Joseph ben Hayyim Jabez (also "Yaavetz") (14381539)[1] was a Spanish-Jewish theologian. He lived for a time in Portugal, where he associated with Joseph ben Abraham Ḥayyun, who inspired him with that taste for mysticism which he subsequently displayed in his writings. When the Jews were banished from Spain Jabez settled at Mantua, Italy. There he met his compatriot, the kabbalist Judah ben Jacob Ḥayyat, whom he induced to write the commentary Minḥat Yehudah on the kabbalistic work Ma'areket Elahut.
Jabez was an opponent of philosophy. For him, the truth of religion is demonstrated by the miracles recorded in the Hebrew Bible. He criticizes the thirteen articles of faith of Maimonides, the six of Hasdai Crescas, and the three of Joseph Albo. According to him, only the following three, alluded to in the verse about "I Am that I Am" in the narrative of the burning bush in the Book of Exodus, are the fundamental principles of Judaism:
These dogmas are expounded by him in the following books:
Jabez left also a great number of manuscript works, which, according to Ghirondi, are still (as of 1906) in the possession of the author's descendants.
Isaac Jabez was his son.
. Robert Bonfil. Les Juifs d'Italie à l'époque de la Renaissance. Stratégies de la différence à l'aube de la modernité . 1995 . L'Harmattan . Paris . fr . 52 . 2-7384-2964-5 . 408247650.