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Ephraim Kanarfogel, “Religious Leadership During the Tosafist Period: Between the Academy and the Rabbinic Court,” in Jack Wertheimer, ed., Jewish Religious Leadership: Image and Reality, vol. 1 (New York: The Jewish Theological Seminary, 2004), 265-305
Ephraim Kanarfogel, “Religious Leadership During the Tosafist Period: Between the Academy and the Rabbinic Court,” in Jack Wertheimer, ed., Jewish Religious Leadership: Image and Reality, vol. 1 (New York: The Jewish Theological Seminary, 2004), 265-305
Ephraim KanarfogelRelated Papers
Jewish History
On the Nuances of Reading Tosafist Literature and Other Medieval Rabbinic Texts for Trends in Religious Observance2014 •
Religious Leadership
During the Tosafist Period
Between the Academy and the Rabbinic Court
Ephraim KanarfogelZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCB
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is te r ia l w o r k B a ‘a le i h a - to s a fo t I T h e to s a f is ts ] ; T o le d o te ih e m , h ib b u -
r e ih e m , s h ita ta m y ie ld s a lis t o f th e d o m in a n t r a b b in ic f ig u r e s in
n o r th e r n F r a n c e : R a b b e n u T a m , h is n e p h e w R . I s a a c o f D a m p ie r r e
( R i) , R . S a m s o n o f S e n s , R . J u d a h S ir le o n , R . Y e h i’e l o f P a ris , a n d R .
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S e e , e .g ., Y . H a n d e ls m a n , “ T h e V ie w s o f R a b ia h o n F o r m s o f C o m m u n a l L e a d
e r s h ip a n d T h e ir P la c e in th e D e v e lo p m e n t o f M e d ie v a l R a b b in ic P u b lic P o l
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G o v e r n m e n t in A s h k e n a z d u r in g th e H ig h M id d le A g e s: A R e a s s e s s m e n t,” P r o
c e e d in g s o f th e A m e ric a n A c a d e m y fo r J e w is h R e s e a r c h 5 8 ( 1 9 9 2 ) : 7 9 - 1 0 6 ;
a n d n . 2 5 b e lo w .
265
Ephraim Kanarfogel
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N a th a n ( R a b a n ) , h is s o n - in - la w R . J o e l h a - L e v i, R . J o e l’s s o n R .
E lie z e r ( R a b ia h ) , R . E le a z a r R o q e a h o f W o r m s , R . I s a a c O r Z a r u a ‘
o f V ie n n a , a n d R . M e ir o f R o th e n b u rg .
A s o p p o s e d to th e A s h k e n a z ic r a b b in ic le a d e r s o f th e p r e - C r u s a d e p e r io d , w h o w e r e c lo s e ly lin k e d w ith th e R h in e la n d a c a d e m ie s
a t M a in z a n d W o r m s in p a r tic u la r , th e to s a f is ts w e r e s p r e a d o v e r a
w id e r g e o g r a p h ic r a n g e . M o r e o v e r , s tu d e n ts o f th e to s a f is ts w e r e
id e n tif ie d p r im a r ily b y th e ir te a c h e r s , r a th e r th a n w ith th e c ity o r
to w n in w h ic h th e ir a c a d e m ie s w e re lo c a te d . I h a v e d e m o n s tr a te d
e ls e w h e re th a t th is c h a n g e in id e n tif ic a tio n p a r a lle ls in m a n y r e s p e c ts
th e s h if t in C h r is tia n s o c ie ty f r o m th e p r im a c y o f th e m o n a s tic
s c h o o ls to th e p r im a c y o f th e c a th e d ra l s c h o o ls ( a n d th e ir m a s te r s )
th a t o c c u r r e d in C h r is tia n s o c ie ty to w a r d th e e n d o f th e e le v e n th
c e n tu r y .^
A lth o u g h th e to s a f is ts in b o th n o r th e r n F r a n c e a n d G e r m a n y
a p p e a r to b e s im ila r ly r e g a r d e d a n d e q u a lly m a tc h e d a s r e lig io u s
le a d e r s , th e r e is o n e d im e n s io n o f le a d e r s h ip in w h ic h a c le a r d if f e r
e n c e e x is ts , a d if f e r e n c e th a t h a s th u s f a r g o n e u n r e m a r k e d in m o d
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c itie s a n d to w n s . T h e s e s c h o la r s s a t o n a c tu a l c a s e s , c o m m u n ic a te d
w ith o th e r c o u r ts a s n e e d e d ( a n d o f te n c o m p ile d s o m e m a n n e r o f
w r itte n r e c o r d o f th e s e e x c h a n g e s a n d in te r a c tio n s ) , a n d h a n d le d
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n o r th e r n F r a n c e a ls o p a r tic ip a te d a s ju d g e s , s p e c if ic r e f e re n c e s to
th e s e o c c u r r e n c e s a r e n ig h im p o s s ib le to c o m e b y a n d , c o n c o m i
ta n tly , th e r e a r e v ir tu a lly n o r e c o rd s o f a n y d e lib e ra tio n s o r in v o lv e
m e n t th a t th e y m ig h t h a v e h a d . M y g o a l in th is s tu d y is to d e lin e a te
a n d to h ig h lig h t th e s e k e y d is tin c tio n s b e tw e e n G e r m a n y a n d n o r th
e r n F r a n c e a n d to o f f e r s e v e r a l e x p la n a tio n s f o r th e m , w ith p a r tic u
la r e m p h a s is o n a s p e c ts o f r e lig io u s le a d e r s h ip .
2.
S e e m y J e w is h E d u c a tio n a n d S o c ie ty in th e H ig h M id d le A g e s ( D e tr o it: W a y n e
S ta te U n iv e r sity P re s s, 1 9 9 2 ) , 5 7 - 6 3 , 7 0 - 7 2 ; H e in ric h F ic h te n a u , H e r e tic s a n d
S c h o la rs in th e H ig h M id d le A g e s (U n iv e rsity P a r k :T h e P e n n s y lv a n ia S ta te U n i
v e r s ity P re s s, 1 9 9 8 ) , 2 6 8 - 8 0 ; a n d n . 1 3 9 b e lo w .
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist PeriodZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
267
II
I t is p o s s ib le to id e n tif y in d e ta il th e m e m b e r s o f th e r a b b in ic c o u r ts
in a n u m b e r o f lo c a le s in G e r m a n y th r o u g h o u t th e tw e lf th a n d th ir
te e n th c e n tu r ie s .^ M o r e o v e r , a s te a d y s tr e a m o f in te r a c tio n s a n d
c o n ta c ts b e tw e e n th e v a r io u s s ittin g r a b b in ic c o u r ts c a n a ls o b e d o c
u m e n te d .
