Lemans, Moses

Dutch educationist; born at Naarden Nov. 5, 1785; died at Amsterdam Oct. 17, 1832. He was educated by his father and (in mathematics) by Littwack. He became a teacher of religion, and in 1818 chief of the religious school, then recently founded. In 1828 he was appointed teacher of mathematics in the Latin school at Amsterdam. In 1808 he published "Imra-Ẓerufah," on the pronunciation of the Hebrew language, and some years later a Hebrew grammar, "Rudimenta" (1820). In collaboration with Mulder he published a dictionary, "Hebreeusch-Nederduitsch Handwoordenboek" (1829-31).

To defend the Jews against the accusations of the novel "Levi and Sara," then much in vogue, he wrote "De Geest der Talmudische Heer." Besides, he wrote: a biography of Maimonides, 1815; "Proeve van Talmudische Wiskunde," 1816; "Geschiedenis der Sterrenkunde," 1819; "Handleiding tot het Teekenen van Land-, Zee-, en Hemelkaarten," 2 vols., 1826.

Lemans' chief services to Judaism, however, consistedin his efforts, by translating the prayer-books (1822), to propagate among his coreligionists a knowledge of the Dutch language.

Lemans was a member of several mathematical societies; and many of his papers were published in the works of the society Tot Nut en Beschaving.

Delaville wrote an elegy on Lemans ("Elon Muẓẓab," p. 10).

Bibliography:

  * Ulmann, in Jaarboeken, 1836, p. 297 (portrait);
  * Teisjure l'Ange, in Algemeene Konst-en-Letterbode, 1833, ii., Nos. 37, 38.



S. E. Sl.