DE ROSSI, Azaria. — One of the most learned rabbis of the 16th century, born in Mantua c. 1514, died in Ferrara in 1578. He lived in the principal cities of northern Italy. His vast learning embraced, in addition to Jewish writers, the classical and Christian literatures, especially the Italian.
His major work, entitled Me'ôr 'enajim ("Splendor of the Eyes"; Mantua 1574), of an encyclopedic character despite its imperfections and errors, is a bold and conscientious historical-critical work. The book comprises three parts, respectively titled: Qol 'Eôlhm ("The Voice of God"), a description of the 1571 Ferrara earthquake and an investigation of its causes; Hadlrath Zêqênim ("The Glory of the Elders"), a Hebrew translation of the (pseudo) Aristeas letter (v.) on the origin of the Greek version of the Bible; 'Imrê binâh ("Words of Understanding"). This last part, the most interesting of the book, is an extensive collection of studies and essays on various questions concerning the Bible, Jewish history, chronology, etc.