M a in z
R . M o s e s b . S o lo m o n h a - K o h e n , a s tu d e n t o f R a b b e n u T a m , w a s th e
s e n io r m e m b e r o f th e M a in z c o u r t in th e s e c o n d h a lf o f th e tw e lf th
c e n tu r y . H e s e r v e d to g e th e r w ith R . J u d a h b . Q a lo n y m u s ( R iv a q ) b .
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S o lo m o n ’s d e a th , R . B a r u k h b . S a m u e l (d . 1 2 2 1 ) b e c a m e a m e m b e r
o f th e c o u r t.'^
A lth o u g h R . E lie z e r b . J o e l h a - L e v i ( R a b ia h , d . c a . 1 2 2 5 ) h im s e lf
s e r v e d f o r th e m o s t p a r t a s a ju d g e in C o lo g n e { s e e b e lo w ) , h e w r ite s
th a t a t o n e p o in t h e p r e s e n te d a n a r g u m e n t b e f o r e th e M a in z c o u r t
f o r th e ir a p p r o v a l. R . B a r u k h b . S a m u e l h a d a d v o c a te d in a le g a l
m a tte r o n b e h a lf o f s o m e o r p h a n s w h o w e r e r e la te d to h im . A c c o r d
in g to R a b ia h , R . B a r u k h w a s s ittin g w ith h im in th e s tu d y h a ll XWVUTSRQ
{ b e it
h a - s e fe r ) , a n d R a b ia h p r e s e n te d a h a la c h ic a r g u m e n t o r a p p r o a c h in
th is m a tte r { v e - d a n ti le fa n a v v e - lifn e i s h e 'a r r a b b o ta i) b e f o r e R .
B a r u k h a n d h is o th e r te a c h e r s , R . J u d a h ( R iv a q ) a n d R . M o s e s (b .
M o r d e k h a i) o f M a in z , w h ic h s u g g e s te d th a t th e o r p h a n s in th is c a s e
s h o u ld n o t p r e v a il. R a b ia h s u b s e q u e n tly r u le d th is w a y in a c a s e th a t
c a m e b e f o r e h im in C o lo g n e .^ T h is f o r m u la tio n s u g g e s ts th a t th e
3.
A lis tin g o f th is k in d w a s c o m p ile d b y M . F r a n k , A s h k e n a z ic C o m m u n itie s^
1 4 2 - 5 7 . T h e d is c o v e ry o f m a n u s c r ip t m a te r ia ls a n d th e p u b lic a tio n o f n u m e r
o u s m e d ie v a l r a b b in ic te x ts o v e r th e p a s t .s ix ty -fiv e y e a r s a f f o r d u s th e o p p o r tu
n ity to s u p p le m e n t ( a n d in s o m e c a s e s to a d ju s t o r c o r r e c t) F r a n k ’s fin d in g s .
4.
S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 4 th e d . ( H e b re w ) (J e ru s a le m : M o s a d B ia lik , 1 9 8 0 ),
1 : 1 8 4 , 3 8 9 , 4 2 5 ; R a b ia h , 1 : 1 7 1 (in w h ic h R . M o s e s is r e f e r r e d to a s ‘a r i s h e -
b e -h a v u ra h ; a n d S . E m a n u e l, “ R . B a r u k h o f M a in z : P o r tr a it o f a S c h o la r a s
R e fle c te d in th e F r a g m e n ts o f H is W r itin g s ” ( H e b r e w ) , in Is s u e s in T a lm u d ic
R e s e a r c h : C o n fe r e n c e C o m m e m o r a tin g th e F ifth A n n iv e r s a r y o f th e P a s s in g o f
E . E . U r b a c h (J e ru s a le m : I s r a e l A c a d e m y o f S c ie n c e s a n d H u m a n itie s , 2 0 0 1 ) ,
1 2 6 - 2 9 . T h e s o n o f R . M o s e s h a - K o h e n ( J u d a h o f F r ie d b e r g ; n . 6 2 b e lo w ) a n d
th e s o n o f R iv a q o f M a in z (E le a z a r o f W o r m s; n . 9 ) w e r e a ls o m e m b e r s o f th e
r a b b in ic c o u r ts in th e ir c o m m u n itie s .
5.
T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , 5 4 - 5 6 § 9 2 5 .
Ephraim Kanarfogel
268
M a in z c o u r t w a s c o n n e c te d in s o m e w a y to a n a c a d e m y o r s tu d y
h a ll, b u t th a t th e r a b b in ic c o u r t w a s th e m o r e p r o m in e n t in s titu tio n
o f th e tw o .
R . Y a q a r b . S a m u e l h a - L e v i a n d R . S h e ’a lti’e l b . M e n a h e m o f
C o lo g n e ( a s r e c o r d e d in R . B a ru k h o f M a in z ’ o w n XWVUTSRQPO
S e fe r h a - h o k h ~
m a h )^ d is a g r e e d w ith R a b ia h in r e g a r d to a le n d e r w h o h a d c o n f is
c a te d th e p a w n th a t h e r e c e iv e d f r o m a n o th e r J e w , a s a m e a n s o f
c o lle c tin g m o n ie s o w e d to h im .^ T h e M a in z c o u r t, c o n s is tin g o f
R iv a q , R . M o s e s b . M o r d e k h a i, a n d R . B a r u k h a ls o a r g u e d a g a in s t
th e v ie w o f R a b ia h .^ A t s o m e p o in t, R . E p h r a im o f B o n n w a s in
M a in z a n d a p p e a r s to h a v e b e e n th e f o u r th s ig n a to r y o n a w r itte n
o p in io n o f th e M a in z c o u r t, to g e th e r w ith R iv a q , R . M o s h e b .
M o r d e k h a i a n d R . B a r u k h .^
W o rm s
T h e le a d in g c o u r t in W o r m s a t th is tim e c o n s is te d o f th e w e ll- k n o w n
p a y y e ta n a n d r a b b in ic s c h o la r R . M e n a h e m b . J a c o b ( d . 1 2 0 3 ) , R .
E le a z a r b . J u d a h { d .c a . 1 2 3 0 , a u th o r o f th e S e fe r R o q e a h ) , a n d R .
