Isaac ben Moses Arama

Isaac ben Moses Arama (c. 1420–1494) was a prominent Spanish rabbi and author, recognized as the "Ba'al 'Aḳedah" due to his influential work "Aḳedat Yitzchaḳ" (Binding of Isaac), a philosophical commentary on the Pentateuch presented in a homiletic style. He also authored a commentary on the Five Scrolls, "Ḥazut Ḳashah" (A Difficult Vision) concerning the relationship between philosophy and theology, and "Yad Abshalom" (The Hand of Absalom), a commentary on Proverbs dedicated to his son-in-law. Arama exemplified the Spanish-Jewish scholar of the latter half of the 15th century, deeply rooted in Talmudic studies. He was also a philosopher, paying close attention to Maimonides, and explored concepts like the nature of the soul, aligning with the views of Alexander of Aphrodisias. Additionally, he engaged with Kabbalah, particularly its philosophical aspects as presented in the Zohar. His "Ḥazut Ḳashah" served as a polemic against Christian missionary sermons and addressed Christian dogma, utilizing Aristotelian concepts of free will and divine justice. His career included roles as principal of rabbinical academies and rabbi in Zamora, Tarragona, Fraga, and Calatayud. Following the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, Arama relocated to Naples, where he died in 1494.