. Leon's books were not illustrated, he sold the engravings separately, so that different illustrations are included in each of the volumes that have been preserved.
Leon moved from Middelburg to Amsterdam in 1643 to take up a post as a teacher at the Talmud Torah, the school of the communities. Boreel also moved to Amsterdam in December 1645. In Amsterdam, the model became a kind of attraction that Leon exhibited in his house in the Jewish quarter. Leon sold his book, engravings and other single-sheet prints to his visitors.
Philipp von Zesen describes in his description of the city of Amsterdam, a kind of early travel guide, not only the Jewish quarter, but also Leon's temple model as a sight of the city:
“The Ebreischce language teacher Jakob Jehudah Leon / a Portuguese also lives in the same street; which the temple of Solomon / the hut of the monastery / as well as the camp of the Levites and the whole of Israel around this hut / yes even the castle / or the royal castle of the same king / according to the instructions of the old Ebreischen history books / not only described / but also / formed according to her proper and proper form / very old in holtz. And these wooden images are here in his house for all those who desire / to see / are explained in the most marketable pieces. "
In 1646 a model of the tabernacle was added. Leon also showed other replicas of temple implements on a larger scale. In the following years Leon published more Spanish books on the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant and the cherubim , whose statutes surrounded the ark in the temple. One of the most famous guests at the exhibition was Henrietta Maria , the mother of the English king, who was in exile in the Netherlands.
While Leon was running his exhibition, he continued to work as a teacher. In 1661 he was warned by the Mahamad, the governing body of the community, about the scandal caused by Christians visiting his home on Sabbath and public holidays. They forbade him to receive visitors to his temple model on the upcoming high holidays and threatened to dismiss him from his office as Rubi (teacher). The scandal did not consist in the presence of Christians in a Jewish house, but in the disturbance of the Sabbath rest, which happened, for example, by accepting money. Non-Jewish visitors were not uncommon even in the synagogue, and it was important that they get a positive impression.
In the seventies, Leon prepared the exhibition of his models in England. In 1675 an English translation of his description of the temple appeared. The book is notable, among other things, because it contains a dedication to Charles II and a prayer for his well-being. The title page bears the royal coat of arms. Since its use was regulated, it can be assumed that the dedication and use took place with the consent of the court office. Leon probably hoped to show the king his models. Constantijn Huygens , who knew Leon personally, wrote him a letter of recommendation to the architect Christopher Wren .
It is unknown whether Leon traveled to London and briefly returned to Amsterdam to attend the inauguration of the new synagogue , or whether he did not make the trip. He died on Tammuz 26, 5435 (July 17, 1675) in Amsterdam and is buried in the Ouderkerk cemetery.
Leon's wife stayed in London and died there in 1675. His son Abraham can also be found in London in 1682. Leon's model was in London and was exhibited there. It was owned by the family. A will from 1760 has been preserved in which the model MF deCastro is inherited, a relative of Leon. DeCastro published another edition of the English temple description. The model could still be seen in London around 1770. His subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
The Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam as an image of the temple
The Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam has often been associated with the temple model. It was inaugurated a few weeks after Leon's death on August 2, 1675. In terms of its structure, with forecourt, main room and Torah shrine , it corresponds roughly to the scheme of the temple with vestibule, holy place and most holy place, but in this it does not differ significantly from other synagogues. The large, magnificent, cuboid hall construction is also reminiscent of the temple of Solomon. However, a closer connection with the temple model cannot be established.
Illustrations Jacob Judah Leons
There are two portraits of Jacob Jehuda Leon (1641 and 1654) by the Jewish engraver Salom Italia . The inscription translates as "Image of the very learned and famous man, the Jew Jacob Jehuda Leon, builder of the model of the Temple of Solomon, completed in 1641."
The vignette shows the temple as it was reconstructed by Leon and, on the right, the man with a measuring stick and string who acts as a guide in the temple vision of Ezekiel . Here it is an allusion to Leon as a guide through the temple.
More fonts
In 1671 Leon published a translation of the psalms: Qodesh hilulim: Las alabanças de santidad, traducion de los Psalmos de David, por la misma phrasis y palabras del Hebrayco Amsterdam: 5431 [1671] ( The Praise of Holiness. Translation of the Psalms of David, by the same sentences and words from Hebrew). In addition to the Hebrew text, Leon gives a literal translation into Spanish (see Ladino ) and a paraphrase in prose; the text is also provided with an introduction and notes. The work is to the illustrissimo Senor Ishak Senior Teixeyra, residente de su Magestad, la Reyna de Suedia , the famous Mr. Isaac Senior Teixeira , the resident of Her Majesty the Queen of Sweden. Senior Teixeira was the financier and agent of Christina of Sweden in Hamburg and an important member of the local Sephardic community .
