ZACUTO, MOSES BEN MORDECAI

(c. 1620-97)

Italian kabbalist and poet. He was born in Amsterdam. During a pilgrimage to Palestine, he was persuaded to go to Italy, where he served as a rabbi in Venice and Mantua. He composed mystical and devotional poetry, some of which was used in the Italian liturgy. He wrote responsa, a poetical vision of the after-life (Topheth Arukh), and a drama about Abraham (Yesod Olam).