BEGHI

BEGHI, family of Karaite scholars in Constantinople (15th–17th centuries). Its members include: ELIJAH AFIDAH (AFDAH) BEGHI (d. before 1641). Elijah wrote Hilkhot Sheḥitah, on the rules of slaughtering; Be'ur Asarah Ikkarim, on the ten principles of Karaite faith; Mikhtav Eliyahu, poems, verse compositions and tales; several responsa (all these works survived in manuscripts kept in various libraries). JOSEPH BEN MOSES (15th–16th centuries). Joseph was the pupil of the Karaite scholar abraham bali , who in 1505 wrote for Beghi and his fellow student, Joseph b. Caleb, his Issur Hadlakat Ner be-Shabbat, on the Karaite prohibition of kindling lights on the Sabbath. The cordial relationship between the Karaites and rabbanites at that period is attested by Joseph's correspondence with Rabbanite scholars. Two letters by Moses b. Jacob (evidently moses of kiev "ha-Goleh") to Beghi are preserved. Joseph wrote Iggeret Sukkah, on Sukkot; Keter Kehunnah, six homilies; Iggeret Kiryah Ne'emanah especially directed against the identification of the Karaites with the Sadducees, a work of literary and historical value since it mentions a number of earlier Karaite scholars; Iggeret Kelulah, an explanation of a problem in marriage law. Simḥah Isaac b. Moses Lutzki mentions two important works of Joseph which are no longer traceable: Shulḥan Ḥaverim, a book of precepts, and Safah Berurah, a philosophical work. MOSES BEN BENJAMIN (second half of the 16th century), wrote Mitzvot Moshe, a book of precepts including two essays "Ohel Moshe" on the calendar, and "Masat Moshe" on the Sabbath laws, published in Pinnat Yikrat by the karaite isaac b. solomon (1834; non-critical print, 2 vols., Ashdod 2005). Benjamin also composed liturgical poems, several of which have been included in the Karaite prayer book. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: A. Neubauer, Aus der Petersburger Bibliothek (1866), 46n, 122; Danon, in: JQR 15 (1924/25), 337–39; HB, 17 (1877), 12; Mann, Texts, 2 (1935), 294n, 300, 302; Simḥah Isaac b. Moses (Lutzki), Oraḥ Ẓaddikim (1966), 98, 99, 107, 109; Z. Ankori, Karaites in Byzantium (1959), 36n, 58, 279. ADD. BIBLIOGRAPHY: M.L. Wilensky, in: PAAJR 40 (1972) 109–146; M. Polliack (ed.), Karaite Judaism: A Guide to Its History and Literary Sources, (2003), index. (Isaak Dov Ber Markon)