Moses Cohen Belinfante
Moses Cohen Belinfante | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date The Hague, Netherlands |
| Died | June 29, 1827 (aged 65) |
| Occupation(s) | Translator, journalist, author |
| Known for | Dutch translations, Jewish educational materials |
Moses Cohen Belinfante (24 September 1761 – 29 June 1827) was a notable Dutch translator, journalist, and author of educational materials.
Biography
Belinfante was born in The Hague in 1761 into a family of Sephardic Jewish origin, whose ancestors had escaped Portugal in 1526. His father, Saddik, who was related to Isaac Cohen Belinfante, held the position of Chief Rabbi for Amsterdam’s Portuguese Jewish congregation. At the age of fourteen, Moses pursued a brief medical education in Copenhagen under the guidance of his great-uncle Salomo Theophilus de Meza. In 1784, he wed Angela Sarah Monteira; the couple had three children, all of whom unfortunately passed away in childhood.
Following the passing of his father in 1786, Belinfante assumed the role of headmaster at the Portuguese Jewish community school but was removed from this position in 1795. Together with his brother Jacob, he established the publishing firm Belinfante and Company in 1802. In 1806, he initiated the first Dutch newspaper dedicated to Amsterdam’s Jewish population; however, this publication was discontinued by 1808.
Throughout his life, Belinfante was a committed proponent of Jewish civil rights and emancipation within the Netherlands.
Publications
- Gebeden der Portugeesche Jooden (1791–1793) – A Dutch rendition of Portuguese Jewish prayer books, created in collaboration with T. Saruco.
- Geschenk voor de Joodsche jeugd (1793) – Educational book intended for children.
- Israëlitische Almanak (1796–1827) – Yearly almanac publication.
- Bikure ḥinukh; of Verzameling van stukken (1809) – A compilation of writings released through Belinfante & Comp.
- Aanmoediging aan de Hollandsche Israelieten tot bet betreden van de voor bun geopende loopbaan van den Krijgsdienst (1809) – A call encouraging Dutch Israelites to enlist in military service.
- Geschenk voor de israëlitische jeugd (1809–1834) – An ongoing series designed for the education of Jewish youth.
- Shorshe emunah (1816) – Dutch translation of Shalom Cohen’s Hebrew catechism titled Shorashe Emunah.
- Instructional Portuguese-language materials produced for the impoverished Portuguese Jewish school in Amsterdam (1816).
- Moda li-bene binah (1817) – Hebrew reader adapted from Moses Philippson’s German original, accompanied by a Dutch translation.
- Parabelen, Zedelijke verbalen en zedelessen (1822) – A two-volume set containing ethical teachings derived from Talmudic and rabbinic literature.