Dominico Irosolimitano

This article incorporates text from a public domain source: Bernstein, Aaron. Some Jewish Witnesses for Christ. London: Operative Jewish Converts' Institution, 1909.

Dominico Irosolimitano, born in Safed, Galilee about 1550, died in Italy about 1620. He was educated at the rabbinical college in his native city, studying not only the Talmud, but also medicine. After having obtained the degree of doctor and the title of Rab, he lectured on Talmudic law in Safed. His fame as a physician spread far and wide, so that the Sultan of Turkey summoned him to Constantinople as Court Physician. Subsequently he embraced Christianity, went to Rome, and was received at the college of the Neophytes, where he taught Hebrew. He was then employed as expurgator of Hebrew books. Dominicus was the author of a Hebrew book entitled, "Ma'ayan Gannim" (Fountain of the Gardens), on the principles of the Christian faith. He also translated into Hebrew the whole of the New Testament, and most of the Apocryphal books (1615–17). He was the compiler of the "Sefer ha Zikuk" (Book of Expurgation), still in manuscript, one copy of which (in the library of Cardinal Berberini, Rome), shews revision by him as late as 1619.