Q a lo n y m u s b . G e rs h o m .^ A s lig h tly la te r a lig n m e n t in c lu d e d E le a z a r ,
Q a lo n y m u s , a n d R . M o r d e k h a i b . J o s e p h . T h is c o u r t s e n t a q u e s tio n
o n th e n e e d f o r u n a n im o u s a g r e e m e n t in m a tte r s o f c o m m u n a l g o v
e r n m e n t to th e M a in z c o u r t ( o f R iv a q , R . M o s e s b . M o r d e k h a i, a n d
6.
S e e M o r d e k h a i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 4 0 3 , a n d A p to w itz e r , I n tr o d u c tio n to S e fe r
R a b ia h ( H e b r e w ) (B n e i B ra k : S ifre i Y a h a d u t, 1 9 8 4 ) , 2 1 4 . S e e M o r d e k h a i
K e tu b o t, § 1 5 2 , a n d b e lo w , n . 4 8 .
7.
S e e M o r d e k h a i B a b a M e s i^ a , § 3 3 8 , f o r a n o th e r w r itte n o p in io n f r o m th is
c o u r t, w ith w h ic h R . B a r u k h p e r so n a lly d is a g re e d .
8.
S e e M o r d e k h a i B a b a B a tr a , § § 4 6 7 - 6 8 . A lth o u g h m a n y o f th e b e s t M o r d e k h a i
m a n u s c r ip ts c o n ta in a ll f o u r n a m e s (m s . B ritis h M u s e u m , 5 3 7 [A d d . 1 9 9 7 2 ] ,
fo r. 6 5 r ; m s . V e rc e lli C 2 3 5 , fo l. 5 7 v , c o l. 2 ; m s . V ie n n a 7 3 fo l. 5 3 v ), m s . B u d a p
e s t 1 (fo l. 1 4 1 r ) lists E p h r a im in s te a d o f R . B a r u k h , a s d o e s m s . V ie n n a 7 2 (fo l.
1 2 4 r) . C f. E m a n u e l, “ R . B a r u k h o f M a in z ,” 1 4 3 n . 8 6 , a n d n . 1 0 b e lo w .
E p h r a im is lis te d to g e th e r w ith R iv a q a n d R . M o s e s ( a n d w ith o u t R . B a ru k h )
in M o r d e k h a i B a b a B a tr a , § 5 7 6 . F o r a d d itio n a l r e s p o n s a f r o m th e M a in z
c o u r t, s e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , e d . D a v id D e b litz k y (B n e i B ra k : G r a e b e r g , 1 9 8 9 ),
§ 9 2 2 (n . 9 7 b e lo w ) ; T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , v o l. 2 , e d . D a v id D e b litz k y ( 2 0 0 0 ) , 2 0 8 1 0 § 1 0 0 7 ; a n d M o r d e k h a i Y e b a m o t, § 5 8 , w h ic h a ls o re fe rs to a r u lin g o f th e
S p ire s c o u r t. S e e n . 1 9 b e lo w .
9.
S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fs ts , 1 : 4 0 6 - 7 . C f. A . A p to w itz e r , I n tr o d u c tio n to
R a b ia h , 2 2 3 , 3 8 2 ; M . F r a n k , A s h k e n a z ic C o m m u n itie s , 1 4 4 - 4 5 ; T e s h u v o t
R a b ia h , 2 : 1 8 1 § 9 9 7 .
R e l i g io u s L e a d e r s h i p D u r i n g t h e T o s a f i s t P e r i o d
269
R . B a r u k h b . S a m u e l) f o r its o p in io n , a n d to R . E lie z e r b . J o e l h a L e v i f o r h is o p in io n a s w e ll.^ ^ A s im ila r c o n s u lta tio n w a s u n d e r ta k e n
in a c o m p le x c a s e o f m a r ita l a s s e ts .^ ^ R . M o s e s h a - K o h e n o f th e
M a in z c o u r t, R . E le a z a r R o q e a h o f th e W o r m s c o u r t, a n d R a b ia h
r e s p o n d e d to a q u e r y a b o u t a XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
h a lis a h f r o m tw o o th e r w is e u n k n o w n
s c h o la r s , S a m u e l b . J u d a h a n d B a r u k h b . B in y a m in .^ ^
S p ire s
I n th e f ir s t h a lf o f th e tw e lf th c e n tu r y , R . I s a a c b . A s h e r h a - L e v i
( R ib a , d . 1 1 3 3 ) s e r v e d a s a ju d g e in S p ir e s .^ ^ L a te r in th e tw e lf th
c e n tu r y , R . J u d a h b . Q a lo n y m u s ( R iv a q ) b . M e ir o f S p ir e s , (d . 1 1 9 9 )
s a t o n th e c o u r t w ith tw o y o u n g e r c o n te m p o r a r ie s , R . N a th a n b .
S im e o n a n d R . S im h a h b . S a m u e l, a le a d in g r a b b in ic f ig u r e ( a n d a
s tu d e n t o f M o s e s b . S o lo m o n h a - K o h e n o f M a i n z ) . R . N a th a n a n d
R . S im h a h s e n t s e v e r a l r u lin g s to R a b ia h , a t h is r e q u e s t.^ ^ A t th e
1 0 . S e e T e s h u v o t M a h a r a h O r Z a r u a \ n o . 2 2 2 ( f o u n d a ls o in m s . M o n t. 1 3 0 , § 9 5 ,
fo ls . 1 5 r - 1 5 v ) ; U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts ; a n d m y “ T h e D e v e lo p m e n t a n d D if f u
s io n o f U n a n im o u s A g r e e m e n t in M e d ie v a l A s h & e n a z ,” in S tu d ie s in M e d ie v a l
J e w is h H is to r y a n d L ite r a tu r e , v o l. 3 , e d . I. T w e rs k y a n d J . H a r r is (C a m b rid g e :
H a r v a r d U n iv e r sity P re s s, 2 0 0 0 ) , 2 6 - 2 8 .
1 1 . S e e T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m m i- R o th e n h u r g , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 5 7 6 (= M o r d e k h a i
K e tu b o t, § 2 0 7 ); T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , 4 2 - 4 5 § 9 2 3 ; a n d A p to w itz e r, I n tr o d u c tio n
to R a b ia h , 1 8 9 - 9 0 .
