ALBELDA, MOSES BEN JACOB:

By: Meyer Kayserling

Preacher and philosopher, grandson of the preceding; flourished in Turkey in the sixteenth century. He was a distinguished preacher, first at Valona, Turkey, and afterward at Salonica. After ten years of service in the community at Valona, one of his pupils disrespectfully demanded permission to deliver a religious discourse in one of the four synagogues not occupied at the time by Albelda; the latter refused. The congregation, which revered its rabbi, thereupon referred the matter to Abraham de Boton at Salonica, and he advised that the young man should not be permitted to preach (see Abraham de Boton's responsa "Leḥem Rab," No. 73). Albelda, who as a preacher was rather verbose, with a marked inclination to philosophizing, was also a very prolific writer. He published a series of theological treatises on providence, repentance, and similar themes (Venice, 1583), under the title "Reshit Da'at" (Beginning of Knowledge); and an ethical work, entitled "Sha'are Dim'ah" (The Gates of Tears), on the vanity of the world and the sufferings of human beings, together with a commentary on Lamentations (Venice, 1586). After his death his sons, Judah and Abraham Albelda, published under the title "'Olat Tamid" (The Perpetual Offering) his commentary upon the Pentateuch (Venice, 1601); and one year later his only surviving son, Judah, published under the title "Darash Mosheh" (What Moses Preached) hissermons delivered in various synagogues on Sabbaths, festivals, and other occasions (Venice, 1602).

M. K.