Judah ben Barzillai
Encyclopedia
Judah ben Barzillai was a Spanish Talmudist of the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century. Almost nothing is known of his life. He came of a very distinguished family, on account of which he was not seldom called "ha-Nasi" (the prince), a title of honor borne also by his descendants in Barcelona
.
It is very doubtful if Judah was a pupil of Isaac ben Reuben
, as some have asserted; nor can the names of his own pupils, and whether Abraham ben Isaac of Lunel (RABaD II) was among them, be determined. Certain it is that Abraham ben Isaac knew Judah personally and consulted him in difficult cases. Judah once had a controversy with his learned fellow citizen Abraham ben Ḥiyya. The latter, it seems, tried to postpone a wedding because the stars displayed unfavorable omens, while Judah held such a course to be contrary to law, since the regarding of omens is forbidden in the Scriptures.
, although, with the exception of a few fragments, his writings in this department have been lost. They are often cited as authoritative, however, by Rabad II, Isaac ben Abba Mari
(for both of whom he is simply "Ha-Rab," or "Ha-Rab ha-Meḥabber"), Abraham ben David
(RABaD III), and Zerahiah ben Isaac ha-Levi.
The works of Maimonides
and Judah ben Asher
, published a century later, caused Judah's codex to be neglected, although individual scholars down to the 16th century made use of it. From quotations found in works of more than forty authors it is seen that Judah codified the whole law, ritual and civil. His Sefer ha-'Ittim, of which manuscript fragments exist in the library of Jews' College
, London
(Hirschfeld, in J. Q. R. xiv. 191-192), is cited by name. The fragments contain regulations for the Sabbath
, but the book originally included not only regulations for the Sabbath, festivals, and the New Moon
, but also nearly all the material treated of in the first part of the Ṭur
, and probably even more than this. Part of the Sefer ha-'Ittim is printed in Coronel
's Zeker Natan (pp. 129 et seq., Vienna, 1872). The part of the codex which deals with marriage laws and kindred topics is called by some Seder Nashim; by others, Yiḥus She'er Bosar. The civil law was contained in the Sefer ha-Dinim (so read by Halberstam
instead of Sefer ha-Dayyanim), which was divided into five "gates," and the extent of which may be judged from that portion of it published as Sefer ha-Sheṭarot (S. I. Halberstam, Berlin, 1898), embracing 138 pages, and treating of the different forms of contracts according to rabbinical law.
Besides this halakic work Judah wrote a detailed commentary on the Sefer Yeẓirah. Like most commentaries on this remarkable book, that by Judah helps little to an understanding of the text; on the contrary, it contains Judah's own rather diffuse, half-mystical, half-philosophical theological discussions. The author betrays, besides, an astonishing familiarity with the Talmudic-Midrashic literature, and gives extracts from works of the Geonim
which are otherwise unknown.
Judah was acquainted with the philosophical writings of Saadia
and of Samuel ben Hophni, but not with those of Solomon ibn Gabirol
and Baḥya. He shows little talent for dealing with theological or philosophical subjects. He argues strenuously against the charge made by the Karaites that the Rabbis favored anthropomorphisms. The Sefer Yeẓirah was first published by Halberstam in 1885 (Berlin).
A treatise on the preparation of scrolls of the Law, published by E. Adler in J. Q. R. ix. 681-716, is attributed to Judah, but hardly with sufficient reason. In his commentary to the Sefer Yeẓirah Judah mentions another of his own works, Zemannim, about which nothing further is known. To judge from certain allusions of Judah it would seem that he wrote a commentary also on the Bible
; at any rate he had planned such a work.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
It is very doubtful if Judah was a pupil of Isaac ben Reuben
Isaac ben Reuben Albargeloni
Isaac ben Reuben Albargeloni was a Spanish Talmudist and liturgical poet born in Barcelona. He was a judge in the important community of Denia, where he became connected, probably as son-in-law, with ibn Alḥatosh. Among his later descendants was Moses ben Naḥman ; Judah Albargeloni is said to have...
, as some have asserted; nor can the names of his own pupils, and whether Abraham ben Isaac of Lunel (RABaD II) was among them, be determined. Certain it is that Abraham ben Isaac knew Judah personally and consulted him in difficult cases. Judah once had a controversy with his learned fellow citizen Abraham ben Ḥiyya. The latter, it seems, tried to postpone a wedding because the stars displayed unfavorable omens, while Judah held such a course to be contrary to law, since the regarding of omens is forbidden in the Scriptures.
Works
Judah was one of the greatest codifiers of the Middle AgesJews in the Middle Ages
The history of Jews in the Middle Ages spans the timeframe of approximately 500 CE to 1750 CE. This article covers the medieval history of Jews in the Christian-dominated European region...
, although, with the exception of a few fragments, his writings in this department have been lost. They are often cited as authoritative, however, by Rabad II, Isaac ben Abba Mari
Isaac ben Abba Mari
Isaac ben Abba Mari was a Provençal rabbi, son of Abba Mari, and author of Ittur Soferim.- References :*Shlomo Pereira, ....
(for both of whom he is simply "Ha-Rab," or "Ha-Rab ha-Meḥabber"), Abraham ben David
Abraham ben David
Rabbeinu Abraham ben David was a Provençal rabbi, a great commentator on the Talmud, Sefer Halachot of Rabbi Yitzhak Alfasi and Mishne Torah of Maimonides, and is regarded as a father of Kabbalah and one of the key and important links in the chain of Jewish mystics...
(RABaD III), and Zerahiah ben Isaac ha-Levi.
