Christian converts from Judaism -- Biography; Missions to Jews
Baptista, Gioranni Giona Galileo, was born in Safed in 1588, and died in
1668. His Jewish name was Judah Jonah ben Isaac. After travelling on the
Continent, and being assistant rabbi in Hamburg, he embraced
Christianity in Poland in 1625. Then he went to Italy and was appointed
Professor at the University of Pisa, and later as one of the librarians
at the Vatican. He wrote (1.) "A Sermon in Hebrew and Latin on the
Messiah and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles." (2.)
"Limud hameshehim" (Doctrines of Christianity), a Hebrew translation of
the Italian Catechism of Robert Bellarmin. (3.) "Berith Hahadasha,"[3] a
Hebrew translation of the N. T., with a preface by Clement IX. (4.) A
Hebrew Chaldaic Lexicon. (5.) A Treatise on the name of Jesus, "Hillufin
sheben sheloshah Targumim," a collection of the differences in the
Targums. Some of the works are in MS. in the Vatican library.
[3] According to G. M. Löwen in "Nathanael," 1903, No. 5, the Hebrew
title of this translation is "Arbaá Abne Hagilyonim Mehattorah
Hahadashah, Asher Neetku Milshon romi lilshon ibri al yad Johanan
hatobel Jonah. Weeherim otham Terumah la Kadosh hakohen hagadol
Klimenthi Tisshü."
Baptista, Garvanni Salomo Romano Eliano. He was born at Alexandria and
died in Rome in 1589. He was the grandson of Elijah Levita, the famous
Hebrew grammarian. Hearing that his brother was baptized at Venice, he
hastened there to win him back to Judaism, but became a Christian
himself in 1551. He wrote a catechism in Hebrew and Arabic, and similar
religious books, but gained especial notoriety as an anti-Talmudist, and
used his influence at the Papal Court to have the Talmud and other
rabbinic literature, destroyed altogether. This actually happened in
some places. But Baptista had to suffer for it, and his name, together
with Joseph Moro and Ananel di Folgio, also converts and companions, are
still branded by Jewish writers. When, in 1561, he was sent by Pope Pius
IV. on a mission to Egypt, the Jews of Alexandria bitterly persecuted
him at the instigation of his own mother.
Bernard, Sarah, born in Paris in 1844, of Dutch Jewish parentage. At the
request of her father she was received into the Roman Catholic Church.
Her early years were spent in a convent. Later she studied dramatic art
in the conservatoire, and became famous.
Bauer, Marie-Bernard (Herman Cohen), was born at Budapest in 1829, died
1898. After his conversion to Catholicism he joined the Carmelite order.
He distinguished himself as a preacher, first at Vienna, where he
delivered a series of addresses, which were published (1866) under the
title, "Le Judaisme Comme Preuve du Christianisme." Eventually he
attained to the rank of a bishop. In 1869 he became father confessor to
the Empress Eugenie. On November 17th, 1869, he delivered the dedicatory
address at the opening of the Suez Canal. He also published a book of
sermons, "Le But de la Vie" (1869), and a pamphlet, "Napoléon III, et
l'Europien" (1867).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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