Laniado, Solomon ben Abraham

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LANIADO, SOLOMON BEN ABRAHAM

LANIADO, SOLOMON BEN ABRAHAM (d. after 1714), rabbi in *Aleppo. Solomon was the grandson of Samuel b. Abraham *Laniado. Apparently, he succeeded his father as rabbi and dayyan after the latter's immigration to *Jerusalem. Laniado wrote Midrash Shelomo, still in manuscript. Laniado was known as a fervent Shabbatean and when *Shabbetai Ẓevi visited Aleppo in 1665 he became friendly with Laniado and told Solomon many details about his life. Solomon and Nathan b. Mordecai (or Nissim b. Mordecai Dayyan) propagated the messianic claims of Shabbetai Ẓevi. Two of their letters are extant. One was sent to the Jews of Ancona, Italy (no date) and the other to *Kurdistan in 1669. The letters contain very important information on the lives and activities of Shabbetai Ẓevi and *Nathan of Gaza. Laniado is cited in the list of kings appointed by Shabbetai Ẓevi in Smyrna. The extent of Shabbatean influence on Aleppo Jewry is shown by the fact that even after Shabbetai Ẓevi 's apostasy Laniado served as a rabbi.

bibliography:

G. Scholem, in: Zion, 7 (1941/42), 174, 190–193; Scholem, Shabbetai Ẓevi, index; idem, in ks, 33 (1957/58), 532–40; M. Benayahu, ibid., 35 (1959/60), 527–8; D.Z. Laniado, La-Kedoshim asher ba-Areẓ, 1 (1952), 81–82 (first pagination).

[Abraham David]