Mordecai ben Hillel
Encyclopedia
Mordechai ben Hillel HaKohen
(c. 1250–1298), also known as The Mordechai, was a 13th century German
rabbi
and posek
. His chief legal commentary on the Talmud
, referred to as the Mordechai, is one of the sources of the Shulchan Aruch
. He died a martyr
's death at Nuremberg
.
. Mordechai was also a relative of Rabbi Asher ben Jehiel
. He was married to Selda (née?), with whom he had five children.
His principal teacher was Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg
; he was also taught by Perez ben Elijah
of Corbeil
, Ephraim ben Nathan, Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin
(Jacob ben Moses ha-Levi), Abraham b. Baruch (Meir of Rothenburg's brother), and Dan Ashkenazi
. In addition to his knowledge of Talmud and Halakha, the Mordechai was also an expert on Hebrew grammar
.
About 1291 the family moved to Goslar
. But his right of residence there was disputed by Moses Tako, the local rabbi; although the suit was decided in Mordechai's favor, it was conducted with such bitterness that Mordechai left Goslar and settled at Nuremberg
. For the next seven years, he operated a Yeshiva
there which attracted students from all over Europe. The Mordechai was murdered, along with his wife and children, in the Rintfleisch Massacres
; see Nuremberg: Middle Ages.
of Joseph Caro; it has also been printed as an appendix to the Talmud
, since the Soncino
edition of 1482. The work is written as a compilation of existing halakhic material, and also provides conclusions and results of long discussions in other works. It thus serves both a source of analysis, as well a source of decided law
. Mordechai's knowledge of halakhic literature was phenomenal. He quotes the works, and written or verbal responsa
, of about 350 authorities
; in fact, Mordechai is now the only source for many Ashkenazi authors. He frequently quotes his teacher, Meir ben Baruch, and much of the Mordechai is written in support of the Tosafists, the last of whom were Mordechai's teachers.
The Ashkenazi authorities, as well as those in Italy
, were great admirers of Mordechai, and assiduously studied the Mordechai and recognized its authority as a source of Halakha. Moses Isserles
lectured on the Mordechai in his yeshivah, and many of his responsa
are devoted to questions regarding difficult passages of the book. Its status was such that, the Mordechai is one of the sources of the Shulchan Aruch
of Joseph Caro. In Italy and Poland, where the Mordechai was especially studied, a whole Mordechai literature came into existence.
The Mordechai although linked textually with the Halakhot of Rabbi Isaac Alfasi
, is, in fact, an independent work. The connection with Alfasi is an external one: single sentences, sometimes even single words, of the Halakot serve as "catchwords" introducing the relevant material found in the Jerusalem Talmud
, the tosafot
, as well as other codices and compendiums. The Mordechai is published in two forms: glosses to Alfasi's
"Halakhot" in various manuscripts, and also as an appendix to the "Halakhot" - the standard form in today's editions of the Talmud
.
The work has a "most peculiar history". As the early critics pointed out, the Mordechai was not issued in its final form by the author. He collected the material, but the work was in fact arranged and published by his pupils, partly during his lifetime and partly after his death. Thus within two generations after Mordechai's death there were two entirely different versions of his work, respectively designated as the "Rhenish" and the "Austrian" versions. The Rhenish is the shorter one of the two. These were not merely two different copies of the Mordechai, but are in fact two materially different compendiums. It is thought that the Austrian Mordechai, as found in the manuscripts, is the original form of the work. The version published in the Talmud is the Rhenish with gloss
es from the Austrian Mordechai, by Rabbi Samuel ben Aaron of Schlettstallt.
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
(c. 1250–1298), also known as The Mordechai, was a 13th century German
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...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and posek
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....
. His chief legal commentary on 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....
, referred to as the Mordechai, is one of the sources of the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
. He died a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
's death at Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
.
Biography
Little is known of the Mordechai's early life. He belonged to one of the most prominent families of scholars in Germany: his grandfather Hillel, on his mother's side was a grandson of Eliezer ben Joel ha-Levi, who was in turn a grandson of Eliezer ben NathanEliezer ben Nathan
Eliezer ben Nathan of Mainz , Ra'aven , was a halakist and liturgical poet. As an early Rishon, he was a contemporary of the Rashbam and Rabbeinu Tam, and one of the earliest of the Tosafists. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Eliakim b. Joseph of Mainz, a fellow student of Rashi...
. Mordechai was also a relative of Rabbi 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...
. He was married to Selda (née?), with whom he had five children.
His principal teacher was Meir ben Baruch 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...
; he was also taught by Perez ben Elijah
Perez ben Elijah
Perez ben Elijah of Corbeil was a French tosafist, son of the Talmudist Elijah of Tours. In Talmudical literature he is designated by the abbreviations RaP , RaPaSh , and MaHaRPaSh .Perez had for masters Rabbi Jehiel of Paris and Samuel of Evreux...
of Corbeil
Corbeil
- Places :* Corbeil, Ontario, Canada* Corbeil-Essonnes, Essonne, France, a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris* The Corbeil Cathedral* Corbeil, Marne, France, a commune in north-eastern France...
, Ephraim ben Nathan, Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin
Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin
Jacob b. Moses Moelin was a Talmudist and posek best known for his codification of the customs of the German Jews. He is also known as Maharil - the Hebrew acronym for "Our Teacher, the Rabbi, Yaakov Levi" - as well as Mahari Segal or Mahari Moelin...
(Jacob ben Moses ha-Levi), Abraham b. Baruch (Meir of Rothenburg's brother), and Dan Ashkenazi
Dan Ashkenazi
Dan Ashkenazi was a 13th century German Talmudist and exegete. He was a prominent Talmudists of Germany and the teacher of Mordecai ben Hillel....
