Kapuzato, Moses Ha-Yevani

KAPUZATO, MOSES HA-YEVANI (fl. second half of 15^th century), rabbi in Salonika. Moses was the author of a commentary on the Pentateuch in which he takes issue with Abraham ibn Ezra, Maimonides, and in particular with Karaite exposition. He was the author of the poem – a reshut for Passover: "Imrei Higyonai Ashir ve-Azamer la-Adonai" included in the Romaniot maḥzor and the Kaffa and Aleppo rites. He was a trenchant opponent of the Karaites, who reacted violently to his criticism. He sharply criticized Aaron b. Joseph, author of the Sefer ha-Mivḥar and the Karaites Abraham *Bali, the physician, author of the Iggeret ha-Issur Ner shel Shabbat, and Caleb Abba *Afendopulo answered his criticisms. He was especially attacked by Elijah *Bashyazi in his Aderet Eliyahu for daring to speak against Aaron b. Joseph, against the Karaite scholars, and for following in the wake of Mordecai *Comtino. Moses is also mentioned by Karaites of later generations, such as Joseph Bagi (end of 15^th and beginning of 16^th centuries) in his Iggeret Kiryah Ne'emanah.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Zunz, Lit Poesie, 509; J. Fuerst, Geschichte des Karaeerthums, 2 (1865), 297, 303; A. Berliner, Aus Meiner Bibliothek (1898), XXVI; Markon, in: Festschrift… A. Harkavy, (1908), Heb. pt., 463; Davidson, Oẓar, 1 (1924), 270, no. 5922; Rosanes, Togarmah, 1 (1930²), 32f.