1 2 . S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , § 9 5 6 , a n d U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 4 0 7 ; c f. S e fe r
R a b ia h , v o l. 4 , e d . E . P r is m a n a n d S . Y . C o h e n (B ro o k ly n : H a m u l, 1 9 6 3 ) , e d i
to r ’s in tr o d u c tio n , 2 7 - 2 8 . F o r o th e r a p p e a ls to R a b ia h b y r a b b in ic c o u r ts , s e e ,
e .g ., S e fe r R a b ia h , 4 : 2 3 9 - 4 1 , § § 9 1 5 - 1 6
(w h e re R a b ia h ’s f a th e r R . J o e l
r e s p o n d e d ) ; a n d v o l. 2 , § 9 5 7 (w h e re R a b ia h ’s r e s p o n s e is r e c o r d e d ) . C f. Is a a c
b . M o se s , S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, v o l. 3 , p is q e i B a b a M e s i‘a , § 2 5 8 .
1 3 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o sa fists , 1 : 1 9 0 .
1 4 . S e e U r b a c h , ib id ., 1 : 3 6 9 , 3 7 4 , 4 1 1 - 1 2 . A c c o r d in g to a p a s s a g e in M o r d e k h a i
B a b a B a tr a , § § 6 1 2 - 1 3 , R . J u d a h b . Q a lo n y m u s a r r a n g e d to h a v e tw o litig a n ts
c o m e b e f o r e h im in S p ire s , in o r d e r to h e a r th e ir c a s e .
1 5 . S e e , e .g ., U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 3 6 9 n . 4 2 , 4 1 2 n . 6 ; T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , 2 0 0 2 0 1 § 9 8 9 , a n d c f. R e s p o n s a a n d D e c is io n s o f G e r m a n a n d N o r th e r n F r e n c h
S a g e s ( H e b re w ) , e d . E . K u p f e r (J e ru s a le m : M e k itz e N ird a m in P re s s, 1 9 7 3 ), 2 6 0
n . 1 * , a n d T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , § 9 2 6 . R . S im h a h in s tr u c te d a u n n a m e d c o u r t o n
th e s e r io u s p u n is h m e n ts a n d b a n s th a t w e re to b e p r e sc r ib e d in th e c a s e o f a
h a b itu a l w if e - b e a te r ; s e e O r Z a r u a ‘ v o l. 3 , p is q e i B a b a Q a m m a , § 1 6 1 , a n d c f.
A . G r o s s m a n , P io u s a n d R e b e llio u s J e w is h
W o m e n (H e b re w ) (J e ru s a le m :
S h a z a r C e n te r f o r J e w is h H is to r y , 2 0 0 1 ) , 3 9 0 - 9 5 . S e e a ls o O r Z a r u a ‘, p isq e i
Baba Q am m a, §197.
Ephraim Kanarfogel
270
s a m e tim e , R . S im h a h a s k e d R a b ia h f o r g u id a n c e in r e s o lv in g a c a s e
o f d is p u te d a g e n c y {XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
s h e lih u t) th a t w a s b e f o r e h im .^ ^ R . S im h a h a ls o
s e n t a q u e s tio n to R . I s a ia h d i T r a n i c o n c e r n in g a r u lin g m a d e b y
o th e r ju d g e s in S p ir e s th a t R . S im h a h c o n s id e r e d e r r o n e o u s ; R . I s a
ia h c o n c u r r e d w ith S im h a h ’s c la im s .
R iv a q o f M a in z s o u g h t a p p r o v a l f o r h is r u lin g in a m a tte r o f
te r e fo t f r o m a g r o u p o f r a b b in ic s c h o la r s in S p ir e s . T h e s e in c lu d e d
R . S h e m a r y a h b . M o r d e k h a i, R iv a q o f S p ir e s , h is b r o th e r M e ir , a n d
R ib a h a - L e v i ( th e g r a n d s o n o f th e R ib a m e n tio n e d e a r lie r , d . 1 1 9 5 ) ,
a lth o u g h th is r u lin g w a s p r o b a b ly s e n t to th e m a s a lo o s e ly k n it
g r o u p o f s c h o la rs , r a th e r th a n a s a n e s ta b lis h e d c o u r t.^ ^ T h is g r o u p
( m in u s R . S h e m a r y a h ) d id , h o w e v e r , f u n c tio n a s a c o u r t o n a n o th e r
o c c a s io n .I n
a d d itio n , R iv a q
o f S p ir e s d e s c rib e s h o w
he w as
s e le c te d , to g e th e r w ith R ib a h a - L e v i, to h e a r th e c a s e o f a w id o w
a n d a b u s in e s s a s s o c ia te w h o h a d c o n te s te d th e d is p o s itio n o f th e
a s s e ts o f a d e c e a s e d h u s b a n d .^ ^ I n a la te r g a th e r in g o f th e m a in
S p ir e s c o u r t, E ly a q im b . A s h e r h a - L e v i r e p la c e d R iv a q .
1 6 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, v o l. 3 , p isq e i B a b a Q a m m a , § 3 0 0 . (R . I s a a c O r Z a ru a *
a d d s h is o w n v ie w in § 3 0 1 .) R . S im h a h s e n t a q u e s tio n to R . B a r u k h b . S a m u e l
o f M a in z c o n c e r n in g a p la in tif f’s a b ility to c o m p e l th e o th e r litig a n t to ta k e a n
o a th ; s e e M o r d e k h a i S h e b u 'o t, § 7 7 2 . R . S im h a h r u le d in a c a s e o f th e f t a n d
th e n s e n t h is r u lin g to R is b a . S e e U r b a c h , 2 6 3 n . 1 1
a n d c f. M o r d e k h a i B a b a
Q a m m a , § 1 5 6 , a n d S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a Q a m m a , § 4 4 9 . A lth o u g h R .
S im h a h r e g u la r ly s e rv e d a s a c o u r t ju d g e , R i§ b a , d e s p ite h is e x p e r tis e , a p p a r
e n tly d id n o t. S e e n o te s 9 8 , 9 9 b e lo w .
1 7 . S e e R e s p o n s a o f R . Is a ia h d i T ra n i ( H e b re w ) , e d . A . Y . W e r th e im e r (J e ru sa le m :
Y a d h a - R a v H e r z o g , 1 9 7 5 ) , n o . 9 0 . T h e ju d g e s in th a t in s ta n c e w r o te to R .
J a c o b b . S o lo m o n o f C o u rs o n . O n R . J a c o b , s e e n . 1 0 0 b e lo w .
1 8 . S e e S e fe r R o q e a h , § 3 8 1 ; U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 3 6 6 - 6 7 ; a n d c f. S . E m a n u e l,
“ T h e H a la k h ic C o m p o s itio n s o f E le a z a r o f W o r m s ” ( H e b r e w ) , T e 'u d a h 1 6 - 1 7
(2 0 0 1 ): 2 1 7 -1 8 n . 5 9 .
