Isaac Ben-latif or Allatif

Isaac ben-Latif or Allatif a Jewish philosopher of some note, was born about 1270, somewhere in the southern part of Spain. Of his early history scarcely anything is now known. But some of his works have been preserved, and from notices of distinguished contemporaries we learn that he was inclined to favor the Cabalists (q.v.). He is highly spoken of by the Rabbins of his day, but evidently, judging from his works, was rather two-sided on all cabalistic points, so that he may most appropriately be said to have stood "with one foot in philosophy, and with the other in the Cabala." He died some time in the first half of the 14th century. Of his works are printed פֵּרוּשּׁ עִל קהֶֹלֶת, a Commentary on Kohelet (Constantinople, 1554, 8vo): — צרוֹר הִמּוֹר and צוּרִת הָעוֹלָם, a Cosmology (Vien. 1862, edited by S. Stem)):- — שִׁעִר הִשָּׁמִיַם, a work on Dogmatics, Religious Philosophy, and the Physical Sciences, in 4 parts:-- סֵ תּוֹלדוֹת אָדָם, a History of Man; etc. See Gratz, Geschd. d. Juden, 7:220 sq.; Jost, Gesch. fudenthums, 3:80; Sachs, Kerem Chemed, 8:88 sq.; Fürst, Bibliotheca Judaica, 2, 224. (J. H. W.)