Moses Ibn Ezra - Early Life

Early Life

Moses was born in Granada, Spain and received both a Hebrew education as well as a comprehensive education of Arabic literature. Ezra was a student to Isaac Ibn Ghayyat while in Lucena, considered the “city of poetry” and carried an important administrative title in his home province given to him by his Arabic title ṣāḥib al-shurṭa. Ibn Ezra also developed a strong friendship with poet Judah Halevi and was a driving force in his early poetic work. The capture of Granada by the Almoravides resulted in the destruction of Ezra’s Jewish community as well as the breakup of Ezra’s family. This eventually led to his fleeing to the Christian part of Spain. While in the new city of Castile, Ezra considered himself an exile for leaving and did not think he would be able to return to his home city. It was at this time that it was rumored that Ezra had disagreements with his family, specifically with one of his brothers Yosef as well as his own children. These incidents also contributed to him not returning home.

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