Jacob Abendana

Jacob Abendana, born in 1630 in Spain, was a prominent hakham (rabbi) who served in London from 1680 until his death on September 12, 1685. His family originated in Hamburg, but he and his brother Isaac were born in Spain. The family later moved to Amsterdam, where Jacob studied at the *De los Pintos* rabbinical academy in Rotterdam. In 1655, he was appointed hakham of Amsterdam and delivered a significant memorial sermon for martyrs. Abendana co-published the Bible commentary *Miklal Yofi* with his brother Isaac, contributing his own commentary, *Lekket Shikchah*, on the Pentateuch, Joshua, and Judges. His intellectual interactions extended to Christian scholars, including Antonius Hulsius, with whom he engaged in a lengthy correspondence and debate on biblical interpretation. Abendana later moved to London in 1680 to succeed Joshua da Silva as the hakham of London, serving the Bevis Marks Synagogue for fifteen years. During his time in London, he worked on a Spanish-language translation of the Mishnah with commentaries, which, though unpublished, was referenced by Christian theologians. He died in London in 1685 and was buried in the Portuguese cemetery at Mile End.