Da "Rabbi" Galileo a Copernico "primogenito del Satan": le diverse reazioni del mondo ebraico alla rivoluzione astronomica

From «Rabbi» Galileo to Copernicus «First Born of Satan»: the Various Reactions of the Jewish World to the Astronomical Revolution (by David Gianfranco Di Segni) The Copernican theory is regarded as a turning point not only in astronomy, but also in science, philosophy, and in their relationship with religion and politics. This article analyzes the reactions of the Jewish world to the heliocentric theory, which was proposed by Copernicus and Galileo. By removing the Earth from the center of the Universe, they were challenging the literal interpretation of some passages of the Bible as well as certain consolidated conceptions. The Jewish response was not unanimous. There were admirers and detractors of Copernicus. However, they both shared the conviction that the work of God is to be sought in the study of Torah and in history, rather than in nature. Presumably, Galileo would not have been convicted in a Jewish environment, not so much because his ideas were acknowledged, but rather because they were not of utmost interest.