Antoli, Jacob Bar-samson

Antoli, Jacob Bar-Samson a Spanish rabbi, was born in the kingdom of Naples during the reign of the emperor Frederick, in the first half of the 13th century. He was son-in-law of Samuel ibn-Tibbon, the celebrated translator of the works of Maimonides. Antoli distinguished himself in the crowd of Rabbinical commentators, in that he strengthened himself by the study of philosophy;

but this was considered a dangerous innovation, and called forth violent opposition, for the most part, from his colaborers. He died in 1232. He wrote, Malmad Mattalmidini, containing philosophical sketches of the Pentateuch, which have been partially preserved in MS. in the Vatican :- Matzreph Lakeseph, a Hebrew translation of the Prcedicamenta of Aristotle: Sepher Melitaa; this is ,a translation of the Arabic commentary of AvFtrroes upon Aristotle:--a Hebrew translation of the ,A'tabic work of Alfragan, entitled Elements of Astronomy. He also prepared other translations. See., Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.; First, Biblioth. Jud. i, 46.