Joseph Taitazak
Joseph ben Solomon Ṭaiṭazaḳ (
With his father and brother
Life
He was regarded as one of the most mysterious Kabbalists of the 16th century and one of the leading rabbinical figures in Jerusalem and Damascus. He discussed magic squares, which allude to the highest and most concealed concepts and their use within amulets. Many references can be found in writings of contemporary and leading Kabbalists, such as Rabbi Joseph Tirshom's manuscript (ca. 1550 CE) Shoshan Yesod Olam (The Rose, Foundation of the Universe), Rabbi
He was a fervent adherent of the Kabbalah, in which he was well versed, and led an ascetic life. Eliyahu de Vidas related that with the exception of Sabbath nights, Joseph for forty years never slept in a bed, but on a box, with his feet on the ground.[1]
With such a disposition to asceticism and mysticism, it was but natural that Joseph should become enthralled by the
Among Joseph's disciples were
Works
He was the author of the following works:
- Ben Porat, a commentary on Ecclesiastes (Venice, 1599)
- Leḥem Setarim, on the (Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. Nos. 206, 2; 329; 969; 2270, 8; 3521)
- A commentary on the Sayings of the Fathers
- Responsa, some of which have been included in the writings of his contemporaries and pupils
- Notes on casuisticalmatters
- Commentaries on haggadicpassages
- A treatise on the astrolabe (Neubauer, l.c. Nos. 834, 7, 10; 2080, 3; 2254, 8).
- According to novellæ on Alfasi.
References
- ^ In his Reshit Ḥokmah (Sha'ar ha-Ḳedushshah, ch. 7)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Taitazak". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. Its bibliography:
- Gedaliah ibn Yaḥya, Shalshelet ha-Ḳabbalah, ed. Amsterdam, p. 49a;
- David Conforte, Ḳore ha-Dorot, p. 35a;
- Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim, i.40;
- Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi, Dizionario, p. 314;
- Geiger, Zeitschrift, iii.285, No. 21;
- Moritz Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. col. 1533;
- Heinrich Graetz, Gesch. ix.35, 236, 299.