1 9 . S e e M o r d e k h a i Y e b a m o t, § 5 8 , a n d c f . S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', v o l. 3 , p is q e i B a b a
B a tr a , § 9 7 .
2 0 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fists , 1 : 3 6 7 , c itin g R iv a q ’s S e fe r Y U p u se i T a n n a ’im v a -
A m o r a 'im .
2 1 . S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , v o l. 2 , § 1 0 0 7 , a n d A . A p to w itz e r , I n tr o d u c tio n to
R a b ia h , 2 1 6 .
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist Period
271
R e g e n s b u rg
T h e c o u r t in R e g e n s b u rg d u r in g th e m id tw e lf th c e n tu r y c o n s is te d o f
R . I s a a c b . M o r d e k h a i ( R ib a m ) , R . E p h r a im b . I s a a c , a n d R . M o s e s
b . J o e l.^ ^ R ib a m a n d R . E p h r a im w e re a m o n g th e G e rm a n s tu d e n ts
o f R a b b e n u T a m ( a n d R . M o s e s w a s p r o b a b ly o n e a s w e ll) , w h ile
R ib a m a n d R . M o s e s b o th s tu d ie d w ith R . I s a a c b . A s h e r h a - L e v i o f
S p ir e s /'^ T h e s u b s e q u e n t c o u r t g r o u p in g in R e g e n s b u r g in c lu d e d R .
I s a a c b . J a c o b (R i) h a - L a v a n
( a n o th e r s tu d e n t o f R a b b e n u T a m
w h o s e b r o th e r , R . P e ta h y a h , a ls o liv e d in R e g e n s b u r g ) , R . B a r u k h b .
I s a a c ( y e t a n o th e r s tu d e n t o f R a b b e n u T a m , n o t to b e c o n f u s e d w ith
th e F r e n c h m a n o f th e s a m e n a m e w h o a u th o r e d XWVUTSRQPONMLK
S e fe r h a ~ T e r u m a h
a n d h a s b e e n e r r o n e o u s ly r e f e rr e d to o v e r th e y e a r s a s B a r u k h b .
2 2 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fists , 1 : 1 9 5 - 2 0 8 ; M . F r a n k , A s h k e n a z ic C o m m u n itie s ^
1 5 0 . R a b b e n u T a m w r o te to th is c o u r t; s e e S e fe r h a -Y a s h a r (R e s p o n s a ), e d . S .
F . R o s e n th a l (B e rlin : Z . H . I tz k o w s k i, 1 8 9 8 ), n o . 3 .T A t s o m e la te r p o in t,
R iv a m d e c id e d a c a s e in P r a g u e (B o h e m ia ) o n th e b a s is o f a f o r m u la tio n o f R .
E p h r a im in h is h a la c h ic w o r k e n title d 'A r h a 'a h P a n im . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ',
B a b a Q a m m a , § 4 1 3 ; a n d R a m i R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u T a m ’s N o r th e r n F re n c h
T e a c h e r s a n d G e r m a n S tu d e n ts” ( H e b re w ) , (M .A . th e s is , H e b r e w U n iv e rs ity ,
1 9 9 7 ) , 8 1 - 8 2 . (R . I s a a c O r Z a ru a * h im se lf d is a g r e e d w ith R ib a m in th is m a tte r ;
c f. H a y m S o lo v e itc h ik , P a w n b r o k in g [ H e b re w ] [J e ru sa le m : M a g n e s , 1 9 8 5 ] , 7 6
n . 5 4 .) O n th e n o w lo s t w o r k 'A r b a 'a h P a n im ( d e v o te d p r im a r ily if n o t e x c lu
s iv e ly to m o n e ta r y iss u e s), s e e S . E m a n u e l, “ L o s t H a la c h ic W o rk s o f th e
T o s a f is ts ” ( H e b r e w ) , (P h .D . d iss ., H e b r e w U n iv e rsity , 1 9 9 3 ), 7 1 - 7 3 . S e e a ls o
A . Y . G o ld m in tz , “ R . E p h r a im o f R e g e n s b u rg ’s N o v e lla e to T r a c ta te B a b a
M e s P a ” ( H e b re w ) , M o r ia h 2 4 , n o s . 1 - 2 ( 2 0 0 1 ) : 3 - 6 , a n d s e e O h e l Y e sh a y a h u
le -B a v a Q a m m a (in M e m o r y o f H . Y . N e u m a n ) , e d . H . M a n n (J e ru sa le m :
M o r ia h , 2 0 0 1 ) , 4 - 4 0 .
2 3 . C f. R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u T a m ,” 7 2 , 7 6 , 9 2 - 9 4 . R . J o e l h a -L e v i, f a th e r o f R a b ia h ,
b a s e d h is to s a fo t to B a b a B a tra o n th e te a c h in g s a n d to s a fo t o f th e s e th re e
s c h o la r s . S e e E m a n u e l, “ L o s t H a la c h ic W o r k s ,” 9 7 - 1 0 2 . F o r a d d itio n a l re fe r
e n c e s to th e to s a fo t o f R . M o s e s b . J o e l, s e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , 1 4 0 § § 9 2 6 , 9 5 3 ,
9 5 9 (b e g in n in g ). T h e m e m b e r s o f th is b e it d in s e e m to h a v e p r o d u c e d m o s t o f
th e ir w r itte n w o r k in th e a r e a o f N e z iq in , w h ic h m a y a ls o re fle c t th e ir in te n s iv e
in v o lv e m e n t in ju d ic ia l a c tiv itie s . S e e a ls o R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u T a m ,” 8 2 - 8 3 n .
2 9 2 , a n d n . 1 3 8 b e lo w . A s r e c o r d e d in S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', v o l. 4 , p is q e i S a n h e
d r in , § 7 7 (c f. n . 4 0 b e lo w ), R . E lie z e r b . S a m s o n ( o f C o lo g n e ) , c itin g a c a s e th a t
c a m e b e f o r e R ib a h a -L e v i a s w e ll a s u n n a m e d r a b b in ic d e c iso rs in M a in z , v a li
d a te d a s h ta r d o c u m e n t in w h ic h th e H e b r e w d a te d id n o t m a tc h th e d a y o f th e
w e e k . R a b b e n u T a m d is a g r e e d w ith R . E lie z e r a n d a r g u e d th a t s u c h a d o c u
m e n t m u s t b e d is q u a lif ie d . R . I s a a c b . M o s e s O r Z a ru a * n o te s th a t R ib a m a n d
R . M o s e s b . J o e l a ls o d is q u a lif ie d th is s h ta r d o c u m e n t.
