Rabbi Abraham Ben Meir Ibn Ezra (also known as Ibn Ezra, or Abenezra) (1092 or 1093-1167), was one of the most distinguished Jewish men of letters and writers of the Middle Ages. He was born at Tudela province of Navarra, left his native land of Spain before 1140 and led until his death a life of restless wandering, which took him to North Africa, Egypt, Italy (Rome, Lucca, Mantua, Verona), Southern France (Narbonne, Béziers), Northern France (Dreux), England (London), and back again to the South of France. < ...

Including:

• Abraham ibn Ezra - His Works
• Abraham ibn Ezra - His Mission
• Abraham ibn Ezra - Biblical Commentaries
• Abraham ibn Ezra - Hebrew Grammar
• Abraham ibn Ezra - Smaller Works Partly Grammatical Partly Exegetical
• Abraham ibn Ezra - Religious Philosophy
• Abraham ibn Ezra - Mathematics Astronomy Astrology
• Abraham ibn Ezra - As Poet
• Abraham ibn Ezra - Article references

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Abraham ibn Ezra, Abraham ibn Ezra - His Works, Abraham ibn Ezra - His Mission, Abraham ibn Ezra - Biblical Commentaries, Abraham ibn Ezra - Hebrew Grammar, Abraham ibn Ezra - Smaller Works Partly Grammatical Partly Exegetical, Abraham ibn Ezra - Religious Philosophy, Abraham ibn Ezra - Mathematics Astronomy Astrology, Abraham ibn Ezra - As Poet, Abraham ibn Ezra - Article references

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Ibn Ezra is considered by many Jews as being a masterful Hebrew poet. Ibn Ezra's secular poems are contained in two works: in the "Tarshish", and in the first part of his "Diwan." The "Tarshish" is divided into ten chapters, each of which contains in order the twenty-two letters of the alphabet. It is written in the Arabic style of poetry termed "tajnis," which consists in the repetition of words in every stanza, but with a different meaning in each repetition. The first chapter is dedicated to a certain Abraham (certainly not Abraham ...

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Moses ibn Ezra, Moses ibn Ezra - Family, Moses ibn Ezra - Writings, Moses ibn Ezra - His Rhetoric, Moses ibn Ezra - His Poetry, Moses ibn Ezra - Sacred Poems

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Moses ibn Ezra is the first to mention Gabirol as a philosopher. He speaks of Gabirol's character and attainments in terms of highest praise, and in his "'Aruggat ha-Bosem" quotes several passages from the "Fons Vitæ." Abraham ibn Ezra, who gives several specimens of Gabirol's philosophico-allegorical Bible interpretation, borrows from the "Fons Vitæ" both in his prose and in his poetry without giving due credit. Abraham ibn Daud of Toledo, in the twelfth century, was the first to take exception to Gabirol's teachings. In the "Sefer ...

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Solomon Ibn Gabirol, Solomon Ibn Gabirol - Biography, Solomon Ibn Gabirol - Restorer of Neoplatonism, Solomon Ibn Gabirol - Identity with Avicebron, Solomon Ibn Gabirol - The Fons Vitæ, Solomon Ibn Gabirol - Reconciling Neoplatonism with Jewish theology, Solomon Ibn Gabirol - Effect upon his successors, Solomon Ibn Gabirol - Influence on Scholasticism, Solomon Ibn Gabirol - Ethical Treatise

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Many of the early works on chess gave a legendary history of the invention of chess, often associating it with Nard (a game of the tables variety like backgammon). However, only limited credence can be given to these. Even as early as the tenth century Zakaria Yahya commented on the chess myths, "It is said to have been played by Aristotle, by Yafet Ibn Nuh (Japhet son of Noah), by Sam ben Nuh (Shem), by Solomon for the loss of his son, and even by Adam when he grieved for Abel." In one case the invention of chess was attributed to Moses (by the rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra in 1130). However, this claim is opposed by ...

