JUDAICA - Wisdom In Torah

Bibliography: Grove online; MGG2; Baker’s Biographical
Dictionary (1997).
[Naama Ramot (2nd ed.)]
BERTINI, K. AHARON (1903–1995), poet and editor. Bertini,
who was born in Bessarabia, began to publish poetry
in 1924, and taught in Hebrew high schools in Bessarabia
from 1927. He immigrated to Ereẓ Israel in 1947, where he resumed
his teaching career. From 1965 he served as an editor of
Moznayim, the literary magazine of the Hebrew Writers’ Association.
His volumes of poetry include Temol Deheh (1939),
Mi-Layil ad Boker (1951), Marot al ha-Efer (1954), Shevil Kaḥol
(1961), Bakbuk al Penei ha-Mayim (1969), Maḥshakim u-Derakhim
(1974), Me’aḥorei ha-Pargod (1985), Le-Orekh ha-Yamim,
le-Orekh ha-Mayim (1988) and the essays Seder Re’iyah: Masot
Sifrutiyot (1977). With Z. Rosenthal and D. Vinitsky he edited
the literary anthology Min ha-Ẓad (1939–40). He translated
from French, Romanian, and Yiddish into Hebrew. Among
the last are David *Bergelson’s play Prince Reuveni, Moshe
Altman’s short story collection Be-Omek Ha-Re’i (1967, and
H. Leivick´s dramatic poem Abelar un Heluiz. Bertini also
edited an anthology of translations from Yiddish literature
for high schools (1958) and prepared an anthology of works
by Romanian Jewish writers (1972). Dan Miron edited a collection
in two volumes of Bertini’s poems (2003) with a supplementary
essay. His son Gary *Bertini is a noted composer
and conductor.
Bibliography: M. Avishai, Bein Olamot (1962), 153–6. Add.
Bibliography: B.J. Michali, Mishbeẓot Bikoret (1980); Y. Peles, in:
Haaretz (Aug. 27, 2004).
[Getzel Kressel]
BERTINORO, OBADIAH BEN ABRAHAM YARE (Di or
Of; c. 1450–before 1516), Italian rabbi and Mishnah commentator.
The name Yare is an acrostic of the Hebrew וי ָחא ֶ יּוצר ְ יִהְי
(Yehi Reẓui Eḥav; “Let him be the favored of his brethren”;
Deut. 33:24). Little is known of his family, which derived from
the town Bertinero in northern Italy. At some time he apparently
lived in Città di Castello, where he was a banker. His
best-known teacher was Joseph *Colon. Much more is known
about Bertinoro, after he left this place, from three letters he
wrote during 1488–91 in which he described his travels and
his early impressions of Ereẓ Israel. (See Map: Journey from
Italy to Israel). Leaving his home at the end of 1486, he went
on via Rome to Naples and stayed there and at Salerno for four
months, where he taught (probably Jewish matter). In 1487 he
reached Palermo where he stayed three months, preaching every
Sabbath. Though pressed to become rabbi, he refused, and
sailed by way of Messina and Rhodes for Alexandria, where he
arrived early in 1488. He describes at length the Jewish communities
of these places and their customs. He proceeded to
Cairo, and the nagid Nathan ha-Kohen *Sholal received him
with great honor. Sholal asked Obadiah to remain in Cairo but
he refused and continued his journey via Gaza, Hebron, and
Bethlehem, reaching Jerusalem just before Passover in 1488.
Jacob of Colombano, an Ashkenazi rabbi who had come to
Città di Castello
Rome
Naples
Salerno
Jerusalem from Italy, welcomed him warmly. On his arrival
Bertinoro became the spiritual leader of Jerusalem Jewry, and
was embroiled with the local communal leaders, in his words –
“zekenim” (elders). However, he was successful in uniting the
oppressed and divided community. He established regular
courses of study and preached twice a month in Hebrew. He
even occupied himself with the burial of the dead since no
one else was ready to undertake this religious duty. He enacted
communal regulations and made himself responsible
for the collection of funds from Italy for the support of the
poor. Emanuel Ḥai Camerino of Florence, to whom Bertinoro
had entrusted his property and who had promised to send 100
ducats a year, added an additional 25 ducats for charity. Bertinoro’s
wealthy brother also sent contributions. Nathan Sholal
put his house in Jerusalem in Bertinoro’s charge and authorized
him to manage the communal affairs. It seems also that
he officially served as a deputy *nagid in Jerusalem. With the
repeal of the communal tax and the arrival after 1492 of refugees
from Spain, the community began to grow. An anonymous
traveler testifies in 1495 to Bertinoro’s fame in Ereẓ Israel
and in the Diaspora. From his third letter in 1491 from Hebron
it appears that he left Jerusalem for a while and became rabbi
of Hebron. By 1495, however, he was back in Jerusalem. He
was buried on the Mount of Olives.
Bertinoro’s fame rests on his commentary on the Mishnah
which was completed in Jerusalem and published in Venice
(1548–49). It has become the standard commentary on the
Mishnah as is Rashi’s on the Talmud. This commentary was
published with the text in almost every edition of the Mishnah.
Written in an easy, lucid style, it draws largely on Rashi, often
quoting him literally, and on Maimonides, whose rulings he
cites. For the sections of Mishnah which have no Talmud he
drew on the commentary of *Samson b. Abraham of Sens
and of *Asher b. Jehiel. Falsely attributed to him is Amar Neke
(published: Pisa, 1810), a commentary on Rashi on the Pentateuch.
The three letters mentioned above were written in a
flowing, limpid Hebrew to his father, his brother, and possibly
his friend, Camerino. They have frequently been pub-
ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition, Volume 3 491
Palermo
Messina
bertinoro, obadiah ben abraham yare
M E D I T E R R A N E A N
Rhodes
Jerusalem
Bethlehem
Rosetta Gaza
Fuwa - Hebron
Alexandria
El-Arish
Cairo
R.
Nile
S E A
Obadiah di Bertinoro’s journey from Italy to Ereẓ Israel, 1485-1488.