. In addition to his knowledge of Talmud and Halakha, the Mordechai was also an expert on Hebrew grammar
Hebrew grammar
-History of studies in Hebrew grammar:The Masoretes in the 7th to 11th centuries laid the foundation for grammatical analysis of Hebrew. As early as the 9th century Judah ibn Kuraish discussed the relationship between Arabic and Hebrew...
.
About 1291 the family moved to Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
. But his right of residence there was disputed by Moses Tako, the local rabbi; although the suit was decided in Mordechai's favor, it was conducted with such bitterness that Mordechai left Goslar and settled at Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
. For the next seven years, he operated a Yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
there which attracted students from all over Europe. The Mordechai was murdered, along with his wife and children, in the Rintfleisch Massacres
Rintfleisch-Pogrom
The Rintfleisch-Pogrom was a pogrom against Jews in the year 1298.It was set during the civil strife between King Adolf of Nassau and his rival Albert of Austria, when imperial authority, traditionally concerned with the protection of the Jews, had temporarily collapsed.The Jews of the Franconian...
; see Nuremberg: Middle Ages.
Magnum opus
Mordechai, is a great legal (Halachic) work, which acquired wide authority, and was one of the sources of the Shulchan AruchShulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
of Joseph Caro; it has also been printed as an appendix 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....
, since the Soncino
Soncino family (printers)
The Soncino family is an Italian Sephardi Jewish family of printers, deriving its name from the town of Soncino in the duchy of Milan. It traces its descent through a Moses of Fürth, who is mentioned in 1455, back to a certain Moses of Speyer, of the middle of the fourteenth century. The first of...
edition of 1482. The work is written as a compilation of existing halakhic material, and also provides conclusions and results of long discussions in other works. It thus serves both a source of analysis, as well a source of decided law
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....
. Mordechai's knowledge of halakhic literature was phenomenal. He quotes the works, and written or verbal 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...
, of about 350 authorities
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....
; in fact, Mordechai is now the only source for many Ashkenazi authors. He frequently quotes his teacher, Meir ben Baruch, and much of the Mordechai is written in support of the Tosafists, the last of whom were Mordechai's teachers.
The Ashkenazi authorities, as well as those in Italy
Italian Jews
Italian Jews can be used in a broad sense to mean all Jews living or with roots in Italy or in a narrower sense to mean the ancient community who use the Italian rite, as distinct from the communities dating from medieval or modern times who use the Sephardi or Ashkenazi rite.-Divisions:Italian...
, were great admirers of Mordechai, and assiduously studied the Mordechai and recognized its authority as a source of Halakha. Moses Isserles
Moses Isserles
Moses Isserles, also spelled Moshe Isserlis, , was an eminent Ashkenazic rabbi, talmudist, and posek, renowned for his fundamental work of Halakha , entitled ha-Mapah , an inline commentary on the Shulkhan Aruch...
lectured on the Mordechai in his yeshivah, and many 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 devoted to questions regarding difficult passages of the book. Its status was such that, the Mordechai is one of the sources of the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
of Joseph Caro. In Italy and Poland, where the Mordechai was especially studied, a whole Mordechai literature came into existence.
The Mordechai although linked textually with the Halakhot of Rabbi Isaac Alfasi
Isaac Alfasi
for other Al-Fasi's see Al-Fasi disambiguationIsaac ben Jacob Alfasi ha-Cohen - also known as the Alfasi or by his Hebrew acronym Rif , was a Talmudist and posek...
, is, in fact, an independent work. The connection with Alfasi is an external one: single sentences, sometimes even single words, of the Halakot serve as "catchwords" introducing the relevant material found in the Jerusalem Talmud
Jerusalem Talmud
The Jerusalem Talmud, talmud meaning "instruction", "learning", , is a collection of Rabbinic notes on the 2nd-century Mishnah which was compiled in the Land of Israel during the 4th-5th century. The voluminous text is also known as the Palestinian Talmud or Talmud de-Eretz Yisrael...
, 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...
, as well as other codices and compendiums. The Mordechai is published in two forms: glosses to Alfasi's
Isaac Alfasi
for other Al-Fasi's see Al-Fasi disambiguationIsaac ben Jacob Alfasi ha-Cohen - also known as the Alfasi or by his Hebrew acronym Rif , was a Talmudist and posek...
"Halakhot" in various manuscripts, and also as an appendix to the "Halakhot" - the standard form in today's editions 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....
.
The work has a "most peculiar history". As the early critics pointed out, the Mordechai was not issued in its final form by the author. He collected the material, but the work was in fact arranged and published by his pupils, partly during his lifetime and partly after his death. Thus within two generations after Mordechai's death there were two entirely different versions of his work, respectively designated as the "Rhenish" and the "Austrian" versions. The Rhenish is the shorter one of the two. These were not merely two different copies of the Mordechai, but are in fact two materially different compendiums. It is thought that the Austrian Mordechai, as found in the manuscripts, is the original form of the work. The version published in the Talmud is the Rhenish with gloss
Gloss
A gloss is a brief notation of the meaning of a word or wording in a text. It may be in the language of the text, or in the reader's language if that is different....
es from the Austrian Mordechai, by Rabbi Samuel ben Aaron of Schlettstallt.
Other works
- Mordechai was the author of ResponsaResponsaResponsa 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...
- however, these have not been preserved but are quoted in other works and responsa; see: History of Responsa: Twelfth century.
- He authored several selichotSelichotSelichot or slichot are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days...
.