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Origins of chess, Origins of chess - Origins of chess pieces, Origins of chess - Chess-like pieces, Origins of chess - Chess pieces as talismans, Origins of chess - Chess pieces as objects of art, Origins of chess - Further development of chess, Origins of chess - Other theories, Origins of chess - India, Origins of chess - China, Origins of chess - Iran, Origins of chess - Egypt, Origins of chess - Greece and Rome, Origins of chess - Ireland

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The history of creationism is tied to the history of religions. Creationism in the West primarily had some of its earliest roots in Judaism. For example, Abraham ibn Ezra's (c. 1089–1164) commentary on Genesis is greatly esteemed in traditional rabbinical circles and he was a creationist. In the 18th and 19th centuries, naturalists challenged the Biblical account of creation as to be in conflict with empirical observations of natural history from scientific inquiry. Creationists consider their primary source to be the ancient Hebrew ...

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Creationism, Creationism - Political context, Creationism - History of the concept of creation, Creationism - Types of creationism, Creationism - Jewish creationism, Creationism - Christian God as absolute origin, Creationism - Prevalence of creationism, Creationism - United States, Creationism - The western world outside the United States, Creationism - Criticism of creationism, Creationism - Scientific critique of creationism, Creationism - The Christian critique of creationism, Creationism - Creationism and naturalism

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Abraham ibn Ezra, in his commentary to Leviticus, considered the olah sacrifice as the atonement of the heart for sinful thoughts. The thank-offering ("todah," "zebah," "shelamim"), together with the meal-offering and the wave-offering, typified the relation of fellowship and friendship between God and Israel; and since God was also the Creator of the universe, the act of turning toward every side symbolized the conviction that God held all the world and the ends thereof. The sin-offering denoted complete atonement, and ...

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Jewish symbolism, Jewish symbolism - Shabbat and circumcision, Jewish symbolism - The Tabernacle, Jewish symbolism - The Temple, Jewish symbolism - The Holy of Holies, Jewish symbolism - The sacrifices, Jewish symbolism - The priests, Jewish symbolism - The symbolic values of numbers, Jewish symbolism - Metals and minerals, Jewish symbolism - Colors, Jewish symbolism - Festivals and holy days, Jewish symbolism - Symbolic visions of the Prophets, Jewish symbolism - The Star of David, Jewish symbolism - On tombstones, Jewish symbolism - Influence on Christian symbols, Jewish symbolism - The land of Zion, Jewish symbolism - Lions of Judah

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Lyric poetry - Hebrew poets. Yehuda Alharizi Menachem Ben Saruk Dunash Ben Labrat Yehuda Halevi Shmuel Hanagid Solomon Ibn Gabirol Abraham ibn Ezra Moshe Ibn Ezra Itzhak Ibn Khalfon Lyric poetry - Chinese poets. Gao Qi Lyric poetry ...

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Lyric poetry, Lyric poetry - History, Lyric poetry - Themes, Lyric poetry - Forms, Lyric poetry - Metrics, Lyric poetry - Rhyme and alliteration, Lyric poetry - Classical, Lyric poetry - Chinese poets, Lyric poetry - Greek poets, Lyric poetry - Japanese poets, Lyric poetry - Latin poets, Lyric poetry - Persian poets, Lyric poetry - Middle Ages and Renaissance, Lyric poetry - Hebrew poets, Lyric poetry - Chinese poets, Lyric poetry - English poets, Lyric poetry - French poets, Lyric poetry - German poets, Lyric poetry - Hindu poets, Lyric poetry - Italian poets, Lyric poetry - Persian poets, Lyric poetry - Sixteenth century, Lyric poetry - English poets, Lyric poetry - French poets, Lyric poetry - Spanish poets, Lyric poetry - Seventeenth century, Lyric poetry - Dutch poets, Lyric poetry - English poets, Lyric poetry - German poets, Lyric poetry - Japanese poets, Lyric poetry - Spanish poets, Lyric poetry - Eighteenth century, Lyric poetry - English poets, Lyric poetry - German poets, Lyric poetry - Hebrew poets, Lyric poetry - Japanese poets, Lyric poetry - Nineteenth century, Lyric poetry - English poets, Lyric poetry - French poets, Lyric poetry - German poets, Lyric poetry - Italian poets, Lyric poetry - Japanese poets, Lyric poetry - Russian poets, Lyric poetry - Twentieth century, Lyric poetry - Chinese poets, Lyric poetry - Dutch poets, Lyric poetry - English poets, Lyric poetry - Flemish poets, Lyric poetry - French poets, Lyric poetry - German poets, Lyric poetry - Hebrew poets, Lyric poetry - Italian poets, Lyric poetry - Japanese poets, Lyric poetry - Polish poets, Lyric poetry - Russian poets, Lyric poetry - Spanish poets, Lyric poetry - Twenty-first century, Lyric poetry - Persian poets