Ephraim Kanarfogel
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I s a a c o f W o r m s ) ,a n d R . A b r a h a m , th e s o n o f M o s e s b . J o e l.^ '^
R . I s a a c b . M o s e s O r Z a r u a ‘ c ite s a r e s p o n s u m f r o m R a b b e n u
T a m o n a n is s u e o f p r o p e rty b o u n d a rie s a n d c o n c lu d e s “ th e r e w a s
a lr e a d y a ( c o u r t) c a s e a n d R . I s a a c h a - L a v a n is s u e d h is r u lin g in
a c c o r d a n c e w ith th e v ie w o f R a b b e n u T a m .” ^ ^ I n a n o th e r in s ta n c e
in w h ic h R . I s a a c h a - L a v a n s e r v e d a s a c o u r t ju s tic e {XWVUTSRQ
d a y y a n )^ h is
d e c is io n to a llo w a p a r tic u la r k e tu b a h to b e c o lle c te d h a d a p p a r e n tly
b e e n q u e s tio n e d b y R a b b e n u T a m .^ ^
R . B a ru k h b . I s a a c w o u ld n o t a llo w a d o c u m e n t o f a d m is s io n
[ s h ta r h o d a ’a h ) to b e d r a f te d if o n e h a d a d m itte d o n e ’s d e b t o f o b li
g a tio n b e f o r e o n ly tw o in d iv id u a ls , h a v in g a c c e p te d th e m a s a n
in f o r m a l b e it d i n } ^ R . E p h r a im b . I s a a c s till s a t o n th e R e g e n s b u r g
c o u r t to g e th e r w ith R . B a r u k h , s e r v in g a s a tr a n s itio n f ig u re b e tw e e n
th e tw o g r o u p s . R . J u d a h h e - H a s id m a y h a v e ta k e n th e p la c e o f R i
h a - L a v a n o n th e b e it d in . S e fe r H a s id im r e c o r d s a r e q u e s t to e s ta b
lis h a p r o p e r p o lic y w ith r e g a r d to th e p u r c h a s e o f s y n a g o g u e h o n o r s
th a t w a s s e n t to “ g e d o le i R e g e n s b u r g ” w h o a r e lis te d a s R . B a r u k h
( b . I s a a c ) , R . A b r a h a m ( b . M o s e s ), a n d th e H a s id R . J u d a h . D u r
in g th e y e a r s 1 2 2 5 - 1 2 6 0 , th e to s a f is t A a r o n o f R e g e n s b u r g d ir e c te d
th e r a b b in ic c o u r t to g e th e r w ith a R . E z e k ie l. R . M e ir o f R o th e n b u r g
r e c o g n iz e d th e im p o r ta n c e o f th is c o u r t, r e f e rr in g to it a s a b e it d in
2 4 . S e e S . E m a n u e l, “ F o r a M a n ’s L o c a le E x p la in s H is N a m e : O n th e L ife o f R .
B a r u k h b e n I s a a c ” ( H e b r e w ) , T a r b ii 6 9 ( 2 0 0 0 ) : 4 2 3 - 4 0 . N o te a ls o th a t R ib a m
a n d I s a a c b . B a r u k h , w h o a ls o a p p a re n tly s a t o n th e R e g e n s b u rg c o u r t, w e re
s ig n e d o n o n e o f th e s o - c a lle d ta k k a n o t R a b b e n u T a m ; s e e R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u
T a m ,” 8 2 , a n d n . 1 4 6 b e lo w .
2 5 . A b r a h a m w a s a r a b b in ic le a d e r a n d p o s sib ly r o s h q a h a l in th e n e x t g e n e r a tio n ;
s e e , e .g ., S e fe r H a s id im ( P a r m a ) , e d . J . W is tin e ts k i ( F r a n k fu r t: M e k itz e N ird a n im , 1 9 2 4 ) , 3 9 0 § 1 5 9 2 , a n d M . F r a n k , A s h k e n a z ic C o m m u n itie s , 1 5 1 - 5 2 .
2 6 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a \ v o l. 3 , p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 3 5 9 .
2 7 . S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , 1 6 2 § 9 5 7 . S e e a ls o R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u T a m ,” 9 6 - 9 7 , a n d
n . 4 6 b e lo w .
2 8 . S e tS e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘,v o \ .4 .
2 9 . S e e S e fe r R a b a n , e d . S . Z . E h r e n r e ic h (re p r. J e r u s a le m , 1 9 7 5 ) , fo ls . 3 0 8 a - c .
3 0 . S e e S e fe r H a s id im , e d . W is tin e ts k i, a n d R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u T a m ,” 6 9 , 9 5 . N o te
th a t R . J u d a h th e P io u s a r r iv e d in R e g e n s b u r g n o e a r lie r th a n 1 1 9 5 . T h is g r o u p
o f r a b b in ic s c h o la r s is a ls o c ite d a s r u lin g o n th e q u e s tio n o f w h e n to b a k e th e
m a s c o t m i^ v a h w h e n P a s s o v e r e v e fa lls o n th e S a b b a th (m s . B o d l. 1 1 5 0 , fo l.
1 8 r ; m s . V a t. 4 5 , fo l. 8 8 r o m its th e n a m e o f R . A b r a h a m ) . S e e a ls o 1 . T a -S h m a ,
“ T h e H is to r y o f T h e J e w s in P o la n d in th e T w e lf th a n d T h ir te e n th C e n tu r ie s ”
( H e b r e w ) , Z /o « 5 3 ( 1 9 8 8 ) : 3 6 8 - 6 9 .
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist PeriodZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
2 7 3 XWVUTSRQ
h a - g a d o l? ^
B e it D in In te ra c tio n s
A n u m b e r o f th e c o u r ts th a t w e h a v e id e n tif ie d to th is p o in t a ls o
in te r a c te d w ith e a c h o th e r . T h e ju d g e s o f S p ir e s in th e la te tw e lf th
c e n tu r y , R . S im h a h b . S a m u e l a n d R . N a th a n b . S im e o n , h e ld th a t
o n e s h o u ld n o t p r e s u m e th a t a w a r h a d o c c u r r e d w ith r e s p e c t to
f r e e in g a n ‘a g u n a h u n le s s th e h u s b a n d h a d b e e n s e e n b y h is w if e o r
b y a n o th e r w itn e s s in th e m id s t o r c o n te x t o f w a r { b e - q is h r e i m ilh a m a h ) } ^ R a b ia h a ls o e s p o u s e d th is v ie w ,^ ^ a s d id M e n a h e m b .
