Dunash ben Labrat

Dunash ben Labrat (Hebrew דוּנָש בֵּן לָבְרָט ) or by his Hebrew name Adonim ha -Levi ( אדונים הלוי ) (* 920 in Fes, † 990 in Córdoba) was a Jewish commentator, poet and grammarian in Spain.

Life

Dunash was born in Fes in Morocco. In his youth he traveled to the Talmud academies of Babylonian Diaspora to learn Saadia Gaon on. In part, the view is taken that it was his grandson. During his stay in Babylonia he wrote numerous poems and became famous, were so even written poems in his honor. He taught grammar and poetry.

Chisdai ibn Shaprut, who resided in Cordoba, Dunash invited to Spain. Córdoba was at that time the center of culture and particularly of poetry in Europe, and Chisdai tried to gather the best minds of the time there. In Córdoba Dunash met Menachem ben Saruq, also a significant grammarian. However, both not due to numerous and serious differences came together on the field of grammar as well as because of the fierce criticism of Menahem to Dunaschs teacher Saadia. The differences were transformed into personal rivalry that led to numerous polemical writings, and even mutual slander against Chisdai.

Dunash 990 died in Cordoba.

Dunash as a poet

Dunash was the first to introduce the system of Arab metric in Hebrew poetry. The Arabic poetry based on the distinction of short and long vowels. Since the Hebrew language, no differentiation of vowel lengths (more) knows, but merely different vowel qualities, used Dunash weak quiescens and Chateph lute instead of short vowels. For this, he earned esp. by the students of Menahem ben Saruq sharp criticism. Against him it has been argued that he verunstalte the Hebrew language through Arabization and biblical forms alters to reflect on the Arab metric and rhyme.

As an example, we note the acrostic Dunash:

דְרור יקרא לְבן עם בת \ וְינצרכם כְמו בבַת. \ נְעים שמכם וְלא יָשבַת \ שְבו נוחו ביום שבת \

The word בבת (line 2) is usually interpreted as a construct state, but here would have the status absolutus בבה are, however, still used Dunash the form בבת, that the word fits into the rhyme. Likewise, to adapt it to the Arabic verse, the word used Dunash נעים (line 3) in the construct state with a weak quiescens and not as an adjective with a long A.

According to modern researchers fits the Arabic verse like it used Dunash, not the Hebrew language and is imposed on it. The poets of subsequent generations in Spain, led by Judah ha -Levi were more flexible than Dunash in the use of metrics and even invented its own unique time signatures, while Dunash consistently followed the laws of Arab, quantitative metric.

Dunash as grammarians

Published in the field of grammar Dunash his Teschuvot Dunash the Labrat, which vigorously opposed the "Do Beret " of Menachem of Saruq. Dunash handle those first in matters of religion, and then criticized those who opposed the rabbis. He dedicated his book Chisdai ibn Shaprut.

Dunash was the first grammarian, the difference between intransitive and transitive verbs, and also the first of verbs into strong and weak strains classified using the root פע"ל. He blamed Menachem ben Saruq that this comparison with the Arabic language spared.

In addition, he wrote about 200 Saadia Gaon objections. The edition of the work is titled Teschuvat Dunash ben Labrat al Ras " ag (German response to the Dunash ben Labrat Rav Saadia Gaon on ). On the " objections " Dunaschs responded pupils of Menachem and attacked the former because of its use of the Arabic language the meter and in the grammar. were you in numerous religious and grammatical things disagree with him. Abraham ibn Ezra also wrote a book in defense of Saadia.

Rashi's grandson Rabbeinu Tam wrote some decisions on contentious issues between the two schools. Rabbi Joseph Kimchi, the father of David Kimchi, supported Dunash.

Many of the contentious issues are not decided until today.

Werkausgaben

• Robert Schröter: Criticism of Dunash ben Labrat on individual passages from Saadia's Arabic translation of the Old Testament and from the grammatical writings, according to a Code of Prof. SD Luzatto published for the first time and provided with critical remarks. Breslau 1866. [ Emphasis Tel Aviv 1966/67 ]
• Angel Sáenz - Badillos (ed.): Tešubot Dunas de Ben Labrat. Granada 1980. ISBN 84-338-0171-6