The works of 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...
and Judah ben Asher
Judah ben Asher
Judah ben Asher was a German Talmudist and later rabbi of Toledo, Spain, brother of Jacob ben Asher . These dates are deduced from the evidence furnished by Judah's testament and epitaphs Judah ben Asher (June 30, 1270 – July 4, 1349) was a German Talmudist and later rabbi of Toledo, Spain,...
, published a century later, caused Judah's codex to be neglected, although individual scholars down to the 16th century made use of it. From quotations found in works of more than forty authors it is seen that Judah codified the whole law, ritual and civil. His Sefer ha-'Ittim, of which manuscript fragments exist in the library 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...
(Hirschfeld, in J. Q. R. xiv. 191-192), is cited by name. The fragments contain regulations for the Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
, but the book originally included not only regulations for the Sabbath, festivals, and the New Moon
Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh or Rosh ḥodesh is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the new moon. The new moon is marked by the day and hour that the new crescent is observed...
, but also nearly all the material treated of in the first part of the Ṭur
Tur
Tur or TUR can stand for:* Arba'ah Turim, a work of Jewish law, also known as the Tur* Jacob ben Asher, its author, also known as the Tur or the Baal Haturim* Tur * Turkish language...
, and probably even more than this. Part of the Sefer ha-'Ittim is printed in Coronel
Coronel
Coronel is a Chilean city and commune, located in the Concepción Province of the eighth region of Biobío.-Geography:The city of Coronel is located in a sandy platform that goes from the mouth of the Biobío River to the Arauco Gulf bay, a muddy landscape, full of forests, typical of the region.This...
's Zeker Natan (pp. 129 et seq., Vienna, 1872). The part of the codex which deals with marriage laws and kindred topics is called by some Seder Nashim; by others, Yiḥus She'er Bosar. The civil law was contained in the Sefer ha-Dinim (so read by Halberstam
Solomon Halberstam
Solomon Halberstam may refer to:* Solomon Halberstam – founder of the Bobov Hasidic dynasty* Solomon Halberstam – grandson of the original and a Rebbe of the Bobover Hasidim...
instead of Sefer ha-Dayyanim), which was divided into five "gates," and the extent of which may be judged from that portion of it published as Sefer ha-Sheṭarot (S. I. Halberstam, Berlin, 1898), embracing 138 pages, and treating of the different forms of contracts according to rabbinical law.
Besides this halakic work Judah wrote a detailed commentary on the Sefer Yeẓirah. Like most commentaries on this remarkable book, that by Judah helps little to an understanding of the text; on the contrary, it contains Judah's own rather diffuse, half-mystical, half-philosophical theological discussions. The author betrays, besides, an astonishing familiarity with the Talmudic-Midrashic literature, and gives extracts from works of the Geonim
Geonim
Geonim were the presidents of the two great Babylonian, Talmudic Academies of Sura and Pumbedita, in the Abbasid Caliphate, and were the generally accepted spiritual leaders of the Jewish community world wide in the early medieval era, in contrast to the Resh Galuta who wielded secular authority...
which are otherwise unknown.
Judah was acquainted with the philosophical writings of Saadia
Saadia
Saadia is a Jewish name and Arabic name. it can refer to several people:*Saadia Gaon - Ninth century rabbi, philosopher, and exegete of the Geonic period.*Saadia Afzaal - Pakistani journalist and television news anchor....
and of Samuel ben Hophni, but not with those of Solomon ibn Gabirol
Solomon ibn Gabirol
Solomon ibn Gabirol, also Solomon ben Judah , was an Andalucian Hebrew poet and Jewish philosopher with a Neoplatonic bent. He was born in Málaga about 1021; died about 1058 in Valencia.-Biography:...
and Baḥya. He shows little talent for dealing with theological or philosophical subjects. He argues strenuously against the charge made by the Karaites that the Rabbis favored anthropomorphisms. The Sefer Yeẓirah was first published by Halberstam in 1885 (Berlin).
A treatise on the preparation of scrolls of the Law, published by E. Adler in J. Q. R. ix. 681-716, is attributed to Judah, but hardly with sufficient reason. In his commentary to the Sefer Yeẓirah Judah mentions another of his own works, Zemannim, about which nothing further is known. To judge from certain allusions of Judah it would seem that he wrote a commentary also on the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
; at any rate he had planned such a work.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- BacherBacherBacher may refer to:*Adam Bacher , South African cricketer*Ali Bacher , South African cricketer and cricket official*Gertrud Bacher , Italian heptathlete*Julius Bacher , German playwright and novelist...
, in J. Q. R. x. 381-382- idem, in R. E. J. xvii. 272-284
- E. Adler, ib. ix. 669-681
- HalberstamHalberstam- 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 :...
, in the introduction to Judah ben Barzillai's commentary on the Sefer Yeẓirah and Sefer ha-Sheṭarot- idem, in J. Q. R. x. 165-167
- KaufmannKaufmannKaufmann is a surname with many variants such as Kauffmann, Kaufman, and Kauffman. In German, the name means merchant. It is the cognate of the English Chapman . "Kaufmann" may refer to:- Kaufmann :* Aloys P. Kaufmann , Mayor of St...
, in additions to Judah's Yeẓirah commentary - J. H. Weiss, in Ha-Asif, iv. 221-225
- Leopold ZunzLeopold ZunzLeopold Zunz was a German Reform rabbi and writer, the founder of what has been termed "Jewish Studies" or "Judaic Studies" , the critical investigation of Jewish literature, hymnology and ritual...
, in Catalogus ... Lipsiensis, p. 321