J a c o b , E le a z a r b . J u d a h , a n d Q a lo n y m u s b . G e r s h o m , th e ju d g e s o f
W o r m s a t th a t tim e .'^ " ^
A s e c o n d a r y o r te m p o ra r y r a b b in ic c o u r t { b e it d in
‘a r a ’i) in
C o lo g n e (c a . 1 1 9 0 ) is s u e d a r u lin g a b o u t th e a llo c a tio n o f a w id o w ’s
a s s e ts .^ ^ T h e r u lin g w a s s e n t to th e M a in z c o u r t o f R . M o s e s b .
3 1 . S e e M . F r a n k , A s h k e n a z ic C o m m u n itie s , 1 5 1 , a n d M . B re u e r, “ T o w a r d th e
I n v e s tig a tio n
o f th e T y p o lo g y o f W e s te rn
Y g s h iv o t in th e M id d le A g e s ”
( H e b r e w ) , in S tu d ie s in th e H is to r y o f J e w is h S o c ie ty , e d . I. E tk e s a n d Y .
S a lm o n (J e ru s a le m : M a g n e s , 1 9 8 0 ), 4 6 - 4 7 . I n a r e s p o n s u m a d d r e s s e d to R .
A a r o n a n d R . E z e k ie l, R . I s a a c O r Z a ru a * (a te a c h e r o f R . M e ir o f R o th e n b u r g )
s ig n s o f f w ith th e p h r a s e v e -‘a le ik h e m M o r e in u h a - R a v A h a r o n v e -‘a l y e s h iv a to
v e -‘a l h a - R a v Y e h e z k e l h a - h a y y im v e -h a - s h a lo m . W ith in m e d ie v a l r a b b in ic lit
e r a tu r e , th is k in d o f p h r a s in g o f te n c o n n o te s a le a d in g s c h o la r a n d h is c o u r t,
r a th e r th a n h is a c a d e m y o r b e it m id r a s h . S e e , e .g . F r a n k , A s h k e n a zic C o m m u
n itie s , 1 2 6 - 2 7 ; m y “ R a b b in ic A u th o r ity a n d th e R ig h t to O p e n a n A c a d e m y in
M e d ie v a l A s h k e n a z ,” M ic h a e l 1 2 ( 1 9 9 1 ) : 2 3 7 - 3 8 ; a n d m y J e w is h E d u c a tio n ,
1 5 8 - 5 9 n . 3 5 . C f. te x t a t n . 5 a b o v e .
3 2 . S e e S e fe r R a b ia h , 4 : 1 2 5 - 3 2 § 9 0 0 , a n d P isq e i O r Z a r u a ', e d . M . Y . B la u
(B ro o k ly n : D e u ts c h , 1 9 9 7 ) , 1 : 1 3 7 - 3 8 .
3 3 . S e e S e fe r R a b ia h , 4 : 1 0 2 - 3 .
3 4 . S e e S e fe r R a b ia h , 4 : 1 1 7 - 2 5 , a n d P isq e i O r Z a r u a ‘, 1 3 8 . R a b ia h s e n t h is r u lin g
to R . E le a z a r o f W o r m s, w h ic h th e W o rm s C o u rt a c c e p te d . F o r o th e r in te r a c
tio n s s e e n o te s 6 , 7 , 1 0 , 1 1 a b o v e . S e e S . E m a n u e l, “ H a la c h ic C o m p o s itio n s ,”
2 3 6 - 3 7 , f o r s e v e n ju d ic ia l s c h o la r s in v o lv e d in a c o m p le x c a s e o f te r e fo t
b e s id e s R . E le a z a r o f W o rm s : R . S h e m a r y a h o f S p ire s , R iv a q a n d R . M e ir o f
S p ire s , R iv a q o f M a in z ( E le a z a r’s f a th e r ) , R i h a - L a v a n , a n d R . J o e l h a -L e v i a n d
R . S h e ’a lti’e l o f C o lo g n e . S e e n o w M o s h e A m a r, “ T h e C o n tr o v e r y in C o lo g n e
C o n c e r n in g th e S la u g h te r in g o f a D a m a g e d C o w ” ( H e b r e w ) , M o r ia h 2 4 , n o s .
5 - 6 ( 2 0 0 2 ) : 1 5 - 2 4 . T h is e p is o d e is a n in s ta n c e o f r a b b in ic c o n s u lta tio n , h o w
e v e r, r a th e r th a n a s e rie s o f a c tio n s ta k e n b y o r g a n iz e d c o u r ts .
3 5 . S e e n . 4 2 b e lo w .
Ephraim Kanarfogel
274
S o lo m o n h a - C o h e n , w h ic h r e s p o n d e d p o s itiv e ly to th e r u lin g XWVUTS
{ y a fe h
d a n te m v e - h iy y a v te m ) . R . E le a z a r b . J u d a h , w r itin g f o r W o r m s ,
r a is e d a n
o b je c tio n , a s d id
Isa ac b . Ja c o b
R e g e n s b u r g . U n n a m e d a u th o r itie s f r o m
h a - L a v a n ’s c o u r t in
S p ir e s ( h a k h m e i S h p ir a )
r e s p o n d e d , a n d th e r e a c tio n o f R . J o e l h a - L e v i a n d th e R e g e n s b u r g
c o u r t a r e a ls o in c lu d e d .
A lth o u g h o f te n d o m in a n t in th e ir r e s p o n s e s to th e r u lin g s o f
o th e r c o u r ts , th e M a in z c o u r t o c c a s io n a lly a s k e d q u e s tio n s o f th e ir
ju d ic ia l c o lle a g u e s in d if f e r e n t lo c a le s . R . E le a z a r o f W o r m s a n d
D a v id b . Q a lo n y m u s o f M u e n z b e rg r e s p o n d e d to q u e s tio n s f r o m R .
B a r u k h b . S a m u e l o f th e M a in z c o u r t . R a b i a h a n d o th e r m e m b e r s
o f th e C o lo g n e c o u r t r e s p o n d e d to a q u e r y f r o m R . M o s e s b . M o r d e k h a i w ith r e g a r d to a c a s e th a t w a s b e f o r e th e M a in z c o u r t . I n
a n o th e r in s ta n c e , R . B a r u k h h a d le n t o u t a s u m o f m o n e y a n d la te r
w is h e d to c o n f ir m th e s ig n a tu re o f th e b o r r o w e r b a s e d o n th e a tte s
ta tio n o f h is a n d th e b o r r o w e r’s r e la tiv e s . A n o b je c tio n to th e u s e o f
a r e la tiv e f o r th is p u r p o s e w a s r a is e d . T h e q u e s tio n w a s s e n t to R .
