Berechiah ha-Nakdan facts for kids

Berechiah ben Natronai Krespia ha-Nakdan (Hebrew: ברכיה בן נטרונאי הנקדן; lived around the 12th–13th century) was a very smart Jewish scholar. He was many things: a writer who explained religious texts, a philosopher, a poet, and a translator. He also wrote about good behavior and grammar.

His most famous books are Mishlè Shu'alim (which means "Fox Fables") and Sefer ha-Ḥibbur (The Book of Compilation).

Who Was Berechiah?

We don't know a lot for sure about Berechiah's life. Experts think he lived between the 1100s and 1200s. He likely lived in places like Normandy (in France) and England. Some even suggest he was in Provence around 1260.

It's possible he came from a family of important Jewish scholars in ancient Babylonia. He also knew several foreign languages. This helped him translate and adapt many books into Hebrew.

What Does "ha-Nakdan" Mean?

Berechiah's nickname, "ha-Nakdan," means "the punctuator." This suggests he might have added punctuation to Hebrew books. Punctuation helps make texts easier to read and understand.

Some historians believe his family were known as Nakdanim, meaning they were experts in adding special marks to Hebrew texts.

Where Did Berechiah Live?

Evidence suggests Berechiah lived in England in the late 1100s. In one of his books, he mentions "the turning of the wheels of fate to the island of the sea (England)." This seems to refer to the terrible events in England in 1190, when Jewish communities faced violence.

There's also a record from Oxford in 1194. It mentions a "Benedictus le Puncteur" who gave a gift to King Richard I. Since "Berechiah" means "blessed" (like Benedictus) and "ha-Nakdan" means "the punctuator," many think they were the same person.

Berechiah's son, Elijah, lived in Dreux, France. Elijah was also a writer and grammarian. He spoke proudly of his father, calling him a respected "tanna" (a wise teacher).

Fox Fables: Stories with Lessons

Berechiah is most famous for his book Mishle Shu'alim (Hebrew: משלי שועלים), or 'Fox Fables'. This book has over a hundred fables, which are short stories that teach a moral lesson.

He wrote some fables himself. Others he adapted from famous collections like Aesop's Fables, stories from the Talmud, and tales from Eastern cultures. He often added quotes and ideas from the Bible to these stories. This made them a way to teach Jewish ethics, or good ways of living.

A Fable Example: The Wolf and the Animals

Here is one of Berechiah's fables, called "The Wolf and the Animals":

The Wolf, who was like a prince to the Lion, seemed to be everyone's enemy. He was greedy and ate everything he found. Birds and other animals, both wild and tame, complained to the Lion about him. They said he was a terrible monster.

The Lion said, "If he's really using his teeth like you say, and causing so much trouble, I will punish him. I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you anymore."

The Lion told the Wolf, "Come see me tomorrow. If you don't, you'll be very sorry." The Wolf came, and the Lion spoke to him harshly. "What do you mean by doing this? You must never again hunt or eat living creatures. From now on, you will only eat meat that is already dead. To make sure you obey, swear that you will not eat any meat for two years, to make up for your sins. This is my judgment, and you must follow it."

The Wolf immediately swore he would not eat meat for two years. Sir Wolf went on his way, and King Lion stayed on his throne. For a while, the Wolf didn't eat any meat. He kept his word like a gentleman.

But then came a day when he was very hungry. He looked everywhere for food. He saw a fat sheep that looked good to eat. He said to himself, "Who can keep every law?" His thoughts were confused by what he saw. He thought, "I really want to eat! I have to fast from meat for two whole years."

"This is the oath I swore to the king," he thought, "but I've figured out how to keep it in a new way. There are 365 days in a year. Night is when you close your eyes; when you open them, day is near." He opened and closed his eyes quickly. "It was evening and it was morning, one day."

He winked like this until he had counted two years. His greed returned, and his sin seemed to disappear. He stared at the goat he had seen and said, "See, I have already made up for my sin." Then he grabbed the goat's neck, broke it, and ate until he was full, just as he used to. And just like before, he continued to hunt and eat other animals.

You can find copies of his fables in libraries like the Bodleian Library and the Bavarian State Library. The first printed version came out in 1557. An English translation called Fables of a Jewish Aesop was published in 1967.

Other Important Writings

Sefer ha-Ḥibbur (Hebrew: ספר החיבור) is Berechiah's most famous book on philosophy. In it, he built upon the ideas of earlier thinkers like Saadia Gaon and Bahya ibn Pakuda.

He also wrote a book about good behavior called Sefer Matzref. This book has thirteen chapters. In it, he created several new Hebrew words for philosophical ideas.

Berechiah also wrote a commentary, which is an explanation, on the Book of Job from the Bible. He knew the works of many grammarians (experts in language rules) from his time.

He was also a skilled translator. He translated a Latin book called Quæstiones Naturales into Hebrew, naming it Dodi ve-Nekhdi or Ha-She'elot. He also translated Ko'aḥ Avanim, a book about 63 types of stones and their magical properties.

Because of his name, it's thought he was an expert in Hebrew grammar. Another scholar, Moses ben Issac ha-Nessiah of London, quoted him in his own grammar book. This helps confirm when and where Berechiah lived.

See also

• Aesop among the Jews