Jean de Pauly

Jean de Pauly was a prominent figure in the field of Judaism, notable for his translations of key Jewish texts. Born in Albania, he pursued his academic career in various European cities, earning his doctorat ès lettres in Palermo. He later resided in several cities, including Basel, Lyon, Rome, Orleans, and Turin, before ultimately returning to Lyon. During his time in Lyon, he was affiliated with the School of the Sacred Heart, where he worked as a teacher.

De Pauly's most significant contributions to the field of Judaism are his translations of portions of the Talmud and the first complete translation of the Zohar. The latter was published between 1906 and 1911, facilitated by Émile Lafuma-Giraud, a Catholic industrialist. However, his translation of the Zohar was met with criticism from esteemed scholar Gershom Scholem, who accused de Pauly of altering the book's content. Despite the controversy surrounding his work, de Pauly's translations remain a notable achievement in the field of Jewish studies. He spent his final years working on the Zohar translation and passed away in poverty in Lyon.