Kushta Reish
First Jewish Book on Mathematics!
Sefer Hamispar by Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi
The Re’em
Constantinople, 1533-1534
Foundations of mathematics and geometry by the Re’em, Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi, one of the great Turkish sages in the era of the Spanish Expulsion.
In the past, this book was regarded as a fundamental work in the study of mathematics. Due to popular demand, it was reprinted in several abridged versions and translated into several languages.
The present first edition is a rare, valuable find.
Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi (c.1450 – 1526) was one of the greatest spiritual luminaries in Turkey in his era. He is renowned for his “Mizrachi” commentary on Rashi on the Torah, which is regarded as a fundamental commentary on Rashi. Aside from his Torah wisdom, he was also acclaimed as “great scholar and treasure trove of wisdom” (Taz in Divrei Dovid, Parshas Mishpatim) in many fields of study.
As he attests in his foreword, the Re’em authored the present sefer at the request of his students. In one of his teshuvos, he writes, “There are those who desire to learn astronomy, and those who desire to learn trigonometry, and those who desire to learn mathematics…” (Shu”t HaRe’em Ch. 56).
In this sefer, he discusses the four basic mathematical actions: Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, along with fractions, value of a triangle, equations, sequences and formulas that facilitate mental computations (S. Bolag, Brachos B’cheshbon p. 132 note #225).
The Famous Jewish Printer Gershom Soncino
This work was printed in the famous Hebrew publishing house of Gershom Soncino who was forced to flee Italy to Turkey during his latter years. The title page relates a brief family history:
“Gershom son of Rabbi Moshe son of Chacham Rabbi Yisrael Nosson Soncin son of Rabbi Shmuel son of Rabbi Moshe z”l. He fought in the city of Fürth against the wicked John of Capistrano and expelled him from there. He was a fifth-generation descendent of Moreinu Harav Moshe of Speyers who is mentioned in Tosfos in the year…1533…”
The colophon states:
“This book was completed on Thursday, the 26th of Adar, 1534.”
John of Capistrano, also known by his Italian name of San Giovanni da Capestrano, (1386-1456) was a zealous monk and virulent anti-Semite who traveled across Europe preaching and inciting the masses against their Jewish neighbors. At his behest, Jews were expelled from Bavaria, and several Jews were murdered in vicious auto-da-fes. He proposed to banish all Jews in Rome and send them abroad on ships, and it was also he who persuaded Pope Nicholas V to issue an edict prohibiting Jews from engaging in lending money at interest, which was their primary livelihood.
When he arrived in Fürth, Rabbi Moshe rose courageously to battle him, and with the support of honest Christians, banished John of Capistrano and his mobs from the city.
Wisdom of Mathematics: A Jewish Perspective
Jewish sages throughout the ages praised and encouraged the study of mathematics, as the Re’em writes in the preface of the present book:
“It is incumbent upon us to increase our study and diligence in this wisdom, as it is integral for all wisdoms.”
The Ramchal likewise writes in ‘Derech Chochmah’: “The logical studies that man must train himself in are essential, for otherwise he will never be able to arrive at the true and clear knowledge, like an artist who lacks an artistic tool. For example… geometry and trigonometry and astronomy are required for the understanding of mitzvos of ibur, kilayim, techumin, etc.”
Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov writes similarly in the preface to ‘Pe’as Hashulchan’ in the name of his rebbi, the Vilna Gaon: “He said: All wisdoms are required for our holy Torah and are mixed into it, and he knew them all: Algebra and trigonometry and geometry, etc.
