First Sephardic Translation of Menorat hamaor: Translation or Interpretation?

Abstract

After several years studying the Judeo-Spanish translations of Medieval Hebrew works by Y. Aboab, Menorat hamaor, we have come to the conclusion that on his first sephardic version, Abraham Asá did not confine himself to translating the Hebrew script, but also introduced modifications of diverse nature. Such modifications clearly expose his willingness to provide his contemporary readers with his own personal interpretation of the book by Aboab. In order to argue our theory, we offer in the following article the edition to Introduction to the Fourth Candle from the above mentioned translation in Judeo-Spanish from Constantinople, 1762.