Judah ben Asher
Encyclopedia
Judah ben Asher was a German Talmudist and later rabbi of Toledo, Spain
, brother of Jacob ben Asher
("Ba'al ha-Ṭurim"). These dates are deduced from the evidence furnished by Judah's testament and epitaphs (Luzzatto, Abne Zikkaron, No. 5; see Schechter
in Bet Talmud, iv. 340-346, 372-379).
At the age of thirteen, according to the custom of the German Talmudists of that epoch, Judah began to travel. He set out for Spain
July 18, 1283, and arrived at Toledo April 7, 1285, consuming almost two years in his journey. He does not appear to have stayed long in Toledo, for in 1286 he married the daughter of his oldest brother, Jehiel, who is not known to have left Germany
before 1305. After her death he married the daughter of Solomon, another brother of his. In 1305 his father, Asher ben Jehiel
, who was then obliged to leave Germany, sent Judah before him into Spain in order to arrange for his settling there.
Judah says in his testament that when he first came to Toledo he could not profit much by the Spanish Talmudists, as he understood neither their writing nor their language; and as he had sore eyes he could not even occupy himself with writing. After his father's death (1321 or 1328) Judah was chosen by the Toledo community as his successor in the rabbinate. He was held in great esteem by the members of his congregation, and when, on account of some disagreement, he manifested a desire to remove to Seville
, they urged him to remain and doubled his salary. Still, he was not favorably inclined toward Spain; for he recommended his five sons to emigrate to Germany, his native country.
Asher, Judah's father, had ordained that every member of his family should give for charitable purposes a tithe of his earnings, and that three-fourths of the amount of such tithe should be confided to two trustees for distribution among the poor. In the agreement signed by Asher and his sons on October 20, 1314, Judah and his brother Jacob were appointed trustees. Judah approved heartily of this charitable institution, and at his request, on September 18, 1346, his sons signed an agreement making a similar arrangement in regard to the disposition of their own earnings (Bet Talmud, iv. 377). Judah died at Toledo July 4, 1349.
Judah was a recognized authority on rabbinics, and his responsa, together with a fragment of his commentary on Shabbat
, were published, under the title of Zikron Yehudah, by David Cassel
(Berlin, 1846).
, Gesch. 3d ed., vii. 301-302; Steinschneider
, Cat. Bodl. col. 1291. (Wallace Greene, The Life and Times of Rabbi Judah ben Asher, Yeshiva University dissertation 1979 is the definitive biography.)
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, brother of Jacob ben Asher
Jacob ben Asher
Jacob ben Asher, also known as Ba'al ha-Turimas well as Rabbi Yaakov ben Raash , was likely born in Cologne, Germany c.1269 and likely died in Toledo, Spain c.1343....
("Ba'al ha-Ṭurim"). These dates are deduced from the evidence furnished by Judah's testament and epitaphs (Luzzatto, Abne Zikkaron, No. 5; see Schechter
Solomon Schechter
Solomon Schechter was a Moldavian-born Romanian and English rabbi, academic scholar, and educator, most famous for his roles as founder and President of the United Synagogue of America, President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and architect of the American Conservative Jewish...
in Bet Talmud, iv. 340-346, 372-379).
At the age of thirteen, according to the custom of the German Talmudists of that epoch, Judah began to travel. He set out for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
July 18, 1283, and arrived at Toledo April 7, 1285, consuming almost two years in his journey. He does not appear to have stayed long in Toledo, for in 1286 he married the daughter of his oldest brother, Jehiel, who is not known to have left Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
before 1305. After her death he married the daughter of Solomon, another brother of his. In 1305 his father, Asher ben Jehiel
Asher ben Jehiel
Asher ben Jehiel- Ashkenazi was an eminent rabbi and Talmudist best known for his abstract of Talmudic law. He is often referred to as Rabbenu Asher, “our Rabbi Asher” or by the Hebrew acronym for this title, the ROSH...
, who was then obliged to leave Germany, sent Judah before him into Spain in order to arrange for his settling there.
Judah says in his testament that when he first came to Toledo he could not profit much by the Spanish Talmudists, as he understood neither their writing nor their language; and as he had sore eyes he could not even occupy himself with writing. After his father's death (1321 or 1328) Judah was chosen by the Toledo community as his successor in the rabbinate. He was held in great esteem by the members of his congregation, and when, on account of some disagreement, he manifested a desire to remove to Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, they urged him to remain and doubled his salary. Still, he was not favorably inclined toward Spain; for he recommended his five sons to emigrate to Germany, his native country.
Asher, Judah's father, had ordained that every member of his family should give for charitable purposes a tithe of his earnings, and that three-fourths of the amount of such tithe should be confided to two trustees for distribution among the poor. In the agreement signed by Asher and his sons on October 20, 1314, Judah and his brother Jacob were appointed trustees. Judah approved heartily of this charitable institution, and at his request, on September 18, 1346, his sons signed an agreement making a similar arrangement in regard to the disposition of their own earnings (Bet Talmud, iv. 377). Judah died at Toledo July 4, 1349.
Judah was a recognized authority on rabbinics, and his responsa, together with a fragment of his commentary on Shabbat
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...
, were published, under the title of Zikron Yehudah, by David Cassel
David Cassel
David Cassel was a German historian and Jewish theologian.-Life:Cassel was born in Gross-Glogau, a city in Prussian Silesia with a large Jewish community. He graduated from its gymnasium....
(Berlin, 1846).
Sources
Jewish Encyclopedia Bibliography: Cassel, introduction to Zikron Yehudah; GrätzHeinrich Graetz
Heinrich Graetz was amongst the first historians to write a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from a Jewish perspective....
, Gesch. 3d ed., vii. 301-302; Steinschneider
Moritz Steinschneider
Moritz Steinschneider was a Bohemian bibliographer and Orientalist. He received his early instruction in Hebrew from his father, Jacob Steinschneider , who was not only an expert Talmudist, but was also well versed in secular science...
, Cat. Bodl. col. 1291. (Wallace Greene, The Life and Times of Rabbi Judah ben Asher, Yeshiva University dissertation 1979 is the definitive biography.)