Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה חַיִּים לוּצַטּוֹ or לוצאטו), also known by the acronym RaMCHaL (רַמחַ״ל, Ra bbi M oshe Cha im L uzzatto) (* 1707 in Padua ; † May 16, 1746 in Akko ), is considered one of the most important Jewish philosophers and Kabbalists of his century and as a pioneer of the New Hebrew ( Haskala ) literature.
His reputation as a Kabbalist and ethicist is based on his two works Derech HaSchem and above all Mesillat Jescharim . He also wrote poems in Hebrew and three plays. His collection of 150 religious hymns , written following the Psalter , as well as many of his (especially occasional) poems and a large number of Kabbalistic writings seem to be lost forever.
Since his work in the area of the Jewish community aroused strong criticism and even persecution on the basis of the suspicion of being a follower of Sabbetai Zwi , he moved with his family to Amsterdam in 1735 . In 1743 he traveled to Palestine and settled in Akko. There he probably died of the plague . His tomb is in Tiberias .
Works (selection)
- Leschon Limmudim , 1723 (work on Hebrew rhetoric)
- Maase Schimschon , 1724 ("The Story of Simsons", rather secular verse drama)
- Migdal Oz , 1727 ("Mighty Tower", drama)
- Derech HaSchem , "The Way of God"
- La-Jescharim Tehilla (" Grace to the righteous"), allegorical drama
- Mesillat Yescharim , "The Path of the Upright" (his main ethical work, Amsterdam 1740)
- Da'at T'vunot (presentation of critical concepts of Kabbalism)
- Zohar Tinjana ("The Second Zohar ")
Literature (selection)
- Constantin von Wurzbach : Luzzatto, Mose Chajim . In: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich . 16th part. Imperial and Royal Court and State Printing Office, Vienna 1867, p. 183 ( digital copy ).
- John F. Oppenheimer (Red.) And a .: Lexicon of Judaism. 2nd Edition. Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag, Gütersloh u. a. 1971, ISBN 3-570-05964-2 , col. 454.
- Carl A. Keller: Luzzatto, Moshe Chayyim (abbreviated: Ramḥal). In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 5, Bautz, Herzberg 1993, ISBN 3-88309-043-3 , Sp. 492-494.
Web links
- Literature by and about Mosheh Ḥayim Lutsaṭo in the catalog of the German National Library
- kabbala-info.net adaptation by Peter Staaden
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Luzzatto, Moshe Chaim |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | RAMCHaL |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Jewish philosopher and Kabbalist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1707 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Padua |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 16, 1746 |
| Place of death | Akko |