Galicho or Galiko Elisha Ben-gabriel

Galicho Or Galiko Elisha Ben-Gabriel, a Jewish commentator, was born about the middle of the 16th century (1552?). He was president of the Eabbinic college at Safed, over which Moses Galante (q.v.) at one time presided, and, like all the Safed men, was eminently cabbalistic He wrote a commentary on Ecclesiastes (בּאוּר עִל קֹהֶלֶת, Venice, 1578), which he divided into 27 sections, according to the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, including the finale. Ginsburg, in his Historical and Critical Commentary on Ecclesiastes (Lond. 1861, page 67, etc.), gives an analysis and specimen of this work. The most cabbalistic work of Galicho's is his commentary on the book of Esther (בּאוּר עִל אֶסתֵּר, 1583). He wrote also a commentary on the the "Song of Songs" (הִשַׁירַים פֵּירוּשׁ עִל שַׁיר, Venice, 1587), which has the Hebrew text and points, and in which he displays a genius for allegorical exposition. — Etheridge, Introd. to Hebr. Lit. page 415; Kitto, Cyclop. of Bibl. Lit. 2:55; Fürst, Bib. Jud. 1:314. (J.H.W.)