38 Menahem Azariah de Rossi, an Italian Jew who flourished in the first half of the sixteenth century. His great work, מאור עינים, _Meor Enayim_, “Light of the Eyes,” is the first attempt made by a Jew to submit the statements of the Talmud to a critical examination, and to question the value of tradition in its historical records. 39 פרקי דריי אליעזר. 40 Italian Jews of the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. The one, Elijah Delmedigo, wrote an Examination of Religion, whilst his grandson, Joseph Solomon Delmedigo, wrote various pamphlets of a deeply sceptical character. See Geiger’s Introduction to his _Melo Chofnayim_ (Berlin, 1840). 41 גאון, “The Great One.” The authorities of the Babylonian schools after the sixth century were also called the Gaonim (גאונים), “[their] Eminences.” The title was also given afterwards to great Rabbis distinguished for their learning. 42 R. Joseph Caro (1488‐1575) lived in Safed. The title of his code is שלחן ערוך, _Prepared Table_. This is a code of the Oral Law compiled from the Rabbinic literature. 43 קדיה נאמנה, containing an account of the Jewish worthies of that city. 44 עלית אלירו. 45 A famous mystic of the sixteenth century, from Safed, who was the more admired the less his pupils understood him. 46 Hai was the last of the authorities called Gaon. With his death (1038) the schools of Babylon fell into decay and soon disappeared. 47 חגיגה, treating of the voluntary offerings brought by the pilgrims to Jerusalem. 48 גמרה, “Perfection or Supplementary Explanations.” By this is understood the interpretation given to the Mishnah by the schools in Palestine and Babylon. See above, note 12 to the Chassidim. [Transcriber’s Note: Footnote on the Tannaim and Amoraim.] 49 See Dean Church’s _St. Anselm_, from which this story is taken. 50 תוספתה, “Addition” (to the Mishnah), but also containing only the sayings and discussions of the period of the Tannaim. 51 סדר עולם, “Order of the World,” dealing with the Chronology of the Bible, and dating from about the end of the second century. 52 These “Minor Tractates” include, among others, treatises on proselytes, on the laws concerning funerals, the writing of the Law, and the like. Others are more of an edifying nature, treating of good manners, conduct, etc. 53 פבלת נלות. 54 שמונה עשרה, “Eighteen.” They are recited thrice a day, and form the original germ of the prayers, from which a very rich liturgy developed in the course of time. 55 The titles of the old authorities from 70 B.C. to 500 A.C. See above, note 12 to the Chassidim. [Transcriber’s Note: Footnote on the Tannaim and Amoraim.]