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1167 - Events. Taira no Kiyomori becomes the first samurai to be appointed Daijo Daijin, chief minister of the government of Japan Peter of Blois becomes the tutor of William II of Sicily Absalon, archbishop of Denmark, leads the first Danish synod at Lund Absalon fortifies Copenhagen William Marshal, "the greatest knight that ever lived," is knighted Afonso I of Portugal is defeated by the Kingdom of Leon Amalric I of Jerusalem unsuccessfully inv ...

Including:

• 1167 - Events
• 1167 - Births
• 1167 - Deaths

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Tefillin (Hebrew: תפלין), also called phylacteries, are leather objects containing Biblical verses which are used in rabbinic Jewish prayer. They are an essential part of morning prayer services, and are worn on a daily basis (except the Sabbath and festivals) by many Jews. The origin of wearing tefillin stems from interpretations of passages found in the Torah (five books of Moses), in Deuteronomy 6:8, 11:18; Exodus 13:9, 16. While these passages were interpreted literally by most commentators (in contrast t ...

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With the death of Al-Hakam II Ibn Abd-ar-Rahman in 976, the Caliphate began to dissolve, and the position of the Jews became more precarious under the various smaller Kingdoms. The first major persecution occurred on Dec. 30, 1066 when the Jews were expelled from Granada and fifteen hundred families were killed when they did not leave. This was the first persecution of Jews on the Peninsula while under Islamic rule. A possible date of the end of the Golden Age might be in 1090 with the invasion of the Almoravides, a puritan Mus ...

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Golden age of Jewish culture in Spain, Golden age of Jewish culture in Spain - The Nature of the Golden Age, Golden age of Jewish culture in Spain - Birth of the Golden Age, Golden age of Jewish culture in Spain - End of the Golden Age, Golden age of Jewish culture in Spain - Notable figures

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After the Almohads, the Merinds ruled in Morocco until they were overthrown by the Saadites in the 15th century. During the murderous scenes which were enacted in 1391 in Seville and were repeated in a large part of Spain and then across the sea in Majorca, the Spanish Jews were glad to seize the first opportunity to emigrate to North Africa in order to escape the persucution in Spain. A hundred years later, when the Jews were driven out of Spain in 1492 and Portugal in 1496, the sudden inroad upon Morocco and the whole of north Africa was r ...

See also:

History of the Jews in Morocco, History of the Jews in Morocco - Under the Romans, History of the Jews in Morocco - Arab Conquest and the Idrisids 703-1146, History of the Jews in Morocco - Under the Almohads 1146-1400s, History of the Jews in Morocco - The Merinds and the Saadites, History of the Jews in Morocco - Under Al-Raschid and Ismail, History of the Jews in Morocco - In the eighteenth century, History of the Jews in Morocco - In the nineteenth century, History of the Jews in Morocco - Montefiore's journey to Morocco, History of the Jews in Morocco - Modern times, History of the Jews in Morocco - Notes

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Documentary hypothesis - Traditional Jewish and Christian beliefs. The traditional Jewish view is that God revealed his will to Moses at Mount Sinai in a verbal fashion. This dictation is said to have been exactly transcribed by Moses. Based on the Talmud (tractate Git. 60a), some believe that the Torah may have been given piece-by-piece over the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the desert. The Pentateuch itself does not imply as much. The expression "God said to Moses" shows only the Divine ...