In Leon's estate, which his son Solomon owned, there were two other works in the manuscript , one on the construction of the temple and one on the sacrificial ceremonies.
Polemical writings ascribed to Leon
The Colloquium middelburgense (Middle Burger Conversations) is a Latin dialogue between a rabbi and a Christian, which is only widespread as a manuscript, and who deals critically with Christian dogmas. In the older literature, this dialogue is ascribed to both Menasse ben Israel and Leon. What speaks against Leon is that he probably did not speak the Latin language. Both sources mention another postponed work with the title Disputaciones con Diferentes Theologos de la Cristiandad (disputations with various theologians of Christianity).
Such writings, which dealt critically or polemically with Christianity, were widespread among the former Conversos and served to strengthen them in their newly acquired Jewish faith. For security reasons, they were not printed, but only distributed by hand.
research
Before the Second World War , the Utrecht historian Jacob Zwarts published several articles on Jacob Jehuda Leon. Since the late seventies, it was mainly the librarian at the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana, Adri K. Offenberg, who researched Leon. Lewis A. Shane dealt with the reception of the temple model by the Freemasons.
A reconstruction of the model is on display in the Amsterdam Bible Museum. It was inspired by employees of the Rosenthaliana Library and the Bible Museum and built by Freek Putto from 1885–1989. The 3 × 6 meter model consists of multiplex and triplex panels, it has copper window grilles and turned pilasters. Except for painted structural elements, it is wood-sighted, as the original color of the Leon model could no longer be determined.
Works
- Retrato del templo de Selomo. En el qual brevemente se descrive la hechura dela fabrica del Templo, y de todos los vasos y instrumentos con que en el se administrativa, cuyo Modelo tíene el mismo Autor, como cada uno puede ver. Binda y heredos de Symon Moulert. Middelburg, 1642 (Spanish edition of the temple description)
- Afbeeldinghe vanden temple Salomonis, in de welcke cortel? Ck is de forme van't ghebou of the temple, end of all de vaten end of instruments was served with the selven. Weduwe ende erffgenamen van Symon Moulert, Middelburg, 1642 (Dutch edition of the temple writing)
- Sefer tavnit he? Al: ...? Al ha-bayit? Ašer? Asah ha-mele? Šelomoh ... /? Ibro bi-lešon la? Az we-gam he? Etiqo li-lešon ha-qodeš. Amsterdam 5410 (1650) (Hebrew edition of the temple description)
- Tratado de la Arca del Testamento. En el qual con suma curiosidad se examina, quales eran las cosas que se aposentavan en la Arca. Nicolaes van Rabenstein, 5413 (1653). (Treatise on the Ark of the Covenant)
- Retrato del tabernaculo de Moséh, en que se descrive la hechura del S. Tabernaculo que Moséh hizo antiguamente en el desiérto, y todas las dependencías de los diferentes vasos y instrumentos con que era administrado. Gillis Joosten, Amsterdam 5414 (1654) (Treatise on the tabernacle)
- Tratado de los Cherubim, En qua se examina qual aya sido la figura de los Cherubim que estavan sobre la Arca del Testamento colocados. Nicolaes van Ravesteyn, Amsterdam 5414 (1654) (Treatise on the Cherubim)
- Qodeš hilulim, Las alabanças de santidad, traducion de los psalmos de David por la misma phrasis y palabras del hebrayco. Amsterdam 5431 (1671) (Translation of the Psalms into Spanish)
- A relation of the most memorable thinges in the tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Salomon, according to the text of scripture. Peter Messchaert, Amsterdam 1675 (English edition of the temple description)
literature
- AL Shane: Rabbi Jacob Judah Leon (Templo) of Amsterdam (1603-1675) and his connections with England. In: The Jewish Historical Society of England - Transactions. XXV, 1973/75, pp. 120-136.
- Adri K. Offenberg: Bibliography of the Works of Jacob Jehudah Leon (Templo). In: Studia Rosenthaliana. 1-2 / XII, 1978, ISSN 0039-3347 , pp. 111-132.
- Adri K. Offenberg: Jacob Jehuda Leon (1602-1675) and his Model of the Tempel. In: J. van den Berg & EG van der Wall (eds.): Jewish-Christian relations in the seventeenth century: studies and documents. Kluwer, Dordrecht 1988, pp. 95-115.
