Judah Messer Leon (1166)
Encyclopedia
Judah ben Isaac Messer Leon (1166–1224) was a French tosafist born in Paris
. According to Gross he was probably a descendant of Rashi
, and a pupil of Isaac ben Samuel
of Dampierre
and his son Elhanan. He married a daughter of Abraham ben Joseph of Orleans, who has been identified by Jacobs (Jews of Angevin England, p. 409) with Abraham fil Rabbi Joce, chief Jew in London
in 1186. In a list of that year associated with Abraham occurs the name of Leo Blund, whom Jacobs identifies with Judah ben Isaac (ib. p. 88; comp. Bacher, in J.Q.R. vi.360).
Sir Leon must have left Paris
in 1182, when all Jews were expelled from the French king's dominions; he did not return till 1198. According to Gross, however, he received his chief training at Dampierre
under Samson of Sens
, Simson of Coucy, Solomon of Dreux, and Abraham ben Nathan
of Lunel
. Shortly after 1198 he returned to Paris and founded an important school of tosafists, in which were trained, among others, Jehiel ben Joseph (Sir Leon's successor), Isaac ben Moses of Vienna
(author of Or Zarua), Samuel ben Solomon (Sir Morel of Falaise), and Moses of Coucy.
He appears to have composed tosafot
to most of the tractates of the Talmud
, traces being found of his annotations to twenty tractates. The only collection that has been published are his additamenta to Berakot
, published at Warsaw
in 1863. A long fragment of his tosafot to Abodah Zarah is still extant in a manuscript that formerly belonged to Luzzatto
and Halberstam
(R.E.J. vii.55) and that is now in the possession of Jews' College
, London
. A few of his responsa
are also found, chiefly in various additions to the Mordecai, while reference is also found to his commentary on the Pentateuch, in which he appears to have followed the method of Rashbam
.
Judah wrote several poems — an Aramaic description of the Decalogue
(Zunz
, Ritus, p. 198), a pizmon (idem, Literaturgesch. p. 329), and a piyyut
(Landshuth, Ammude ha-'Abodah, i.68). He is not, however, to be identified with the mystical Judah Ḥasid, to whom are attributed the Sefer ha-Ḥasidim and an ethical will
. Among the writers whom Judah quotes may be mentioned Amram Gaon
, Sherira Gaon
, Hai Gaon
, and Nissim Gaon, Alfasi, Maimonides
, Elijah ben Menahem, Gershom ben Judah
, Jacob of Orleans
, Jacob of Corbeil, Joseph Kara
, Joseph Bekor Shor, Yom-Tov of Joigny, and Rashi
.
He died in Paris in 1224 (Solomon Luria
, Responsa, No. 29).
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. According to Gross he was probably a descendant of Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
, and a pupil of Isaac ben Samuel
Isaac ben Samuel
Isaac ben Samuel the Elder, also known as the Ri ha-Zaken, was a French tosafist and Biblical commentator. He flourished at Ramerupt and Dampierre, France in the twelfth century.- Biography :On his father's side Isaac was a grandson of R...
of Dampierre
Dampierre, Aube
Dampierre is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.-Population:...
and his son Elhanan. He married a daughter of Abraham ben Joseph of Orleans, who has been identified by Jacobs (Jews of Angevin England, p. 409) with Abraham fil Rabbi Joce, chief Jew in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1186. In a list of that year associated with Abraham occurs the name of Leo Blund, whom Jacobs identifies with Judah ben Isaac (ib. p. 88; comp. Bacher, in J.Q.R. vi.360).
Sir Leon must have left Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1182, when all Jews were expelled from the French king's dominions; he did not return till 1198. According to Gross, however, he received his chief training at Dampierre
Dampierre, Aube
Dampierre is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.-Population:...
under Samson of Sens
Samson ben Abraham of Sens
Samson ben Abraham , also known as the Rash of Sens or "the Prince of Sens", was one of the leading French Tosafists in the second half of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th centuries...
, Simson of Coucy, Solomon of Dreux, and Abraham ben Nathan
Abraham ben Nathan
Abraham ben Nathan Ha-Yarhi was a Provençal rabbi and scholar born in the second half of the twelfth century, probably at Lunel, Languedoc, where he also received his education...
of Lunel
Lunel
Lunel is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France. Lunel is located east of Montpellier and southwest of Nîmes .-History:The ancient Roman site of Ambrussum is located nearby. The troubadour Folquet de Lunel was from Lunel....
. Shortly after 1198 he returned to Paris and founded an important school of tosafists, in which were trained, among others, Jehiel ben Joseph (Sir Leon's successor), Isaac ben Moses of Vienna
Isaac ben Moses of Vienna
Isaac ben Moses of Vienna, also called Isaac Or Zarua or the Riaz, was one of the greatest rabbis of the Middle Ages. He was probably born in Bohemia and lived between 1200 and 1270. He attained his fame in Vienna and his major work, the halachic guide known as the Or Zarua, was very popular...
(author of Or Zarua), Samuel ben Solomon (Sir Morel of Falaise), and Moses of Coucy.
