Sefer "Characteristics of Rabbis, " by Uriah from the Palquira family.
The author’s name on the title page is the pen name of David Caro.
Sefer Tchunot HaRabanim (The Character of Rabbis)
A pamphlet discussing the ideal image of a "rabbi" according to the author’s perspective. The character he describes is that of a preacher and moral instructor. He advocates for loyalty to the state, humanity, and the pursuit of knowledge, including the study of grammar, scripture, and crafts. Naturally, he does not shy away from mocking "vain sophistry" (dust to their mouths). The rabbi he portrays reflects the author himself and his contemporaries at that time. There is no mention of the uniqueness of the Jewish nation or the notion of Israel as a distinct people, and certainly no mention of the quest for redemption and the Land of Israel. Also notable is the emphasis on interpersonal ethics and the minimization and blurring of the specific commandments unique to Israel. The view of the Torah and the rabbi is functional rather than as an intrinsic way of eternal life within us.
Rabbi Akiva Eiger sharply opposed him, calling him "a devil among our people" without mentioning his name.
[7] 6-86,[3] Pages. 17.5 cm.
Overall Fair condition, brittle pages, some marginal tears, last two pages detached from text block, unbound.
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