Naphtali Cohen
Rabbi Naftali Katz II | |
---|---|
Personal | |
Born | 1650 |
Died | 20 December 1719 |
Religion | Judaism |
Spouse | Esther Sheindel Sheyndl Zak |
Children | 13 |
Parent(s) | Yitzchak HaCohen Katz Edel Eidel Margolioth |
Naphtali Cohen (1649–1718), also known as Naphtali HaKohen Katz, was a Russo-German
Biography
In 1663 Cohen fell into the hands of the Tatars, who kept him in servitude for several years. Escaping, he returned to Ostrowo, and was chosen to succeed his father as rabbi. In 1690 he was called to Posen, where he officiated as chief rabbi until 1704. There he devoted himself to the Kabbalah, and collected a large library of cabalistic literature.[1]
In 1704 he was called to
He then went to
Cohen soon discovered his mistake, and endeavored, but without success, to recover his approbation, although he did not as yet realize the full import of the book. It was in 1713, while Cohen was staying at
In 1715 Cohen went to see
Cohen was the author of the following works:
- Birkat Adonai (Blessing of the Lord), a commentary on Mishnaictractates, having the subtitle Semikut Ḥakamim (Connection of the Wise), Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1702 (Cohen was so proud of this work that he ordered it to be buried with him)
- Meshek ha-Zera (Sowing of the Seed), commentary on the Mishnaic order Zeraim (not published)
- Pi Yesharim (Mouth of the Righteous), a kabalistic introduction to Genesis, Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1702
- Sefer Bet Raḥel (Book of the House of Rachel), quoted in his will, probably identical with Tefillat Bet Raḥel (Prayer of the House of Rachel), published at Amsterdam in 1741[1]
Cohen also edited a number of prayer-books, including Seliḥot (Penitential Prayers), with a commentary, Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1702; prayers for the Society for Burial, ib., n.d.; a prayer for the staying of the plague, Prague, 1713; and an ode on a
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "COHEN, NAPHTALI". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. Retrieved Mar 24, 2015.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography:
- Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim, p. 14;
- E. Carmoly, Revue Orientale, iii. 312 et seq.;
- Grätz, Gesch. x. 314, 326;
- Jost, Gesch. der Israeliten, viii. 305 et seq.;
- Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. cols. 2025-2026:
- Wolf, Bibl. Hebr. i., No. 1718;
- Zunz, Literaturgesch. p. 429;
- Brann, in Grätz Jubelschrift, p. 232;
- Kaufmann, in Rev. Etudes Juives, xxxvi. 250 et seq.