He appears to have composed tosafot
Tosafot
The Tosafot or Tosafos are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes...
to most of the tractates of the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, traces being found of his annotations to twenty tractates. The only collection that has been published are his additamenta to Berakot
Berakhot (Talmud)
Berachot is the first tractate of Seder Zeraim, a collection of the Mishnah that primarily deals with laws relating to plants and farming...
, published at Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
in 1863. A long fragment of his tosafot to Abodah Zarah is still extant in a manuscript that formerly belonged to Luzzatto
Luzzatto
Luzzatto is an Italian surname. According to a tradition communicated by S. D. Luzzatto, the family descends from a German Jew who immigrated into Italy from the province of Lusatia, and who was named after his native place.It may refer to:...
and Halberstam
Halberstam
- Etymology and history :Many other surnames beginning with "Halber" may have originated from Halberstam when immigrants came to America seeking more American-sounding names.- People :...
(R.E.J. vii.55) and that is now in the possession of Jews' College
Jews' College
-Origins and Remit Today:Jews' College, now known as the London School of Jewish Studies , was opened in Finsbury Square, London as a rabbinical seminary in 1855 with the support of Chief Rabbi Nathan Adler and of Sir Moses Montefiore, who had conceived the idea for such a venture as early as...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. A few of his 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...
are also found, chiefly in various additions to the Mordecai, while reference is also found to his commentary on the Pentateuch, in which he appears to have followed the method of Rashbam
Rashbam
Samuel ben Meir after his death known as "Rashbam", a Hebrew acronym for: RAbbi SHmuel Ben Meir, was a leading French Tosafist and grandson of Shlomo Yitzhaki, "Rashi."-Biography:...
.
Judah wrote several poems — an Aramaic description of the Decalogue
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
(Zunz
Zunz
Zunz, Zuntz is a Yiddish surname: , Belgian pharmacologist* Leopold Zunz , German Reform rabbi* Gerhard Jack Zunz , British civil engineer- Zuntz :* Nathan Zuntz , German physiologist...
, Ritus, p. 198), a pizmon (idem, Literaturgesch. p. 329), and a piyyut
Piyyut
A piyyut or piyut is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services. Piyyutim have been written since Temple times...
(Landshuth, Ammude ha-'Abodah, i.68). He is not, however, to be identified with the mystical Judah Ḥasid, to whom are attributed the Sefer ha-Ḥasidim and an ethical will
Ethical will
An Ethical will is a document designed to pass ethical values from one generation to the next. Rabbis and Jewish laypeople have continued to write ethical wills during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In recent years, the practice has been more widely used by the general public...
. Among the writers whom Judah quotes may be mentioned Amram Gaon
Amram Gaon
Amram Gaon was a famous Gaon or head of the Jewish Talmud Academy of Sura in the 9th century. He was the author of many Responsa, but his chief work was liturgical.He was the first to arrange a complete liturgy for the synagogue...
, Sherira Gaon
Sherira Gaon
Rav Sherira Gaon was the head of the Academy of Pumbeditha. He was one of the most prominent Geonim of his period, and the father of Hai Gaon, who succeeded him as gaon.Sherira was born in 906 and died in 1006. Rav Sherira Gaon (Hebrew: רב שרירא גאון or R. Sherira ben Ḥanina Gaon, Hebrew: רב...
, 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...
, and Nissim Gaon, Alfasi, Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
, Elijah ben Menahem, Gershom ben Judah
Gershom ben Judah
Gershom ben Judah, best known as Rabbeinu Gershom and also commonly known to scholars of Judaism by the title Rabbeinu Gershom Me'Or Hagolah , was a famous Talmudist and Halakhist.Rashi of Troyes Gershom ben Judah, (c. 960 -1040? -1028?) best known as Rabbeinu Gershom (Hebrew: רבנו גרשום, "Our...
, Jacob of Orleans
Jacob of Orléans
Jacob of Orléans was a noted Jewish scholar, considered by many to be one of the most learned men of his age. Jacob was a tosafist in Orléans, France, who studied under Rabbenu Tam. He remained in Orléans until at least 1171, leaving at a later date to go to London, most likely to become a teacher...
, Jacob of Corbeil, Joseph Kara
Joseph Kara
Joseph ben Simeon Kara was a French Bible exegete who was born and lived in Troyes. His uncle and teacher was Menahem ben Ḥelbo, whom Ḳara often cites in his commentaries, these quotations being almost the only source of knowledge concerning Menahem's exegesis.Ḳara frequented Rashi's house; it...
, Joseph Bekor Shor, Yom-Tov of Joigny, and Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
.
He died in Paris in 1224 (Solomon Luria
Solomon Luria
Solomon Luria was one of the great Ashkenazic poskim and teachers of his time. He is known for his work of Halakha, Yam Shel Shlomo, and his Talmudic commentary Chochmat Shlomo...
, Responsa, No. 29).
Jewish Encyclopedia Bibliography
- Henri Gross, in Berliner's Magazin, iv.173-210;
- idem, Gallia Judaica, pp. 519–524;
- Joseph JacobsJoseph JacobsJoseph Jacobs was a folklorist, literary critic and historian. His works included contributions to the Jewish Encyclopaedia, translations of European works, and critical editions of early English literature...
, Jews of Angevin England, pp. 406–416.