Farḥi, Joseph Shabbethai

Talmudic scholar and cabalist; born at Jerusalem about 1802; died at Leghorn, Italy, in 1882. Farḥi was an earnest cabalist; he believed that after death the human body undergoes the trial of purgatory which the cabalists call "ḥibbuṭ ha-ḳeber" (the torments of the grave).

Farḥi went to Leghorn about 1842, and while there wrote: (1) "'Oseh Fele," a collection of wonderful stories (Leghorn, 1845); (2) "Toḳpo shel Yosef," a narration of the story of Joseph (ib. 1846); (3) "Rokeb 'Arabot," an Arabic commentary on Pirḳe Abot, with the text, the Decalogue, and the "Piyyuṭ bar Yoḥai" (ib. 1849); (4) "Sheber Bat 'Ami," an Arabic commentary on the Hafṭarah of the Ninth of Ab, with an Arabic version of the story of Anna and her seven sons (ib. 1853). He edited the "Ma'aseh Abot" of Isaac Farḥi, adding a number of notes (ib. 1864), and the "Ma'agal Ṭob" of Joseph Concio (ib. 1879).

Bibliography:

  * Mortara, Indice, p. 21;
  * M. G. Monteflore, in Il Vessillo Israelitico, xxx. 92;
  * Zedner, Cat. Hebr. Books Brit. Mus. p. 248;
  * Van Straalen, Cat. Hebr. Books Brit. Mus. p. 77.



K. M. Sel.