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Documentary hypothesis, Documentary hypothesis - The hypothesis, Documentary hypothesis - Background to the hypothesis, Documentary hypothesis - The modern hypothesis, Documentary hypothesis - Secondary hypothesis, Documentary hypothesis - History of the hypothesis, Documentary hypothesis - Traditional Jewish and Christian beliefs, Documentary hypothesis - Rabbinical biblical criticism, Documentary hypothesis - The Enlightenment, Documentary hypothesis - 19th-Century Theories, Documentary hypothesis - Julius Wellhausen, Documentary hypothesis - Richard Elliot Friedman, Documentary hypothesis - The modern era, Documentary hypothesis - Opponents of the hypothesis, Documentary hypothesis - Debates between non-fundamentalist academics supporting the Documentary Hypothesis, Documentary hypothesis - Highlighted source text at Wikisource

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Creationism - Scientific critique of creationism. All forms of Creationism incorporate some theological content, but they have varied considerably over time in the degree to which they incorporate scientific evidence. Since the origins of modern geology in the 18th and 19th centuries, theories of creationism have become increasingly separated from mainstream science. Many modern forms of creationism, particularly Young Earth Christian creationism, were created to defend the literal interpretation of the biblical ...

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Creationism, Creationism - Political context, Creationism - History of the concept of creation, Creationism - Types of creationism, Creationism - Jewish creationism, Creationism - Christian God as absolute origin, Creationism - Prevalence of creationism, Creationism - United States, Creationism - The western world outside the United States, Creationism - Criticism of creationism, Creationism - Scientific critique of creationism, Creationism - The Christian critique of creationism, Creationism - Creationism and naturalism

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Demons as described in the Tanakh are not the same as "demons" commonly known in popular or Christian culture. The demons mentioned in the Hebrew Bible are of two classes, the se'irim and the shedim. The se'irim ("hairy beings"), to which some Israelites sacrificed in the open fields, are satyr-like creatures, described as dancing in the wilderness (Isaiah xiii. 21, xxxiv. 14), and which are identical with the jinn. (But compare the completely European woodwose.) Possibly to the same class belongs Azazel, t ...

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Demon, Demon - Etymology, Demon - Demons in the Hebrew Bible, Demon - Influences from Chaldean mythology, Demon - In Jewish rabbinic literature, Demon - The King and Queen of Demons, Demon - In the New Testament and Christianity, Demon - In Christian myth and legend, Demon - War in Heaven, Demon - Demonologies, Demon - In pre-Islamic Arab culture, Demon - In Islam, Demon - In Hinduism, Demon - Demons in other cultures and religions, Demon - Demons in Hellenistic Neopaganism, Demon - In art literature and television, Demon - In science, Demon - In games, Demon - External link

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As a youth Ha-Levi lived a life of pleasure. He mixed pleasure with learning. It is possible that Judah's father, Samuel "the Castilian," sent Judah, who was his only son, to Lucena to be educated in the various branches of Jewish learning at the school of Isaac Alfasi. On the death of his master, Judah composed an elegy (Brody, "Diwan des Abul-Ḥasan Jehuda ha-Levi," ii., No. 14, p. 100). It was probably in Lucena, too, that Judah won the friendship of Alfasi's most prominent pupil ...

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Yehuda Halevi, Yehuda Halevi - Youth, Yehuda Halevi - Journey to the Holy Land, Yehuda Halevi - His work, Yehuda Halevi - Secular poetry, Yehuda Halevi - Love songs, Yehuda Halevi - Religious poetry, Yehuda Halevi - Patriotism, Yehuda Halevi - Analysis of his poetry, Yehuda Halevi - Synagogal poetry, Yehuda Halevi - As a philosopher, Yehuda Halevi - Ha-Levi’s legacy

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Deuteronomy - Early Jewish analysis. Several Talmud rabbis were the first to notice problems concerning the supposed premise that Moses wrote the entire five books of the torah. Basing themselves on this premise, they asked how he could possibly have written the text describing his own death and burial, as well as describing, after his own death, that ... there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses. While some contended that he wrote them prophetically, the dominant opinion of these rabbis seems to be ...

