Aaron Solomon Gumperz
Quick Facts
Biography
Aaron Solomon Gumperz (December 10, 1723 – April 10, 1769) was a Jewish German scholar and physician.
In March, 1751, Gumperz graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Frankfurt (Oder), his dissertation being "Ueber die Temperamente" (tr. About the temperaments). He was the first Prussian Jew who obtained a doctor's degree. Gumperz was especially known for having been Moses Mendelssohn's teacher of philosophy and for having inspired him with a love for literature. He wrote a Hebrew calendar for the year 5509 (1748-1749), and "Megalleh Sod", a supercommentary on Ibn Ezra to the Five Scrolls. Of the latter work that part dealing with Ecclesiastes was the only one published (Hamburg, 1765; Wilna, 1836). It is followed by an essay entitled "Ma'mar ha-Madda'", on religion and philosophy. Moses Mendelssohn strongly recommended this work in his "Bi'ur Millot ha-Higgayon" (§ 14).