Buzagli Buzaglio

Buzagli Buzaglio was a Kabbalist, born in Morocco (where his father was "rosh yeshiva") at the beginning of the eighteenth century; died in 1780. He was a disciple of the Kabbalist Abraham Azulai, rabbi of Morocco, and filled the position of dayyan. Owing to voyages in the Orient made in his capacity of collector of alms for the relief of the poor in Palestine, he became acquainted with the chief Kabbalists of the period. He also visited Europe, and sojourned for some time in London.

Although his Kabbalistic works bear his name on the title-page, they are merely compilations of teachings attributed by Azulai, his teacher, to Isaac Luria and Hayyim ben Joseph Vital. Buzaglio took part in the discussion, which arose among many Kabbalists, as to whether Jews should be allowed to undergo vaccination, which had been discovered shortly before that day. Buzaglio pronounced himself in favor of vaccination, but disputed the priority of Jenner in regard to its discovery.

Published works

(1) "Miḳdash Melek" (The Sanctuary of the King), a commentary on the Zohar, published by Meldola (4 vols., Amsterdam, 1750);

(2) "Hadrat Melek" (The Beauty of the King), a commentary on the Zohar, compiled from Isaac Luria and Ḥayyim Vital (2 vols., Amsterdam, 1766; London, 1772);

(3) "Kisse Melek" (The Throne of the King), annotations on the Tiḳḳune Zohar (Amsterdam, 1769);

(4) "Hod Melek" (The Majesty of the King), commentary on the book Zeni'uta of the Zohar (London, no date);

(5) "Sefer ha-Zohar", notes on the Zohar, published together with the text (London, 1772);

(6) "Kebod Melek" (The Honor of the King), a collection of Kabbalistic "derashot" (London, no date);

(7) "Ma'aseh she-Hayah Kak-Hayah" (What Happened Was in This Fashion), report of the proceedings of a lawsuit (London, 1774);

(8) "Kunṭras Ma'aseh Adonai Ki Nora Hu" (Fascicle on the Work of God, Which Is Majestic), an appeal to the public concerning the authority of Buzaglio's judgment in a lawsuit, in Hebrew and Judæo-German (London, 1774);

(9) "Tokaḥat le-Shobabim we-Taḳḳanah le-Shabim" (Admonition for Transgressors and Rehabilitation for the Repentant), consisting of two letters to Israel Meshullam Solomon, also concerning Buzaglio's lawsuit (London, 1774).

External links

*Walden, "Shem ha-Gedolim he-Ḥadash", letter, Shin 16
*Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. col. 2511
*Benjacob, "Oẓar ha-Sefarim", pp. 134-135, 245
*Schechter, "Studies in Judaism", p. 377
*Fürst, Bibl. Jud. i. 127-128
*Zedner, "Catalogue of Hebrew Books" British Museum, p. 163
*Jacobs and Wolf, Bibl. Anglo-Jud. pp. 111, 112