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A “Hebrew mathematical text” is any text or work whose language is Hebrew (usually written in Hebrew characters), and whose content is mathematical in a narrow sense, that is, does not include astronomy (apart from relevant mathematical sections), astrology, or calendar calculations.
- Tony Lévy
Maaseh Hoshev, Levi’s first and largest mathematics book is extant in two editions, the first completed in 1321, and the second in 1322 [Si00a]. It is known best for its early illustrations of proofs by mathematical induction [Ra70].
The following is a list of all the Hebrew works on algebra, geometry, and arithmetic published up to the last years of the nineteenth century:, a new translation of Euclid, by Baruch Schick. The Hague, 1780., on Books xi. and xii. of the "Elements," by David Friesenhausen. Jitomir, 1875.
- Human Being
- Reality
- Knowledge
- Truth
- Perception
- Time
- Rationality/Reason
- Mystery
Human being is not treated or defined explicitly within this domain, but its mere existence is directly related to human existence and the practice of the Jewish religion.
Reality is not defined explicitly within this domain but several areas in which mathematics is applied within Judaism are closely related to reality. For example, the mathematical principles underlying the Jewish calendar aim to approximate the astronomical reality.
Knowledge is the kernel of “Mathematics and Judaism” since it focuses on the mathematical body of knowledge in service of Judaism.
Truth is not defined explicitly within this domain but is assumed to be part and parcel of any mathematical framework, and therefore, any mathematical application to Judaism will be assumed to possess intrinsic accuracy and veracity.
Perception is not defined explicitly within this domain, but it is highly relevant to it, for example, astronomical observations which are embedded into a mathematical model.
Time is a central element within “Mathematics and Judaism” because the practice of many Jewish precepts, such as prayer, requires calculation of a precise time interval.
Rationality/reason is not defined explicitly within this domain, but the practice of mathematics is directly linked to the use of logic and reason.
Mystery partly belongs to “Mathematics and Judaism,” especially when it comes to the belief that the Hebrew letters possess powers. One often finds calculations of the alphanumerical value of words and analysis of their meaning in the larger context, a practice known in Hebrew as Gimatria. For example, the Hebrew word for pregnancy, הריון, has the ...
- Ilana Wartenberg
- i.wartenberg@ucl.ac.uk
Jan 1, 2000 · Abstract. In Part One of this essay, we look in detail at the arithmetic and numerology of Abraham Ibn Ezra, and we continue with a broad description of Hebrew contributions in geometry. In Part...
In Part One of this essay, we look in detail at the arithmetic and numerology of Abraham Ibn Ezra, and we continue with a broad description of Hebrew contributions in geometry. In Part Two, we shift the focus to algebra and its evolution from a geometric to a...
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Significant material on Jewish mathematics appears in a few mathematics history textbooks (Katz 1993) and in moderately advanced Judaics books (Littman 1989, Gabai 2002), but there does not appear to be a single book or bibliography specifically and comprehensively on Jewish mathematics from which a classroom teacher could readily teach.