- Ernestine van der Wall: The Dutch Hebraist Adam Boreel and the Mishnah Project, six unpublished Letters. In: LIAS. 16/2, 1989, ISSN 0304-0003 , pp. 239-263.
- Adri. K. Offenberg: Jacob Jehudah Leon en zijn temple model: een joods-christelijk project. In: De Zeventiende Eeuw, Cultuur in de Nederlanden in interdisciplinair perspectief. 9, 1993, pp. 35-50.
- Jim Bennett: Solomon's Temple and the "House of Solomon" in 17th Century Natural Philosophy. In: Dresdener Kunstblätter. 4, 2009, ISSN 0418-0615 , pp. 260-268.
- Hermione Pool: The missing temple. Jacob Jehuda Leon (1602–1765) and his Templum Salomonis. In: Dresdener Kunstblätter. 4, 2009, ISSN 0418-0615 , pp. 269-280.
- Cecil Roth , Adri K. Offenberg: TEMPLO, JACOB JUDAH (Aryeh) LEON. In: Encyclopaedia Judaica . 2nd Edition. Volume 19, Detroit / New York a. a. 2007, ISBN 978-0-02-865947-3 , p. 635 (English).
- Gotthard Deutsch, Meyer Kayserling : Jacob Judah Aryeh Leon Templo. In: Isidore Singer (Ed.): Jewish Encyclopedia . Funk and Wagnalls, New York 1901-1906.
Web links
- Jacob Jehuda Leon , biography at the Joods Historisch Museum
Footnotes
- ↑ See: AK Offenberg: Jacob Jehuda Leon en zijn temple model. In the older literature there is partly different information.
- ↑ a b A. K. Offenberg: Jacob Jehuda Leon en zijn temple model. P. 35
- ^ AK Offenberg: Jacob Jehuda Leon en zijn temple model. P. 36
- ^ Isidore Harris: A Dutch Burial-Ground and its english connection. In: Transaction of the Jewish Society of England. 1912, pp. 113-146.
- ^ Ernestine van der Wall: The Amsterdam Mellenarian Petrus Serrarius (1600-1669) and the Anglo Dutch Philo-Judaist. In: J. van den Berg & EG van der Wall (eds.): Jewish-Christian relations in the seventeenth century: Studies and documents. Kluwer, Dordrecht 1988, p. 73
- ^ Ernestine van der Wall: The Amsterdam Mellenarian Petrus Serrarius (1600-1669) and the Anglo Dutch Philo-Judaist. In: J. van den Berg & EG van der Wall (eds.): Jewish-Christian relations in the seventeenth century: Studies and documents. Kluwer, Dordrecht 1988, p. 75
- ^ Ernestine van der Wall: The Dutch Hebraist Adam Boreel and the mishnah Project, six unpublished Letters. In: LIAS. No. 2, 16, 1989, p. 239
- ↑ a b c d Ernestine van der Wall: The Dutch Hebraist Adam Boreel and the Mishnah Project, six unpublished Letters. In: LIAS. 16/2, 1989, p. 240
- ^ AL Shane: Rabbi Jacob Judah Leon (Templo) of Amsterdam (1603-1675) and his connections with England. In: The Jewish Historical Society of England - Transactions. Vol. XXV, 1973/75, p. 122
- ^ Ernestine van der Wall: The Dutch Hebraist Adam Boreel and the Mishnah Project, six unpublished Letters. In: LIAS. No. 2, 16, 1989, p. 241
- ↑ RH Popkin & Ernestine van der Wall: Samuel Harlieb, John Worthington and John Durie on Adam Boreel's Latin translation of the Mishna (1659-1661). In: J. van den Berg & EG van der Wall (eds.): Jewish-Christian relations in the seventeenth century: Studies and documents. Kluwer, Dordrecht 1988, p. 155.
- ^ A b c Adri K. Offenberg: Jacob Jehuda Leon (1602-1675) and his Model of the Tempel. In: J. van den Berg & EG van der Wall (eds.): Jewish-Christian relations in the seventeenth century: Studies and documents. Kluwer, Dordrecht 1988, p. 101
- ↑ Yosaf Kaplan: An alternative Path to Modernity. Leiden 2000, p. 37, note 10
- ^ Hispanica, Rare Spanish books in Glasgow University Library. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ Gaetz: Jewish Encyclopedia
- ↑ Hermione Pool: The Lost Temple. Pp. 275-277
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Leon, Jacob Judah |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Leon, Jacob Juda; Templo, Jacob Judah Leon |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Jewish scholar, rabbi and author of a temple model |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1602 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | near Coimbra , Portugal |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 17, 1675 |
| Place of death | Amsterdam |