David Nieto

David Nieto (* 1654 in Venice, † January 10, 1728 in London) was a physician, philosopher and rabbi from 1701 to 1728 ( Chacham ) of the Sephardic community in London.

Life

David Nieto was born in 1654, the son of former Portuguese New Christians. After studying medicine in Padua, he practiced first as a doctor in Livorno, where he worked as a Jewish preacher. When he was appointed in 1701 by the Sephardic Community in London as the successor of Solomon Ayllion to Chacham, he was already considered important Jewish scholar who wrote in several languages ​​(Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and English) and on both the religious as to secular area was well versed.

In 1702 he published his book Paschologia, in which he described the differences in the calendar calculation of the Greeks, Romans and the Jews. His 1717 Calendar incurred, the London borough served until the 19th century as a holiday guide.

In 1704 he published his work De la Divina Providencia, ó sea naturalezza Universal, ó Natura Natural Ante (London 1704), with which he expressed himself in the debates of deists to the divinity of nature. Although he was strongly demarcated from Spinoza, he was still suspected of being his followers. His main work applies the font Matteh Dan (1714 ), in which he defended rabbinic Judaism and the Oral Law tradition against the attacks of marranischer page. In 1715 he turned to Scripture Esh Dat against the Shabbateans Nehemiah Hiyya.

Nieto was a polymath; he was both a philosopher, physician, poet, mathematician, astronomer and theologian. A prolific author, he had strong ties to Christian scholars.

After his death his son, Isaac Nieto (1687-1773) took over for a time the office of the Chacham of the London borough ( 1732-1741 ).

Works

  • Pascologia: overo della Discoro Pasca. Cologne 1702 digitized
  • De La Divina Providencia O Sea Naturaleza Universal, O Natura Natural Ante Tratado Theologico. London 1504 digitized
  • Matteh Dan Y Segunda parte del Cuzari. London 1714 digitized
  • Esh Dat (Hebrew ), London 1715

Literature (selection )

  • Israel Solomons: David Nieto: Haham of the Spanish & Portuguese Jews' Congregation Kahal Sahar Kados Asamaim, London, 1701-1728. Spottiswoode, Ballantyne, 1931
  • Jacob J. Petuchowski: Nieto, David. In: Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition, Volume 15, Detroit / New York, among others 2007, ISBN 978-0-02-865943-5, p 261 ( English)
  • Jew. Lex IV / I, Sp 502
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