Abraham Cohen de Herrera

Abraham Cohen de Herrera (c. 1570 – c. 1635), also known as Alonso Nunez de Herrera or Abraham Irira, was a prominent Jewish religious philosopher and cabbalist. He was a student of Israel Sarug, a disciple of Isaac Luria. Historians suggest he was born around 1570 and may have descended from a Marrano family, with his birthplace being uncertain but possibly Lisbon, Portugal, or Livorno, Tuscany. Some accounts link him to Italy and suggest he was the son of the last Chief Rabbi of Córdoba. Herrera married Sara de Herrera in Amsterdam in 1600. He had an uncle, Juan de Marchena, who served the Sultan of Morocco. While on the Sultan's business in Cádiz, Herrera was reportedly captured by the English. Following diplomatic exchanges between the Sultan and Queen Elizabeth I, he was released and traveled to Amsterdam, where he reverted to Judaism. His death occurred between 1635 and 1639, with some sources suggesting Vienna as the place of his demise. Herrera authored several works, initially in Spanish, which were later translated into Hebrew according to his will.