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Yafet ben Eli Ha-Levi - Account of his Life
Yaphet ben Eli Hallewi lived in the last quarter of the tenth century. He was
born and lived in Basra Iraq for a large portion of his life. However, at some
point, he moved to Yerushalayim, where he died. Yaphet was one of the most
influential Karaite commentators of his age. Yaphet wrote an exhaustive
commentary of the Tanach, and provided a translation for it, all in Arabic, the
common tongue. Yaphet's commentary is infused with theological, legal,
grammatical (Hebrew grammar) and historical insights, as well as polemics
against Rabbanism, Christianity and Islam. It is contended that his
commentaries were so powerful they had an effect on all the people of Israel,
and their sages (Avraham ibn Ezra). Nothing more is known about his life. |