Yedai Moshe [homilies to the Five Scrolls]

ALMOSNINO, MOSES

Daniel Zanetti

Venice

1597

Second Edition. Title within garlanded architectural border. Opening word of each scroll within type-ornament. Tailpieces

Vinograd, Venice 833; Mehlman 632; not in Adams

Moses Almosnino, preacher of Salonika, records native Salonikan traditions. On f. 84r. he transmits an interpretation of Lamentations he heard in his youth from “the great and holy Joseph Taitatzak.” Taitatzak, an older contemporary of Joseph Karo, has become the focus of much academic interest of late for it seems he too, as Karo, was under the influence of a “Maggid” or astral guide. Almosnino left several unpublished manuscripts. The author himself several times alludes to his work P’nei Moshe (see eg. ff. 85r., 108v.). Of scientific interest is Almosnino’s commentary on the Hebrew translation of the Sphera Mundi entitled Beth Elo-him (The House of God). See Meyer Waxman, A History of Jewish Literature, vol. I (1933) p. 319; EJ, Vol. II, cols. 669-671