Lawāni, Da'ud

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LAWĀNI, DA'UD

LAWĀNI, DA'UD (Levi, David ; second half of 15th century), Yemenite scholar, author of the Midrash al-Wajīz al-Mugnī ("Adequate Summary") on the Pentateuch which was written by Lawāni in the town of Ḥemdeh between 1484 and 1493, extant in manuscript. It is based on the ancient and later Midrashim, including the Yemenite Midrashim which preceded it – Midrash ha-Gadol, Midrash ha-Be'ur, Midrash ha-Ḥefeẓ, and others. Besides the Talmud and the Midrashim, a great deal of its contents are drawn from the works of Maimonides. Its style, as its name indicates, is concise; its language is Hebrew and Arabic. Some identify Lawāni with Da'ud al-Lawāni, a poet who lived in Sanʿa.

bibliography:

Y. Ratzaby, in: ks, 28 (1952/53), 262f.

[Yehuda Ratzaby]

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