Solomon Nissim Algazi (1610c. 1683) was

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 ...

Smyrna Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...

and in

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

in the 17th century. He was a prolific writer on all topics of

rabbinical literature Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, is the entire spectrum of rabbinic writings throughout Jewish history. However, the term often refers specifically to literature from the Talmudic era, as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writ ...

, and won distinction by his treatment of

Talmudic hermeneutics Talmudical hermeneutics (Hebrew: מידות שהתורה נדרשת בהן) defines the rules and methods for investigation and exact determination of meaning of the scriptures in the Hebrew Bible, within the framework of Rabbinic Judaism. This in ...

and methodology. His attempts to rationalize Talmudic

aggadot Aggadah ( he, ''ʾAggāḏā'' or ''Haggāḏā''; Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: אַגָּדְתָא ''ʾAggāḏəṯāʾ''; "tales, fairytale, lore") is the non-legalistic exegesis which appears in the classical rabbinic literature of Judaism, ...

, while not scientific in a modern sense, still prove him to have been superior to the average Talmudist of his age. His best work is his Talmudic methodology, ''Yabin Shemu'ah'' (He Will Elucidate the Message), which is written in the form of a commentary to Yeshu'ah Ha-Levi's ''Halikot 'Olam'' (Venice, 1639; Leghorn, 1792). He wrote two other works on Talmudic methodology; namely, ''Halikot Eli'' (The Ways of My God; Smyrna, 1663), and ''Gufe Halakot'' (Principles of Halakah; Smyrna, 1675). Algazi was also the author of: * ''Ahabat 'Olam'' (Everlasting Love), a series of homilies (Constantinople, 1642; Dyhernfurth, 1693) * ''Hamon Rabbah'' (The Great Multitude), an index of the Biblical passages quoted in

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabba or Midrash Rabbah can refer to part of or the collective whole of specific aggadic midrashim on the books of the Torah and the Five Megillot, generally having the term "Rabbah" (), meaning "great," as part of their name. These midras ...

(Constantinople, 1644) *''Zehab Sebah'' (The Gold of the Hoary Head), on Talmudic

Haggadot The Haggadah ( he, הַגָּדָה, "telling"; plural: Haggadot) is a Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder. According to Jewish practice, reading the Haggadah at the Seder table is a fulfillment of the mitzvah to each Jew ...

, (Constantinople, 1683) *''Leḥem Setarim'' (Secret Bread), Talmudic novellæ (Venice, 1664) *''Me'ullefet Sappirim'' (Overlaid with Sapphires), selections from the

Zohar The ''Zohar'' ( he, , ''Zōhar'', lit. "Splendor" or "Radiance") is a foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah (the five ...

(Smyrna, 1665; Amsterdam, 1703) *''Raẓuf Ahabah'' (Inlaid with Love), or ''Apirion Shelomoh'' (Solomon's Palanquin), notes on the

Tosafot The Tosafot, Tosafos or Tosfot ( he, תוספות) are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes. The auth ...

to the haggadic passages in the Talmud (Smyrna, 1659; Amsterdam, 1710) *''Ta'awah la-'Enayim'' (A Delight to the Eyes), notes on the Talmudic Haggadot (Salonica, 1655; Sulzbach, 1687) *''Shema Shlomo'' (Hear Solomon) (Smyrna, 1659; Amsterdam 1710)

References

Its bibliography: * Azulai, ''Shem ha-Gedolim'', p. 82 * Steinschneider, Moritz, ''Catalogus Librorum Hebræorum in Bibliotheca Bodleiana'', col. 2277 * Fürst, Julius, ''Bibliotheca Judaica'', i. 37, 38. {{DEFAULTSORT:Algazi, Solomon Nissim 17th-century rabbis from the Ottoman Empire Sephardi rabbis in Ottoman Palestine Smyrniote Jews 1610 births 1683 deaths