Hanoch ben Moses
Encyclopedia
R. Hanoch ben Moses (d. 1014 CE or 1024 CE) was a Spanish
rabbi
. Almost all of the information we have about him comes from the Sefer ha-Qabbalah
by R. Abraham ibn Daud
.
Along with his parents, R. Moses ben Hanoch
and his wife (name unknown), R. Hanoch was captured by the Moorish pirate Ibn Rumahis and brought to Cordova
. R. Hanoch eventually succeeded his father as rabbi
and Rosh Yeshivah there, although for a time he faced opposition by R. Joseph ibn Abitur
and by the latter's patron, Yaakov ibn Jo, the lay leader of the Jewish community of the Caliphate of Cordoba
.
His best-known student was R. Shmuel ha-Nagid
.
Ibn Daud reports that relations between R. Hanoch and R. Hai Gaon
were strained, since the increasing stature of the Spanish yeshivot led to a lessening of their communities' financial contributions to the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia
. Indeed, R. Hanoch seems to have corresponded only rarely with the Babylonian Geonim
. However, R. Hai demonstrated his respect for R. Hanoch, by honoring his excommunication
of Ibn Abitur and refusing the latter an audience.
R. Hanoch left no written works, although there are some extant responsa
between him and Rav Hai Gaon
, as well as between him and the then-Gaon in the Land of Israel
, Rav Shmuel ha-Kohen.
He died of injuries following a fall, when the bimah
in the Cordova synagogue
collapsed on Simchat Torah
. Ibn Daud dates this incident to 4775 (1014 CE), but also states that it was thirteen years before the death of Rav Hai Gaon in 4798, so that the correct reading should be 4785 (1024 CE).
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. Almost all of the information we have about him comes from the Sefer ha-Qabbalah
Sefer ha-Qabbalah
Sefer ha-Qabbalah was a book authored by Abraham ibn Daud around 1161. A chronicle of the Jewish people, it contains valuable historical and philosophical information...
by R. Abraham ibn Daud
Abraham ibn Daud
Abraham ibn Daud was a Spanish-Jewish astronomer, historian, and philosopher; born at Toledo, Spain about 1110; died, according to common report, a martyr about 1180. He is sometimes known by the abbreviation Rabad I or Ravad I. His mother belonged to a family famed for its learning...
.
Along with his parents, R. Moses ben Hanoch
Moses ben Hanoch
Moses ben Hanoch or Moses ben Enoch was a medieval rabbi who inadvertently became the preeminent Talmudic scholar of Spain. He died about 965....
and his wife (name unknown), R. Hanoch was captured by the Moorish pirate Ibn Rumahis and brought to Cordova
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
. R. Hanoch eventually succeeded his father as rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and Rosh Yeshivah there, although for a time he faced opposition by R. Joseph ibn Abitur
Joseph ibn Abitur
Joseph ibn Abitur was a Spanish rabbi of around the 9th century. He was a student of Moses ben Hanoch.Abitur was from a very prestigious Spanish family from the city of Mérida. His great great grandfather was a communal and Rabbinic leader. Besides being a great Torah scholar, Abitur was also a...
and by the latter's patron, Yaakov ibn Jo, the lay leader of the Jewish community of the Caliphate of Cordoba
Caliphate of Córdoba
The Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the Iberian peninsula and part of North Africa, from the city of Córdoba, from 929 to 1031. This period was characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture; many of the masterpieces of Islamic Iberia were constructed in this period, including the famous...
.
His best-known student was R. Shmuel ha-Nagid
Samuel ibn Naghrela
Samuel ibn Naghrela , also known as Samuel HaNagid , , was a Talmudic scholar, grammarian, philologist, poet, warrior, and statesman, who lived in Iberia at the time of the Moorish rule....
.
Ibn Daud reports that relations between R. Hanoch and R. Hai Gaon
Hai Gaon
Hai ben Sherira , was a medieval Jewish theologian, rabbi and scholar who served as Gaon of the Talmudic academy of Pumbedita during the early 11th century. He was born in 939 and died on March 28, 1038...
were strained, since the increasing stature of the Spanish yeshivot led to a lessening of their communities' financial contributions to the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia
Talmudic Academies in Babylonia
The Talmudic Academies in Babylonia, also known as the Geonic Academies, were the center for Jewish scholarship and the development of Jewish law in Mesopotamia from roughly 589 CE to 1038 CE...
. Indeed, R. Hanoch seems to have corresponded only rarely with the Babylonian Geonim
Talmudic Academies in Babylonia
The Talmudic Academies in Babylonia, also known as the Geonic Academies, were the center for Jewish scholarship and the development of Jewish law in Mesopotamia from roughly 589 CE to 1038 CE...
. However, R. Hai demonstrated his respect for R. Hanoch, by honoring his excommunication
Cherem
Cherem , is the highest ecclesiastical censure in the Jewish community. It is the total exclusion of a person from the Jewish community. It is a form of shunning, and is similar to excommunication in the Catholic Church...
of Ibn Abitur and refusing the latter an audience.
R. Hanoch left no written works, although there are some extant responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
between him and Rav Hai Gaon
Hai Gaon
Hai ben Sherira , was a medieval Jewish theologian, rabbi and scholar who served as Gaon of the Talmudic academy of Pumbedita during the early 11th century. He was born in 939 and died on March 28, 1038...
, as well as between him and the then-Gaon in the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
, Rav Shmuel ha-Kohen.
He died of injuries following a fall, when the bimah
Bimah
A bimah A bimah A bimah (among Ashkenazim, derived from Hebrew בּמה , almemar (from Arabic al-minbar) or tebah (among Sephardim) is the elevated area or platform in a Jewish synagogue which is intended to serve the place where the person reading aloud from the Torah stands during the Torah reading...
in the Cordova synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
collapsed on Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah or Simḥath Torah is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle...
. Ibn Daud dates this incident to 4775 (1014 CE), but also states that it was thirteen years before the death of Rav Hai Gaon in 4798, so that the correct reading should be 4785 (1024 CE).