Isaac Abravanel (M / Portugal, Spain, Italy, 1437-1508), scholar

Isaac ben Judah Abravanel (Abrababel, Abarbanel; 1437-1508) was a Portuguese-Jewish scholar, active in Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Isaac Abravanel was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1437. A statesman and diplomat, philosopher and Biblical scholar, Abarbanel lived most of his life in Portugal at the service of King Alfonso V, acquiring a large fortune. Accused of conspiracy by the new King of Portugal John II in 1483, he fled to Spain. He settled in Toledo until the Great Expulsion of 1492. Like for many other Iberian Jews, Italy became his place of refuge. He went to Naples (1492), Messina (1495), Corfu (1496), Monopoli (1496), and lastly, Venice (1503). Abravanel died in Venice in 1508 and was buried in nearby Padua [Italy]. He contributed to Second Temple Studies especially through his works on the book of Daniel and the foundations of Jewish messianism.