EZOBI, SOLOMON BEN JUDAH:

Rabbi at Carpentras, Leghorn, and Florence; born at Sofia, Bulgaria, in the sixteenth century; died in Italy about 1650. While officiating as rabbi of Carpentras (1620-35) he instructed Jean Plantavit de la Pause, Bishop of Lodève, in Hebrew. About 1633 Ezobi made the acquaintance of Peiresc, the eminent magistrate and scholar, and soon became his intimate friend. A lively correspondence ensued between them; and at one time Ezobi passed many months in Peiresc's house at Aix-les-Bains.

In 1638 Ezobi was appointed rabbi at Leghorn, and a little later at Florence.

Ezobi was the author of "Aguddat Ezob" (an allusion to his own name) a collection of homilies and sermons, still extant in manuscript in the library of the Alliance Israélite Universelle of Paris.

Bibliography:
  • Rev. Etudes Juives, xi. 101, 252; xii. 95, 129; xvi. 150.
L. G. I. Br.
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