Moses Ha-Kohen of Tordesillas

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MOSES HA-KOHEN OF TORDESILLAS

MOSES HA-KOHEN OF TORDESILLAS (second half of 14th century), rabbi born in Tordesillas, Spain. Moses experienced the terrible sufferings caused during the civil war in Castile, 1366–69. He moved to Avila and was evidently appointed rabbi of the congregation there. Moses represented the Jewish side in the religious *disputation ordered to be held in Avila in 1375. There were four sessions and Moses apparently emerged triumphant. After engaging successfully in an additional debate held with a pupil of *Abner of Burgos, he committed his arguments to writing in his still-unpublished work Ezer ha-Emunah.

bibliography:

J. Loeb, in: rej, 18 (1889), 226–30; Baer, Spain, 1 (1961), 374–5; J. Rosenthal, in: Aresheth, 2 (1960), 147 no. 61; D.S. Loewinger and B.D. Weinryb, Catalogue of the Hebrew Manuscripts in the Library of the Juedisch-Theologisches Seminar in Breslau (1965), 172.