Isaac Aboab

Isaac Aboab a Spanish Jew of some distinction as a commentator and preacher, was born, according to Gratz (Gesch. d. Juden, 8, 225), in 1433, and succeeded the celebrated Isaac of Campanton as gaon of Castile. He died in 1493. Aboab wrote, besides super commentaries to the commentaries of Rashi and Nachmani, שַׁטּוֹת עִל הִתִּלוּד, or Dissertations on a Part of the Talnmudic Tract Janm-Tob (Beza), edited by Jedidja Galante (Venice, 1608; Wilmersdorf, 1716):-- נהִר פַּישׁוֹן, or Homilies, with free Use of the Hagadah, edited by Gershom Soncini (Constantinople, 1538, 4to; Zolkiew, 1806, 4to). There are a number of other works that have frequently been attributed to the pen of this Isaac, which Dr. Zunz assigns, as Gratz believes very properly, to another Isaac Aboab, who flourished about i300- 1320. Among these, the most important, which Furst (Bibliotheca Judaica, 1, 4 sq.) assigns to the present Isaac, is מנוֹרִת הִמָּאוֹר, a hagadic or ethical treatise on the Talmud and Midrashim, in seven sections (published at Venice, 1544, fol., and several times later; also with a Heb. commentary by Frankfurter, Amsterd. 1701, 8vo; and by others with Spanish, Hebrew, German, and High-German translations at different times and places). (J. H.W.)