ALCHEMY,
the branch of chemistry dedicated to the transformation of base metals into gold. The precepts of alchemy had some impact on Jewish scientists, philosophers, and mystics during the Middle Ages and early modern times. Several favorable references to it are to be found in the works of Jewish philosopher-scientists in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, but there is no indication that any of them dedicated a specific study to the subject, or performed experiments guided by the principles of this field. Alchemy remained a relatively marginal subject in Jewish intellectual discourse, and some scholars expressed opposition to it. It had more impact on Jewish ... ...
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