Here’s what I can share about Abraham Solomon ben Isaac ben Samuel Catalan, focusing on the most reliable, established sources up to now.
Direct answer
- Abraham Solomon ben Isaac ben Samuel Catalan (often cited as Catalan Abraham Solomon) was a Jewish scholar from Catalonia who died in 1492. He is known for a work that treats topics in philosophy and theology (eternity of the world, providence, prophecy, immortality, resurrection) and also touches on mathematical, physical, and Cabalistic subjects. His major work appeared under the title Neweh Shalom (Dwelling of Peace), first published in Constantinople in 1538 and later in Venice in 1574, with a preface by Moses Almosnino .
Context and sources
- The principal biographical details (birth in Catalonia, death in 1492) and the description of his major work Neweh Shalom are consistently reported in standard reference works on medieval Jewish authors, including the Jewish Encyclopedia entry on Catalan Abraham Solomon ben Isaac ben Samuel, which attributes the same bibliographic details to this figure .
- Additional biographical context about figures with similar or overlapping names in the Provençal/Catalan Jewish milieu exists in related encyclopedia entries (e.g., discussions of Catalan Jewish scholars and the broader Provençal-Catalan scholarly milieu). While these entries help situate Catalan Abraham Solomon within a regional scholarly ecosystem, they do not alter the essential bibliographic facts about him itself .
Notes on potential confusion
- There are other medieval Jewish scholars with overlapping names or origins (for example figures associated with Provence, Narbonne, or other parts of the broader Occitan linguistic area). When identifying this Catalan Abraham Solomon ben Isaac ben Samuel Catalan, the key markers are: origin Catalonia, death around 1492, and the work Neweh Shalom with later 16th-century editions and a preface by Moses Almosnino .
If you’d like, I can:
- Pull together a compact timeline of his life and editions of Neweh Shalom.
- Compare his Neweh Shalom with other contemporary philosophical/theological works to show where his approach intersects with or diverges from other medieval Jewish thinkers.
- Look for English-language translations or scholarly discussions that assess the content and influence of his work.
Sources
Complete contents the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia.
www.jewishencyclopedia.comThe settling of Jews in the Catalan Countries is prior to the year 1000. In the 12th and 13th centuries many Jews acted as administrators and financiers at the service of the Catalan kings, as well as emissaries to the Moslem governments. In the 13th century Jewish communities spread over a great number of Catalan towns where they devoted themselves intensely to crafts and commercial activities. At that time the Hebrew denomination of Sepharad indicated the Moslem lands; it never included...
raco.catPlease note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 28. Chapters: Jacob Anatoli, Abraham ben David, Joseph Kimhi, Kalonymus ben Kalonymus, Samuel ibn Tibbon, Zerachiah ha-Levi of Girona, Moses ibn Tibbon, Makhir of Narbonne, Moses ha-Darshan, Judah ben Saul ibn Tibbon, Abraham ben Nathan, Menachem Meiri, Solomon ben Abraham of Montpellier, Abraham ben Isaac of Narbonne, Bonet de Lattes, Shem-Tob ben Isaac of...
books.google.comComplete contents the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia.
www.jewishencyclopedia.comComplete contents the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia.
jewishencyclopedia.com