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Moshe Ben Machir
Moshe ben Machir (or Moshe ben Yehudah haMachiri) was rabbi and kabbalist of Safed who lived in the 16th century. He is primarily known as the author of the book Seder haYom, source of the Modeh Ani prayer. Biography He was the head of a yeshiva in Ein Zeitim, just north of Safed. There survive fundraising letters the yeshiva sent abroad between 1598 and 1601, which show it to have the typical structure of a Sephardic yeshiva from this period, with a circle of talmidei hachamim led by a rabbi known as the "Rishon" (first) or "Hacham" (wise one). From the letters and from a manuscript of the yeshiva's rules, it can be seen that the yeshiva was influenced by the intensely spiritual atmosphere and messianic tension which prevailed among the Jews of Safed in that period, and put a focus on repentance and ascetic practices. Unlike other nearby scholarly circles (like those of rabbis Shlomo Alkabetz, Isaac Luria, Hayyim Vital, and Elazar Azikri), his yeshiva focused on traditional study ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rabbi
A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as '' semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of the rabbi developed in the Pharisaic (167 BCE–73 CE) and Talmudic (70–640 CE) eras, when learned teachers assembled to codify Judaism's written and oral laws. The title "rabbi" was first used in the first century CE. In more recent centuries, the duties of a rabbi became increasingly influenced by the duties of the Protestant Christian minister, hence the title " pulpit rabbis", and in 19th-century Germany and the United States rabbinic activities including sermons, pastoral counseling, and representing the community to the outside, all increased in importance. Within the various Jewish denominations, there are different requirements for rabbinic ordination, and differences in opinion regarding who is recognized as a rabbi. For ex ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Safed
Safed (known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as Tzfat; Sephardi Hebrew, Sephardic Hebrew & Modern Hebrew: צְפַת ''Tsfat'', Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation, Ashkenazi Hebrew: ''Tzfas'', Biblical Hebrew: ''Ṣǝp̄aṯ''; ar, صفد, ''Ṣafad''), is a city in the Northern District (Israel), Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and in Israel. Safed has been identified with ''Sepph,'' a fortified town in the Upper Galilee mentioned in the writings of the Roman Jewish historian Josephus. The Jerusalem Talmud mentions Safed as one of five elevated spots where fires were lit to announce the Rosh Chodesh, New Moon and festivals during the Second Temple period. Safed attained local prominence under the Crusaders, who built a large fortress there in 1168. It was conquered by Saladin 20 years later, and demolished by his grandnephew al-Mu'azzam Isa in 1219. After reverting to the Crusaders in a treaty in 1240, a larger fortress wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Modeh Ani
Modeh Ani ( he, מודה אני; "I give thanks") is a Jewish prayer that observant Jews recite daily upon waking, while still in bed. Text Tradition Lamentations states that "The Lord's mercies are not consumed, surely His compassions do not fail. They are ''new every morning''; great is Your faithfulness." From this, the ''Shulchan Aruch'' deduces that every morning, God renews every person as a new creation. This prayer serves the purpose of expressing gratitude to God for restoring one's soul each morning. The specific prayer ''Modeh Ani'', however, is not mentioned in the Talmud or ''Shulchan Aruch'', and first appears in the work ''Seder haYom'' by the 16th century rabbi Moshe ben Machir. As this prayer does not include any of the names of God, observant Jews may recite it before washing their hands. According to the '' Kitzur Shulchan Aruch'', one should pause slightly between the words "compassion" and "abundant". In Talmudic times, Jews traditionally recited ''Elohai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yeshiva
A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are studied in parallel. The studying is usually done through daily ''shiurim'' (lectures or classes) as well as in study pairs called '' chavrusas'' (Aramaic for 'friendship' or 'companionship'). ''Chavrusa''-style learning is one of the unique features of the yeshiva. In the United States and Israel, different levels of yeshiva education have different names. In the United States, elementary-school students enroll in a ''cheder'', post- bar mitzvah-age students learn in a ''metivta'', and undergraduate-level students learn in a ''beit midrash'' or ''yeshiva gedola'' ( he, ישיבה גדולה, , large yeshiva' or 'great yeshiva). In Israel, elementary-school students enroll in a ''Talmud Torah'' or ''cheder'', post-bar mitzvah-age students l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Talmid Hacham
''Talmid Chakham'' is an honorific title which is given to a man who is well versed in Jewish law, i. e., a Torah scholar. Originally he, תלמיד חכמים ''Talmid Chakhamim'', lit., "student of sages", pl. תלמידי חכמים ''talmidei chakhamim'', "students of sages"; inaccurate reconstruction of the singular, which is invariably shortened to ת"ח in printings, led to modern he, תלמיד חכם ''talmid chakham'' "sage student". The feminine equivalent is ''Talmidat Chakhamim'', "student of sages" (pl. ''Talmidot Chakhamim''), or, by extension of the same error, ''Talmidah Chakhamah'', "sage student" (pl. ''Talmidot Chakhamot''). Expectations of a ''Talmid Chakham'' A ''Talmid Chakham'' is expected to uphold his rank, and not to compromise his dignity. As in the case of a king, he is not permitted to allow anyone to omit the performance of any public act of reverence due to him, to the effect that the ''Talmid Chakham'' acts as a facilitator, because in him, the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz
