Zera Shimshon (Hebrew: זרע שמשון) is a Jewish text[1][2] written by Rabbi Shimshon Chaim Nachmani, an Italian[3] kabbalist who lived during the 18th century (died 1779).[4][5][6] As is common for Jewish texts, the name of the work is also used to identify the author.[7] The work, whose title translates to "The Seed of Shimshon,"[2] is composed of approximately 774 essays organized into 59 chapters, covering the 54 parashot (weekly Torah portions) of the Pentateuch as well as the Five Megillot ( Song of Songs, Book of Ruth, Lamentations, Book of Esther, and Ecclesiastes.).
Rabbi Nachmani wrote Zera Shimshon in memory of his only child, who died at a young age. The author stated that studying this work would bring heavenly blessings, a concept known as segula in Jewish tradition.[5][6] The text has been published in various editions, some with explanatory commentary, and specific portions have been released as standalone works, such as the commentaries on the Book of Esther[8] and Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs).[9]
In addition to Zera Shimshon, Rabbi Nachmani authored Toldot Shimshon, a commentary on Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), published in 1776.
Biography of writer
editBorn in Modena, Shimson's father, Nachman Michoel, arranged for him to initially study with the local rabbi, Ephraim Cohen Lipshitz, his maternal grandfather. He subsequently studied in Mantua with its rabbi, Abiad Sar-Shalom Bazilla, author of a work named "Emunat Chachamim." Later on he studied Kabbalah in Reggio with its rabbi, Benjamin Alexander HaKohen Vitali.
Ordained, he initially moved to Mantua, becoming a local teacher, subsequently returning to Modena to both teach and lead a congregation. His main work Zera Shimshon (commentary on Chumash and Five Megillot) was published in Mantua (1778); his Toldot Shimshon on Pirke Avot was published in Leghorn (1776).
References
edit- ^ Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser (January 24, 2020). "Hashem Has Other Plans". The Jewish Press.
The Zera Shimshon elucidates the matter in the following way:
- ^ a b "Parsha of the Week Archives". Jewish Link NJ.
"Zera Shimshon", means the Seed of Shimshon
- ^ "The Segulah Of The Zera Shimshon: The Inside Story". Yeshivaworld. November 13, 2017.
- ^ Rabbi Nachman Seltzer (2018). Zera Shimshon 2. ISBN 978-1-4226-2226-1.
- ^ a b "Zera Shimshon". Iggud HaRabbonim.
passed away 6 Elul 5539 (1779)
- ^ a b "If You Must Compare". The Jewish Press. December 13, 2019.
- ^ HaCohen-Kerner, Yaakov; Schweitzer, Nadav; Mughaz, Dror (2011). "Automatically Identifying Citations in Hebrew-Aramaic Documents". Cybernetics and Systems. 42 (3): 180–197. doi:10.1080/01969722.2011.567893. S2CID 40235689.
- ^ Naḥmani, Shimshon Ḥayim; Kirzner, Shmuel (2020). Zera Shimshon on Megilas Esther. ISBN 978-1-4226-2568-2.
- ^ Zera Shimshon Shir HaShirim.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "NAHMANI, SAMSON HAYYIM BEN NAHMAN". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
External links
edit- Zera Shimshon Organization (organizes study groups, publishes a weekly "Gilyon")
- Weekly (multi-lingual) Zera Shimshon Podcast
- English-language translations of selected essays from Zera Shimshon
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