Judah Brieli


Judah Leon ben Eliezer Brieli was a rabbi at Mantua.
Besides being a high Talmudical authority, as is shown in the responsa of, Samson Morpurgo, and others who asked his opinion on halakhic questions, Brieli was well versed in the secular sciences.
An elegy on Brieli was published by his pupil, Cohen Modon, under the title Ẓir ha-Ẓirim, in which Brieli's knowledge of mathematics, logic, and natural history is highly praised.

Campaign against Hayyun

Being highly esteemed by the Sephardic community of Amsterdam on account of his learning, his character, and his age, he was asked by Tzvi Ashkenazi and his followers for his support in their campaign against Nehemiah Hayyun and his kabbalistic vagaries. Accordingly, Brieli addressed two letters to Ashkenazi, three to Solomon Ayllon, two to the board of the Amsterdam community, and one to Benjamin Finzi, in all of which he condemned Hayyun and approved the suppression of his book.

Works

Brieli was the author of the following works:
Of these only the first-named was published ; the others are still extant in manuscript.
Brieli also translated into Hebrew the letters of Seneca.