Shlomo ha-Levi Alkabetz, also spelt Alqabitz, Alqabes; ( he, שלמה אלקבץ) ( 1500 – 1576) was a rabbi, kabbalist and poet perhaps best known for his composition of the song ''Lecha Dodi''. Biography Alkabetz studied Torah under Rabbi Yosef Taitatzak. In 1529, he married the daughter of Yitzhak Cohen, a wealthy householder living in Salonica. Alkabetz gave his father-in-law a copy of his newly completed work ''Manot ha-Levi''. He settled in Adrianople where he wrote ''Beit Hashem'', ''Avotot Ahava'', ''Ayelet Ahavim'' and ''Brit HaLevi''. This latter work he dedicated to his admirers in Adrianople. His students included Rabbi Shmuel Ozida, author of ''Midrash Shmuel'' on Avot, and Rabbi Avraham Galante, author of ''Yareach Yakar'' on '' Zohar''. His circle included Moshe Alsheich and Yosef Karo, as well as his famous brother-in-law Moshe Cordovero. Move to Safed Following the practice described in the Zohar of reciting biblical passages known as the ''Tikūn'' o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isaac Luria
Isaac ben Solomon Luria Ashkenazi (1534Fine 2003, p24/ref> – July 25, 1572) ( he, יִצְחָק בן שלמה לוּרְיָא אשכנזי ''Yitzhak Ben Sh'lomo Lurya Ashkenazi''), commonly known in Jewish religious circles as "Ha'ARI" (meaning "The Lion"), "Ha'ARI Hakadosh" (the holy ARI) or "ARIZaL" (the ARI, of Blessed Memory ( Zikhrono Livrakha)), was a leading rabbi and Jewish mystic in the community of Safed in the Galilee region of Ottoman Syria, now Israel/Palestine 1948. He is considered the father of contemporary Kabbalah, his teachings being referred to as Lurianic Kabbalah. While his direct literary contribution to the Kabbalistic school of Safed was extremely minute (he wrote only a few poems), his spiritual fame led to their veneration and the acceptance of his authority. The works of his disciples compiled his oral teachings into writing. Every custom of Luria was scrutinized, and many were accepted, even against previous practice. Luria died at Safed, Damascu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hayyim Ben Joseph Vital
Hayyim ben Joseph Vital ( he, רָבִּי חַיִּים בֶּן יוֹסֵף וִיטָאל; Safed, October 23, 1542 (Julian calendar) and October 11, 1542 (Gregorian Calendar) – Damascus, 23 April 1620) was a rabbi in Safed and the foremost disciple of Isaac Luria. He recorded much of his master's teachings. After Vital's death, his writings began to spread and led to a "powerful impact on various circles throughout the Jewish world."Fine 2003, p2/ref> Early life Born in Safed, as a young boy Hayyim Vital was educated by the scholar Moshe Alshich. Joseph Karo is said to have paid special attention to Vital's early talents and in 1557 requested that Alshich take special care in his education as he was destined to succeed his teacher in the world of Torah study. That same year, Vital first became acquainted with the kabbalist Isaac Luria, who would have a lasting influence on him. Vital apparently married at a young age. It was an unhappy marriage, and when he left his wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elazar Ben Moshe Azikri
Rabbi Elazar ben Moshe Azikri ( he, אלעזר בן משה אזכרי) (1533–1600) was a Jewish kabbalist, poet and writer. Biography Azikri was born in Safed to a Sephardic family who had settled in Ottoman Syria after the expulsion from Spain. He studied Torah under Rabbi Yosef Sagis, Rabbi Jacob Berab, and in the Yeshiva of Moshe Cordovero. He is counted with the greatest Rabbis and intellectuals of his time: Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, Yosef Karo, Moshe Cordovero, Isaac Luria, Israel Najara, etc. In fact, he was one of a handful of rabbis to receive the renewed rabbinic ''semichah'' initiated by Rabbi Berab.Elazar ben Moshe Azikri sefaria.org In 1588 Rabbi Elazar founded the "Sukat Shalom" movement who acted to arouse in Jews the devotion to religion. His ''Sefer Haredim'' - see below - b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Judah Bar Ilai
Judah bar Ilai (), also known as Yehuda bar Ma'arava (, lit. "Judah of the West") and Rabbi Judah, was a rabbi of the 2nd century (fourth generation of tannaim). Of the many Judahs in the Talmud, he is the one referred to simply as "Rabbi Judah" and is the most frequently mentioned sage in the Mishnah. Biography Judah bar Ilai was born at Usha in the Galilee. His teachers were his father Rabbi Ilai I (himself a pupil of Eliezer b. Hyrcanus), Rabbi Akiba, and Rabbi Tarfon. He studied under Tarfon in early youth, and was so closely associated with R. Tarfon that he even performed menial services for him. He was ordained by Rabbi Judah ben Baba at a time when the Roman government forbade ordination. Judah bar Ilai was forced to flee Hadrian's persecution. Almost at the beginning of Hadrian's persecution, Judah ben Ilai was forced to flee from Usha and conceal himself; and he often related episodes of the "times of peril". When, after the revocation of Hadrian's edicts of persecut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
16th-century Rabbis From The Ottoman Empire
The 16th century begins with the Julian year 1501 ( MDI) and ends with either the Julian or the Gregorian year 1600 ( MDC) (depending on the reckoning used; the Gregorian calendar introduced a lapse of 10 days in October 1582). The 16th century is regarded by historians as the century which saw the rise of Western civilization and the Islamic gunpowder empires. The Renaissance in Italy and Europe saw the emergence of important artists, authors and scientists, and led to the foundation of important subjects which include accounting and political science. Copernicus proposed the heliocentric universe, which was met with strong resistance, and Tycho Brahe refuted the theory of celestial spheres through observational measurement of the 1572 appearance of a Milky Way supernova. These events directly challenged the long-held notion of an immutable universe supported by Ptolemy and Aristotle, and led to major revolutions in astronomy and science. Galileo Galilei became a champion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