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Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy - Origin of the name Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy - Summary of the book, Deuteronomy - Analysis of authorship, Deuteronomy - Early Jewish analysis, Deuteronomy - Apologetics, Deuteronomy - Modern critical analysis

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Strictures against astrology appear in the official Torah commentary of Conservative Judaism and on the official website of Reform Judaism, and a number of Conservative and Reform rabbis have written against the practice. Commenting on Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Etz Hayim, the official Torah commentary of Conservative Judaism writes "Hence the use of astrology is prohibited (BT Pesachim 113b)." Similarly, Rabbi Simchah Roth, a Conservative Masorti rabbi comments negatively on astrology in his "Halakhah Study Group" session. (Halakhah Study Group, Nov. 18 2003, ...

See also:

Jewish views of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - In the Bible, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic rejection of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic acceptance of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Qualified acceptance; partial skepticism, Jewish views of astrology - In the medieval era, Jewish views of astrology - Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Jewish views of astrology - Views in the modern era

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The number three was the symbol of holiness. The Holy of Holies occupied one-third, and the Holy Place two-thirds, of the entire Temple. The tapestries were ten times three ells in length, and there were three vessels each for the altar of burnt offering, the altar of incense, and the Ark. The candlestick had twice three arms (besides the shaft, which also held a lamp), and each arm had three knobs. The blessing of the priest consisted of three sections (Num. vi. 24, 25) ...

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Jewish symbolism, Jewish symbolism - Shabbat and circumcision, Jewish symbolism - The Tabernacle, Jewish symbolism - The Temple, Jewish symbolism - The Holy of Holies, Jewish symbolism - The sacrifices, Jewish symbolism - The priests, Jewish symbolism - The symbolic values of numbers, Jewish symbolism - Metals and minerals, Jewish symbolism - Colors, Jewish symbolism - Festivals and holy days, Jewish symbolism - Symbolic visions of the Prophets, Jewish symbolism - The Star of David, Jewish symbolism - On tombstones, Jewish symbolism - Influence on Christian symbols, Jewish symbolism - The land of Zion, Jewish symbolism - Lions of Judah

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One of the major trends in modern Jewish philosophy was the attempt to develop a theory of Judaism through existentialism. One of the primary players in this field was Franz Rosenzweig. While researching his doctoral dissertation on the 19th-century German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Rosenzweig reacted against Hegel's idealism and favored an existential approach. Rosenzweig, for a time, considered conversion to Christianity, but in 1913, he turned to Jewish philosophy. He became a philosopher and student of Hermann Cohen. Roze ...

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Jewish philosophy, Jewish philosophy - Approaches, Jewish philosophy - Early Jewish philosophy, Jewish philosophy - Philo of Alexandria, Jewish philosophy - Avicebron Solomon ibn Gabirol, Jewish philosophy - Jewish Mysticism Kabbalah, Jewish philosophy - Saadia Gaon, Jewish philosophy - Karaite philosophy, Jewish philosophy - Bahya ibn Paquda's Duties of the Heart, Jewish philosophy - Yehuda Halevi and the Kuzari, Jewish philosophy - The rise of Aristotelian thought, Jewish philosophy - Maimonides, Jewish philosophy - Position in the history of thought, Jewish philosophy - Renaissance philosophers, Jewish philosophy - Post-Enlightenment Jewish philosophers, Jewish philosophy - Modern Jewish philosophy, Jewish philosophy - Holocaust theology, Jewish philosophy - Modern Jewish philosophers, Jewish philosophy - Orthodox Judaism philosophers, Jewish philosophy - Conservative Judaism philosophers, Jewish philosophy - Reform Judaism philosophers, Jewish philosophy - Reconstructionist Judaism philosophers, Jewish philosophy - Others, Jewish philosophy - Philosophers informed by their Jewish background

Read more here: » Jewish philosophy: Encyclopedia II - Jewish philosophy - Modern Jewish philosophy