TzadikimRabbi Leon Modena or Yehudah Aryeh Mi-modena (1571–1648) was a Jewish scholar born in Venice in a family whose ancestors migrated to Italy after an expulsion of Jews from Spain.
He was a precocious child and grew up to be a respected rabbi in Venice. However, his reputation within traditional Judaism suffered for a number of reasons, including an unyielding criticism of emerging sects within Judaism, an addiction to gambling, and lack of stable character. As Heinrich Graetz points out, this last factor prevented his gifts from maturing: "He pursued all sorts of occupations to support himself, viz. those of preacher, teacher of Jews and Christians, reader of prayers, interpreter, writer, proof-reader, bookseller, broker, merchant, rabbi, musician, matchmaker and manufacturer of amulets."[1] One of his students was Azaria Piccio, with whom he would later be intellectually close.
Though he failed to rise to real distinction, Leon of Modena earned a place in Jewish history in part by his criticism of the mystical[citation needed] approach to Judaism. One of his most effective works was his attack on the Kabbala (Ari Nohem, first published in 1840). In it, he attempted to demonstrate that the "Bible of the Kabbalists" (the Zohar) was a modern composition. He also writes that the name "Chochmat HaKabbalah" (the wisdom of Kabbalah) is misleading, since it is neither "wisdom" nor a Kabbalah (a tradition going back to Moses) but a mere fabrication. He became best known, however, as the interpreter of Judaism to the Christian world.
He wrote an autobiography entitled "Chayye Yehuda," literally "the life of Judah". In this highly candid and sometimes emotional work, he admitted to being a compulsive gambler. He also mourned his children (two of whom died in his lifetime - one from natural causes and one killed by gangsters). Another son was a ne'er-do-well who traveled to Brazil and returned to Venice only after his father's death.
At the behest of an English nobleman, Leon prepared an account of Jewish customs and rituals, Historia de gli riti Hebraici (1637). This book was the first Jewish text addressed to non-Jewish readers since the days of Josephus and Philo. It was widely read by Christians, rendered into various languages, and in 1650 was translated into English by Edmund Chilmead. At the time, the issue of whether Jews should be permitted to resettle in Britain was coming to the fore (See Resettlement of the Jews in England), and Leon of Modena's book did much to stimulate popular interest. He died in Venice.
Among his deepest interests was music. He served as cantor at the synagogue in Venice for more than forty years. Earlier, he is believed to have introduced some sort of polyphony in the synagogue at Ferrara, and wrote two essays on music justifying polyphonic practice in services and celebrations. Modena was certainly a musician and a friend of Salamone Rossi; it is not clear whether he was also a composer
May the merit of the tzadik Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Mi-modena protect us all. Amen
Marianna bat Liu JianEster bat Abraham bat Abraham Avinuשיינה מינדל בת ר' יחיאל הללJuan Antonio Villalon ben David Villalon Lazar ben Manya and MoiseyVera Wai Lan bat Jimmy K.KGUADALUPE ARGIMIRO ben Leandro Cabrera רבי יחיאל הלל בן רבי יעקבPatricia Ruth bat Abraham Christine Siu Man bat Jimmy K.KVicki bat Ira-SheWynne Wai Yee bat Jimmy K.K
David Eric ben Miriam MarcusMoshe Naftali ben Avraham Janna bat Feyga MeraHeffsi bat Husni Angela bat JaneDaniel ben ArleneROSA MAGDA GOMEZ HERNANDEZ ben Rosa HernándezGabriela bat Oneida YaniraVichian Kunin ben Plang KuninRaelynn bat JackieSPYRIDON ben VICTORIAEve bat ChavaAna bat ZlotaLuiz ben Mariaיוסף בן נחמהItzhak ben MafratEveryone who needs it ben Sara Avrohom Yaakov ben RochelZaharia Natan ben Mazol MilanaKaren bat RuthChaya bat SarahRebecca bat SanjsAdaline bat CathrineOneida Yanira bat MililaVICTORIA MICHEL bat ARACELIJackie bat BerthaAlex Sason ben RimaSarah Miriam bat Dania Nechama
Sarah bat PrimoMoshr Wolf ben Shaulאסתר בת אברהםYocheved Rut bat Abraham Isabella/Isabella Devora Abigail bat Carmen Cecilia/AbigailJimmy ben Cheung Shu TiDebbie bat RalphRocio Yadira Guerra Padilla bat María del Refugio Padilla CabreraFlorrie bat Karen (Kae)Sarita Mazal bat Moises JacoboMoshe Wolf aka Jetro da Silva ben Matilda Arik ben John AmbroseElisheba bat William YadySPYRIDON DIAMANTIDIS ben ADAMANDIOSYehudith Mashah bat Baruch Eric Nsama ben ChamaMoshe Wolk aka Jetro da Silva ben Shaul TzadikimHillulot | Biographies | Prayers | Virtual Candle
