Abigdor Cohen of Vienna
Encyclopedia
Avigdor Cohen ben Elijah of Vienna (fl. mid-13th century) was the earliest of the great Talmudists of Austria
.
Cohen was the pupil of R. Simha of Speyer
(who flourished about 1220), but he knew also R. Joel ha-Levi of Bonn (who flourished about 1175). Avigdor lived in Vienna
, and from there administered the religious affairs of the Jewish population of Austria. Of his writings we possess only a commentary on the Pentateuch and the five Megillot, which still exist in manuscript. From various sources we know that he also wrote Tosafot
to the treatise Ketuvot. The most prominent scholars of Germany often applied to him for advice on difficult ritualistic problems, theoretical or practical, and attached great importance to his decisions. He had also distinguished pupils, among whom was the eminent Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg
.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
Cohen was the pupil of R. Simha of Speyer
Simha of Speyer
Simha ben Samuel of Speyer was a German rabbi and tosafist. Neither the year of his birth nor that of his death is known. He was one of the leading signatories of the Takkanot Shum . He was a nephew of the director Kalonymus, a pupil of R...
(who flourished about 1220), but he knew also R. Joel ha-Levi of Bonn (who flourished about 1175). Avigdor lived in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and from there administered the religious affairs of the Jewish population of Austria. Of his writings we possess only a commentary on the Pentateuch and the five Megillot, which still exist in manuscript. From various sources we know that he also wrote 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 the treatise Ketuvot. The most prominent scholars of Germany often applied to him for advice on difficult ritualistic problems, theoretical or practical, and attached great importance to his decisions. He had also distinguished pupils, among whom was the eminent Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg
Meir of Rothenburg
Meir of Rothenburg was a German Rabbi and poet, a major author of the tosafot on Rashi's commentary on the Talmud...
.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Michael, Or ha-hayyim, No. 10;
- Zunz, Z.G. pp. 38, 42, 193.