Reuchlin, Johann

Johann Reuchlin (1455-1522), German humanist and Hebraist, published works in Hebrew, including De arte cabalistica (1517). Reuchlin responded to calls within the church for the suppression of Hebrew texts by writing Der Augenspiegel (1511), in which he drew a distinction between classical works written in Hebrew and those works that were overtly critical of Christianity. Reuchlin's opinions sparked controversy in the church and were fiercely denounced by his opponents, who hounded him for many years.