ABSABAN, SOLOMON

ABSABAN, SOLOMON (d. 1592), scholar of Safed and disciple of isaac luria . Solomon was a friend and contemporary of moses alshekh and studied under joseph caro . It is probable that, like Alshekh, he was among those ordained by Caro. From 1562 his signature appeared on letters and decisions together with those of Joseph Caro and moses di trani . In 1571 he joined them in excommunicating the physician Daoud, an opponent of joseph nasi . In a manuscript responsum (Oxford, 832, n. 23) his signature appears at the head of the list of leading rabbis of Safed. Absaban taught in the talmudic academies of Safed, where jacob abulafia was among his students. In 1582 he served as av bet din of Safed. Absaban associated with the mystics there, and was a friend of Eleazar b. Moses azikri , who referred to him as distinguished in wisdom, piety, and holiness. Ultimately he settled in Damascus where he presided over the yeshivah until his death. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Conforte, Kore, 39a, 40a, 41b, 43a; Neubauer, Chronicles, 1 (1887), 151.