BAGI:

By: Richard Gottheil, Isaac Broydé

A prominent Karaite family; lived in Constantinople in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries. The family name, which is variously written Badschi (Fürst, "Geschichte des Karäerthums," iii. 14), Pegi, Poki (Neubauer, "Aus der Petersburger Bibliothek," p. 55), is, according to Steinschneider ("Hebräische Bibliographie," xx. 94), derived from the Turkish "Bak" (pronounced "Bag"). The following members of the family are those best known:

Elijah Bagi:

Scholar; lived at Constantinople in the first half of the seventeenth century. He is also called Aphida or Aphda (). He was the author of the following works: (1) "Hilkot Sheḥiṭah," ritual laws concerning slaughtering of animals; (2) "Biur 'Aseret 'Iḳḳarim," a commentary on the ten articles of belief of the Karaites; (3) "Miktab Eliyahu," selections of literary essays, letters, and poems. These three works are mentioned by Simḥa Luzki in his catalogue "Oraḥ Ẓaddikim."

Isaac Bagi:

Crimean scholar; lived at the beginning of the seventeenth century. He is mentioned by Luzki (l.c. 21b).

Joseph ben Moses ha-Kohen Bagi:

Turkish scholar; lived at Constantinople at the end of the fifteenth century and at the beginning of the sixteenth. He was the author of the following works mentioned by Luzki: (1) "Ḳiryah Ne'emanah" (Faithful City), an apology for Karaism, in refutation of the assertion of many Rabbinites that the Karaites are a remainder of the Sadducees; (2) "Iggeret" (Letter), a decision on a marriage question; (3) "Keter Kehuna" (Crown of Priesthood), six dissertations on various subjects; (4) "Shulḥan Ḥaberim" (Table ofComrades), on the precepts; (5) "Safah Berurah" (A Clear Language), a treatise on religious philosophy; (6) "Iggeret Sukkah," on the question whether it is permitted to light fire in the booth. This question, which gave birth to many polemics, is decided by Joseph in the negative.

Moses Bagi:

Turkish scholar; lived at Constantinople in the beginning of the fifteenth century. The degree of relationship between Moses and Joseph is difficult to establish. Fürst believes that he was the father of Joseph, and was consequently called Moses ben Judah; while Gottlober identifies him with Moses ben Benjamin, the author of many liturgical poems, two of which are inserted in the Karaite prayer-book (iii. 267, 101 ed. Vienna). Moses was the author of two works: (1) "Ohel Mosheh" (The Tent of Moses), on the calendar; (2) "Mizwot Mosheh" (The Precepts of Moses), on the precepts contained in the Pentateuch.

Samuel Bagi:

Turkish scholar; lived at Constantinople in the first half of the seventeenth century. Steinschneider identifies him with a person of the same name mentioned in the "Iggeret Kelulah" (MSS. "Leyden Cat." p. 127). Samuel is also mentioned by Samuel ben David in his relation of the voyage to Palestine which he made in 164-42 (compare Gurland, "Ginze Yisrael," i. 29).

G. I. Br.