the controversy between I. S. Reggio and S. D. Luzzatto on the date of the writing of the Pentateuch
S.D. Luzatto's controversy with I.S. Reggio concerning the origins of the Hebrew alphabet is discussed. Reggio argued that Hebrew script was unknown in Moses' time; a single person could not possibly have invented it; therefore, Moses had received the Hebrew script together with the Torah...
| Published in: | Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
College
2001
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| In: |
Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Pentateuch, Bible. Pentateuch
/ Research
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| RelBib Classification: | BH Judaism HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Bible. Pentateuch
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| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | S.D. Luzatto's controversy with I.S. Reggio concerning the origins of the Hebrew alphabet is discussed. Reggio argued that Hebrew script was unknown in Moses' time; a single person could not possibly have invented it; therefore, Moses had received the Hebrew script together with the Torah at Sinai and taught Israel both the Torah itself and the art of writing. Luzzatto feared that these ideas might be exploited by critical scholars to bolster their argument that Moses did not write the Pentateuch. First denying the veracity of Reggio's thesis, on the basis of supposed evidence that Hebrew script predated Moses, Luzzatto later attacked Reggio's logic, arguing that lack of proof for knowledge of the script before the Exodus did not imply its nonexistence. Moreover, there was no indication in the Written or Oral Law that Hebrew script was invented by Moses under divine inspiration. This argument typifies Luzzatto's conviction, also reflected in his writings, that it was his bounden duty to combat any ideas that he thought might undermine the Jewish faith. In the present case, though Reggio's thesis might be legitimate in itself, it might be misused by critical scholars to deny the divine origins of the Torah. |
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| ISSN: | 0360-9049 |
| Contains: | In: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
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