Moses ben Jacob of Coucy
Encyclopedia
Moses ben Jacob of Coucy (Hebrew: משה בן יעקב מקוצי) was a French
Tosafist
and authority on Halakha
(Jewish law). He is best known as author of one of the earliest codifications of Halakha, the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol.
(Yehudah HeHasid).
In 1240 he was one of the four rabbis who were required to defend the Talmud
, in a public disputation in Paris
, and it is likely that the need for a work like the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol was driven by the decrees against the Talmud which had been promulgated in France
, and had led to the confiscation and burning of all Talmud manuscripts in 1242.
: Large Book of the Commandments
; abbreviated סמ"ג "SeMaG" ) deals with the 365 negative commandments
and the 248 positive commandments, separately discussing each of them according to the Talmud
and the decisions
of the Rabbis. "SeMaG" also contains much non-legal, moralistic teaching. References to the "SeMaG" are by Section (Positive or Negative) and Commandment Number within each section.
Rabbi Moses' arrangement and presentation are heavily influenced by Maimonides
' discussion of the commandments in the Sefer Hamitzvot
and by his codification of the Halakha
in the Mishneh Torah
. However unlike Maimonides, Rabbi Moses presents lengthy discussions of the different interpretations and legal opinions. He also makes extensive use of other codes, and particularly of the commentaries of Rashi
and the Tosafot
, usually favouring these Ashkenazi
traditions
over Maimonides.
Traditional commentaries on SeMaG include Tosefe SeMaG by Elijah Mizrachi
(Re'em) and Ammude Shlomo by Solomon Luria
(Maharshal). Mitzvot Gadol is a recent commentary by the 20th century rabbi Avraham Aharon Price
.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
Tosafist
Tosafists
Tosafists were medieval rabbis from France and Germany who are among those known in Talmudical scholarship as Rishonim who created critical and explanatory glosses on the Talmud. These were collectively called Tosafot , because they were additions on the commentary of Rashi...
and authority on Halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
(Jewish law). He is best known as author of one of the earliest codifications of Halakha, the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol.
Biography
"Moses of Coucy" lived in the first half of the thirteenth century, and was a descendant of a family of distinguished scholars. He studied under Judah ben Samuel of RegensburgJudah ben Samuel of Regensburg
Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg , also called HeHasid or 'the Pious' in Hebrew, was the initiator of the Chassidei Ashkenaz, a movement of Jewish mysticism in Germany....
(Yehudah HeHasid).
In 1240 he was one of the four rabbis who were required to defend 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....
, in a public disputation in Paris
Disputation of Paris
The Disputation of Paris took place in 1240 in the court of the reigning king of France, Louis IX . The disputation had four rabbis defending the Talmud against the accusations of a Franciscan Order member.-Disputers:...
, and it is likely that the need for a work like the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol was driven by the decrees against the Talmud which had been promulgated in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and had led to the confiscation and burning of all Talmud manuscripts in 1242.
Works
The "Sefer Mitzvot Gadol" (ספר מצוות גדול; HebrewHebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: Large Book of the Commandments
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
; abbreviated סמ"ג "SeMaG" ) deals with the 365 negative commandments
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
and the 248 positive commandments, separately discussing each of them according to 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....
and the decisions
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
of the Rabbis. "SeMaG" also contains much non-legal, moralistic teaching. References to the "SeMaG" are by Section (Positive or Negative) and Commandment Number within each section.
Rabbi Moses' arrangement and presentation are heavily influenced by 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...
' discussion of the commandments in the Sefer Hamitzvot
Sefer Hamitzvot
Sefer Hamitzvot is a work by the 12th century rabbi, philosopher and physician Maimonides. While there are various other works titled similarly, the title "Sefer Hamitzvot" without a modifier refers to Maimonides' work...
and by his codification of the Halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
in the Mishneh Torah
Mishneh Torah
The Mishneh Torah subtitled Sefer Yad ha-Hazaka is a code of Jewish religious law authored by Maimonides , one of history's foremost rabbis...
. However unlike Maimonides, Rabbi Moses presents lengthy discussions of the different interpretations and legal opinions. He also makes extensive use of other codes, and particularly of the commentaries 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 the 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...
, usually favouring these Ashkenazi
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
traditions
Oral Torah
The Oral Torah comprises the legal and interpretative traditions that, according to tradition, were transmitted orally from Mount Sinai, and were not written in the Torah...
over Maimonides.
Traditional commentaries on SeMaG include Tosefe SeMaG by Elijah Mizrachi
Elijah Mizrachi
Elijah Mizrachi was a Talmudist and posek, an authority on Halakha. He is best known for his Sefer ha-Mizrachi, a supercommentary on Rashi's commentary on the Torah...
(Re'em) and Ammude Shlomo by 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...
(Maharshal). Mitzvot Gadol is a recent commentary by the 20th century rabbi Avraham Aharon Price
Avraham Aharon Price
Rabbi Abraham Aharon Price was a world-renowned Torah scholar, writer, educator, and a community leader in Toronto, Canada. He was one of the city's most influential rabbinic figures.- Community leader :...
.