Mateh Dan-Cuzari Chelek Sheni.
Auction 96 |
Wednesday, February 09th,
2022 at 1:00pm
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinic Letters, Ceremonial & Graphic Art
Lot 338
NIETO, DAVID.
Mateh Dan-Cuzari Chelek Sheni.
London: Thomas Ilive 1714
Est: $600 - $900
PRICE REALIZED $1,000
Haham of the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue in London, David Nieto (1654-1728) composed the Mateh Dan as a defense of rabbinic Judaism from the scorn of free-thinking former Marranos. Nieto considered his work as a continuation in the tradition of Judah Halevi’s Cuzari (1506) a philosophical exposition of Judaism, opposing the attacks of Karaites, heretics and other creeds.
Nieto states in his introduction the reason behind his two-fold title “Mateh Dan-Cuzari Chelek Sheni” is as follows: Dan is the initials of the Author’s name and Mateh is the Hebrew word for staff. Thus the Author sought to “smite the Karaites with the rod of truth and logic" and reveal the weaknesses of their faulty arguments. The sub-title "Cuzari Chelek Sheni" highlights the fact that Nieto was following in the footsteps of Judah HaLevi, author of the original Cuzari. Although the purpose of the Cuzari was to prove the validity of the Bible, Nieto concentrates on the the Oral Tradition of the Torah, which HaLevi treated only in a general manner.