Azaria Piccio (Venetian: Azarìa Piccio; Hebrew: עזריה בן אפרים פיגו, romanized: Azarya ben Efrayim Figu; Portuguese: Azarias Figo; 1579–6 February 1647) was a Venetian Talmudist, sofer (scribe) and darshan (preacher) who served in the Jewish communities of Venice and Pisa.[1]

Biography

Piccio was born in Venice in 1579. Originally destined for a medical career,[2][3] Piccio left medical school and devoted himself to the study of the Talmud.[4] Referring to this episode in his life, Piccio wrote the nowadays oft-quoted passage, “I abandoned my girlfriend,” referring to his medical studies and general preoccupation with the secular world, “and went to my true love.”[3][5]

As a rabbi, Piccio became known for his oratory skills.[3] His sermons were skilfully laced with scientific—particularly medical—references,[4] and were composed according to classical models.[3][6] His sermons in Hebrew are noted for their erudite but direct style.[3] He was especially close to his mentor Leon of Modena,[7] with whom he shared an openness toward the modern world.[4] David B. Ruderman wrote that, “while [Piccio] argues for the insufficiency of the sciences, he clearly does not dismiss their validity altogether.”[4]

Piccio had two sons, Lazzaro and Efrem, who together wrote a commentary on Yeruẖam ben Meshullam’s Toldot Adam veH̱avva. Piccio outlived both, who had perished during the 1629–31 Italian plague. Piccio died in Rovigo on 6 February 1647 and was buried there. He is today considered as having been “one of the last great talmudists produced by Italian Jewry”.[2]

Publications

Piccio was the author of Iggerot uteshuvot (“Letters and Responsa”), published within Issacar Eilenburg's Be’er sheva (Venice, 1614).[8] As rabbi in Pisa, he wrote Giddulei Terumah (1643),[5] a commentary on Shmu’el haSardi's Sefer Haterumot. A compilation of 75 Sabbath and holiday sermons that he delivered in Venice was published under the title Binah Le’ittim (1647–1648),[9][10] a work which remains popular to this day,[3] particularly among Mizraẖi Jews.[11]

References

  1. ^ Lieber, C. (2006, May 3). Jewish Venice longs to return to its scholarly roots. Religio. Retrieved from http://www.coveringreligion.org/2016/05/03/jewish-venice-longs-to-return-to-its-scholarly-roots/ Archived 2016-08-12 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ a b Bloch, A. P. (1987). One a day: An anthology of Jewish historical anniversaries for every day of the year. Jersey City: KTAV.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Katz, Dovid (2019-02-21). "Italian Jewry and Rabbi Azarya Figo, 1579–1647". Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz.
  4. ^ a b c d Ruderman, D. B. (1992). Jewish preaching and the language of science: The sermons of Azariah Figo. In D. B. Ruderman (Ed.), Preachers of the Italian ghetto. Berkeley: University of California. ISBN 0-520-07735-0
  5. ^ a b "Figo (Picho), Azariah". Encyclopaedīa Jūdaica. 2008.
  6. ^ Shulvass, M. A. (1973). The Jews in the world of the Renaissance. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 90-04-03646-6
  7. ^ Ruderman, D. B. & Idel, M. (2001). Jewish thought and scientific discovery in early Modern Europe. Detroît: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-2931-4
  8. ^ "Figo, Rabbi Azariah".
  9. ^ Shaffer, Ian (2015-03-06). "Familiarity Breeds Contempt". YUTorah Online.
  10. ^ Gniwisch, Leibel. "How Two-and-a-Half Tribes Ended Up over the Jordan". Stories from the Bible.
  11. ^ Schechter, Solomon; Seligsohn, M. (1906). "Figo (Pigo), Azariah ben Ephraim". Jewish Encyclopedia.
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