Don Yitzchak Abarbanel, one of the Spanish exiles [(see year 5252)]. I saw in a small printed booklet that he answered twelve philosophical questions to Rabbi Shaul HaKohen Ashkenazi, and it states there that he authored twelve books: Abarbanel on the Torah and Early and Later Prophets, Zevach Pesach, [(Yemot Olam)], Yeshuot Meshicho, Likkutei Nevi'im, Ma'ayanei HaYeshuah, Mif'alot Elokim, Merkavat HaMishnah, Mashmi'a Yeshuah, Nachalat Avot, Ateret Zekenim, Tzedek Olamim, Rosh Amanah, Shamayim Chadashim.

"All these works I made after I left the land of my birth, for before this I was occupied in the courts of kings and had no leisure to study, and I did not know books. I spent the best days and years of my life in vanity seeking wealth and honor, and that wealth was also lost in misfortune. After being a wanderer in the land and lacking money, then I sought the Book of HaShem." He was buried in Padua in 5269.

He had a son who was a sage and remarkable philosopher who authored a book called Dialoghi di Leone Ebreo ("Dialogues of the Jewish Lion"), wherein his great philosophizing is evident [(Sha'arei Kedusha 64b)]. In his days lived Rabbi Yehudah Chayyat [(Tzedah LaDerech)], from the Spanish exiles, distinguished in Kabbalah, who wrote a commentary on Ma'arechet Ha'Elohut [(see year 5002)] called Minchat Yehudah [(Sha'arei Kedusha 62b)]. [Also] the authors of HaKefel on grammar, and HaRav Rabbi Avraham Saba who authored Tzror HaMor, and Rabbi Avraham bar Meir HaBalmas who authored Mikneh Avram [on grammar, that is 5272 (Tzedah LaDerech)].

He was a great philosopher who lectured publicly at the cathedral to Christian students in the history of Padua, and when he was there all his Christian students followed after his bier. [(Sha'arei Kedusha there)]. And HaRav Rabbi David ben Don Shlomo ben HaRav Rabbi David ibn Yachya was a great sage who authored Sefer Lashon Limudim, Shekel HaKodesh, and Sefer Tehillah LeDavid, but did not complete them, and his son Rabbi Yaakov completed them.

This Rabbi Yaakov, known as Rabbenu Tam, was great in Constantinople and was among the physicians of Sultan Suleiman. He was wise in Torah and in Islamic law to the extent that their judges came to consult with him on their legal rulings. He and his sons enjoyed royal favor, and he died old and full of days, leaving two sons who were sages in all intellectual matters. The name of the older sage was Rabbi Yosef, physician to the king and the court, and the second was Moharar Gedaliah who served in leadership in Thessaloniki in the community of Lisbon and in Constantinople in the community of Portuguese [(Sha'arei Kedusha 64b)].