Joshua ben Israel Benveniste

The title page ofSedeh Yehoshua(1662 Edition)

Joshua ben Israel Benveniste(c. 1590 – c. 1668) was the brother ofChaim Benveniste,and a disciple ofJoseph Trani.He was a physician and rabbi atConstantinoplein 1660.

Benveniste prepared (1)Mishmeret Ha-Miẓvot(Observance of the Commandments), a metrical version of theAzharot,with commentary; and (2)Lebush Malkut(Royal Garment), a hymn in the style ofGabirol'sRoyal Crown,of which medical science constitutes the foundation.Azulaiclaims to have seen both of these writings in manuscript at the house of a rabbi in Constantinople.

Works

He wrote the following works:

• Abodah Tammah(Perfect Service), a commentary on the service for theDay of Atonement(ib. 1719-20)
• Ozne Yehoshua(The Ears of Joshua), sermons for theSabbathand special occasions (Constantinople, 1677)
• Sedeh Yehoshua(Fields of Joshua), a commentary on several tractates of theTalmud Yerushalmi(ib. 1662, 1749)
• Seder ha-Geṭ,on the formula for divorce, written atBrusaand published at Constantinople, 1719
• Sha'ar Yehoshua(Gate of Joshua), Benveniste's collection ofresponsa,seems to have been destroyed by fire; with several of hisresponsaare included in the collections ofMoses BenvenisteandJoseph Trani.However, a manuscript of the author was found in the early 20th century and published in 1904 (Hustin).

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Singer, Isidore;et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Benveniste".The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.

Sources

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

• David Conforte,Ḳore ha-Dorot,51a;
• Azulai,Shem ha-Gedolim,i.70.

External links

• Ozne Yehoshua- scanned version in PDF format
• Sedeh Yehoshua (1662 edition)- scanned version in PDF format
• Sedeh Yehoshua (1749 edition)- scanned version in PDF format
• Shaar Yehoshua- scanned version in PDF format