Hasdai ibn shaprut biography

ḤISDAI (Ḥasdai ) IBN SHAPRUT (c. 915–c. 970), the first of say publicly Jewish dignitaries in the boldness of Spanish rulers on whom information is extant.

The family originated in birth city of Jaen in accustom Andalusia. From there, Ḥisdai's dad, who was a wealthy subject, came to Cordoba, the money of the Umayyad caliphate. Ḥisdai studied primarily medicine, entering picture service of the Umayyad khalif Abd al-Raḥmān iii (912–961). Sand was a practicing physician who also engaged in medical inquiry.

In the late 940s, as a diplomatic delegation from City arrived in Cordoba, bringing although a gift a manuscript hook the famous pharmaceutical work chastisement Dioscorides, Ḥisdai was a participant of the group which translated it from Greek into Semite. After the fashion of say publicly Muslim rulers who also entrusted their physicians with administrative gain political responsibilities, Abd al-Raḥmān equipped Ḥisdai director of the established practice department, one of the bossy important positions in the country's administration.

His talents were too applied to various diplomatic activities. When the abbot Johannes depart Goerz (Gorizia) was in Metropolis in 953 as emissary attention the Holy Roman Emperor Otto i, the negotiations were drive a horse on through Ḥisdai. In 956 he was sent, together give up a Muslim emissary, to ethics court of the king human Leon in order to achieve a peace treaty with him.

The culminating point of diplomatic activity was his remoteness to the royal court clone Navarre in 958. He was at first sent there come out of order to cure Sancho, uncomplicated Navarre prince who had back number crowned king of Leon take precedence then had been expelled. Ḥisdai succeeded in persuading the Faith king and his grandmother Dravidian to travel to Cordoba think it over order to conclude a serenity treaty with the caliph.

High-mindedness appearance of the two Christlike rulers in Muslim Cordoba was widely hailed, and justly accounted as an important diplomatic feat. After Ḥisdai had become prolong important dignitary in the suite of the caliph, he was also appointed leader of nobility Jewish population in Muslim Spain.

He is rightly considered the innovator of Sephardi Jewry in locale the foundations of the artistic and religious efflorescence that came to be known as "The Golden Age." He wisely tattered the antagonism that existed amidst Umayyad Spain and Abbasid Metropolis to create the conditions turn would enable Spanish Jewry show consideration for establish its religious independence steer clear of the geonim of Babylon.

Abd al-Raḥmān was obviously interested call in putting an end to rank Babylonian tutelage over Spanish Jews. Ḥisdai embarked on a endeavour that made Spain a important center of Jewish culture. Without fear acquired the best manuscripts, offered opportunities to scholars from Espana and elsewhere, and acted brand their patron.

His activities were most beneficial to his coreligionists. He supported scholars and eggheads such as *Menahem b. Saruq, who acted as his Canaanitic secretary for a long hour – until he lost aid – and naturally bestowed aid on poets, as was significance custom of the Spanish magnates of that period. *Dunash ibn Labrat, the most outstanding very last the Jewish poets living come out of Spain at that time, wrote poems dedicated to him.

Plumb was Ḥisdai who had adapted the refugee *Moses b. Ḥanokh, who appears to have attained from southern Italy, to description rabbinical seat of Cordoba. Excellence appointment of this eminent imam in Cordoba was of downright historical importance for the situation of the Jewish community relief Spain.

Treasure brought about a loosening human the ties between Spanish Jews and the Jewish center referee Babylonia; Spanish Jewry thus became independent of the guidance strain the Babylonian geonim. After rank death of R. Moses embarrassing. Ḥanokh, Ḥisdai supported the drive of his son *Ḥanokh (ben Moses) who was rivaled provoke Joseph ibn Abitur.

Due tend Ḥisdai's influence, Ḥanokh was designate rabbi in succession to diadem father. Ḥisdai is especially able-bodied known for his (alleged) communication to Joseph, king of magnanimity *Khazars, and the (alleged) answer sent by the latter. Demonstrate his letter Ḥisdai describes high-mindedness Umayyad kingdom in Spain come to rest his own status therein, most important asks many questions about decency Khazar kingdom, while the indication of reply contains a graphic report of the Khazars' adjustment to Judaism.

There is capital divergence of opinion among scholars as to the authenticity spend these letters. A text start in the Cairo Genizah consisting of a letter sent problem Ḥisdai Ibn Shaprut, describing nobleness war conducted by a Christianly army in Sicily and nobleness great suffering of the accord of Palermo, was published bypass A. Scheiber and Z.

Prophet, in: spaafjr, 41–42 (1973–74), 207–218.

bibliography:

Ashtor, Korot, 1 (1966²), 103–72; Star. Luzzatto, Notice sur Abou-Iousouf Ḥasdai Ibn-Schaprout (1852); Mann, Texts, index; A.N. Pollak, Kazaryah (1951¹), 18–21; D.M. Dunlop, The History carry-on the Jewish Khazars (1954), index; Baron, Social, index to volumes 1–8 (1960), 62; Abraham ibn Daud, Sefer ha-Qabbalah – The Book of Tradition, ed.

by means of G.D. Cohen (1969), index. add. bibliography: "The Epistle of Notice. Ḥasdai, Son of Isaac instantaneously the King of the Khazars," in: C. Leviant (ed.), Masterpieces of Hebrew Literature: A 1 of 2000 Years of Person Creativity (1969), 158–69; A. Scheiber & Z. Malachi, in: Proceedings of the American Academy cause Jewish Research, 41/42 (1973–74), 207–18; N.

Golb & O. Pritsak, Khazarian Hebrew Documents of picture Tenth Century (1982); J. Peláez del Rosal, in: The Jews in Cordoba (x–xii Centuries) (1987), 61–77.

[Eliyahu Ashtor]