Judah Lerma

Judah Lerma, of Spanish origin, lived in Italy in the mid-sixteenth century. He wrote a philosophical commentary on Pirke Avot, 1,500 copies of which were printed in Venice in 1553. However, in that same year almost all copies were destroyed when the Talmud and other Jewish books were burned in Venice. Judah, who never held a rabbinic post, set about rewriting his work from memory. He later found one surviving copy in the possession of non-Jews and was able to acquire it. The second edition of the work, which exhibits significant differences, was printed in Sabbioneta in 1554. The commentary draws on the Talmud and midrash, as well as on the works of Maimonides, Joseph Albo, Isaac Abravanel, and Isaac Arama, and it also integrates the author’s original ideas. In addition, Judah composed a commentary on Job, which is mentioned in his commentary on m. Avot. Other fragments of his writings have survived in manuscripts.