D a v id b . Q a lo n y m u s a n d to R . M e s h u lla m , h is s o n . T h e y r u le d th a t
s u c h c o n f ir m a tio n w a s a c c e p ta b le , a lth o u g h R . B a r u k h h im s e lf d is
a g r e e d w ith th e ir r e a s o n in g . ’^
C o lo g n e
In C o lo g n e , R a b a n ’s s o n - in - la w S a m u e l b . N a tr o n a i ( R a s h b a t) s a t o n
a c o u r t to g e th e r w ith R . E lie z e r b . S a m s o n .'^ ^ R a b a n ’s g r a n d s o n ,
36.
S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , 2 : 3 0 8 - 2 2 § § 1 0 3 1 - 3 2 .
3 7 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 4 0 7 ; m s . J T S 6 7 3 , fo ls . 3 6 5 - 3 6 6 v ; R e s p o n s a a n d
D e c isio n s , e d . K u p fe r, § 1 0 3 ; E m a n u e l, “ R . B a r u k h o f M a in z ,” 1 4 2 , n . 8 0 .
3 8 . S e e n . 4 9 b e lo w .
3 9 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', v o l. 3 , p is q e i B a b a Q a m m a , § 4 4 0 .
4 0 . R a b a n r e s p o n d s to R a s h b a t a n d R . E lie z e r b . S a m so n a b o u t a c a s e th a t h a d
c o m e b e f o r e th e ir c o u r t. S e e S e fe r R a b a n , e d . E h r e n r e ic h , r e s p o n s u m n o . 4 8
{ fo l. 3 6 ) , a n d U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 1 7 9 . S e e a ls o S e fe r O r Z a rH a ‘, v o l. 4 ,
p is q e i S a n h e d r in , § 7 7 (n . 2 3 a b o v e ) ; O r Z a r u a ', v o l. 2 , § 4 5 ; S e fe r R a b a n ,
r e s p o n s u m n o . 9 8 ; a n d m s . J T S R a b . 6 7 3 , fo l. 3 5 4 v . R . E lie z e r b . S a m s o n m a in
ta in e d th a t th e b ib lic a l r e q u ir e m e n t f o r litig a n ts to s ta n d d u r in g th e p r e s e n ta
tio n o f th e ir c a s e s a n d te s tim o n y b e f o r e th e ju d g e s o f th e c o u r t is o n ly
a p p lic a b le w h e n th e ju d g e s a r e c o n s id e r e d to b e tr u ly e x p e r t { m u m h im ) . S in c e
in R . E lie z e r’s v ie w , h o w e v e r, th e r e a r e n o s u c h e x p e rts a t th e p r e s e n t rim e (v e -
h a -id n a le k k a m u m h im ) , n e ith e r th e litig a n ts n o r th e w itn e s s e s a r e r e q u ir e d to
s ta n d , e v e n w h e n a d e c is io n is b e in g r e n d e r e d . S e e M o r d e k h a i S h e b u 'o t, § 7 6 1 .
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R a b ia h , to o k th e p la c e o f h is f a th e r R . J o e l b . I s a a c h a - L e v i in
C o lo g n e , o s te n s ib ly a s a ju d g e a s w e ll." ^ ^ I n d e e d , th e c a s e o f th e
w id o w a t th e te m p o ra r y c o u r t XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCB
{ h e it d in 'a r a 'i) in C o lo g n e , r e f e r r e d
to a b o v e , is a n e x c e p tio n th a t p r o v e s th e r u le . R . J o e l w a s th e g u a r d
ia n { a p o tr o p u s ) f o r th e w id o w , a n d h e w a s th e o n e w h o to o k h e r
s o n - in - la w to th e te m p o r a r y c o u r t in C o lo g n e . A s A p to w itz e r n o te s ,
R . J o e l, w h o w a s n o r m a lly a m e m b e r o f th e r e g u la r o r p e r m a n e n t
c o u r t, c o u ld n o t s e r v e a s ju d g e in th is c a s e , s in c e h e w a s th e w id o w ’s
g u a r d ia n . T h r e e r e la tiv e ly u n k n o w n r a b b in ic s c h o la r s w e r e c h o s e n
to s e rv e : J a c o b b . M o r d e k h a i, G e r s h o m b . I s a a c , a n d M o s e s b . S a m
u e l. T h e o th e r litig a n t to o k
th e c a s e to
a
n o n - J e w is h
tr ib u n a l
{ ‘a r k a ’o t) . A s w e h a v e s e e n , e s ta b lis h e d c o u r ts in o th e r lo c a le s w e re
a ls o in v o lv e d ." * ^
R . E lie z e r b . J o e l h a - L e v i ( R a b ia h ) w a s o r ig in a lly a m e m b e r o f
th e r a b b in ic c o u r t in B o n n w h e n it w a s h e a d e d b y R . E p h r a im b .
J a c o b ( f o llo w in g th e d e p a r tu r e o f R . J o e l h a - L e v i o f B o n n f o r
C o lo g n e ).* ^ ^ R . S im h a h o f S p ir e s a p p e a le d ,, in w r itte n f o r m , to th is
c o u r t . A f te r R a b ia h h a d e s ta b lis h e d h is o w n c o u r t in C o lo g n e , h e
w r ite s in a r e s p o n s u m th a t o n ly th e c o u r t o f h is te a c h e r , R . E p h r a im
o f B o n n , w a s g r e a t e n o u g h to e x tr a c t p a y m e n ts b e y o n d th a t w h ic h is
im p lic it w ith in ta lm u d ic la w , b u t h is o w n ( c u r r e n t) c o u r t is n o t s u ffi-
R . E lie z e r ’s n a m e a p p e a r s im m e d ia te ly a f te r R a b a n o n th e ta q q a n a n t. R a b b e n u
T a m p r o s c r ib e d ta k in g c a s e s to n o n - J e w ish c o u r ts ; s e e F r a n k , A s h k e n a z ic C o m -
m u n itie s , 1 4 8 n . 1 . R a b a n a ls o r e s p o n d s to R a s h b a t o n a q u e s tio n o f ju d ic ia l
p r o c e d u r e ; s e e S e fe r R a b a n , r e s p o n s u m n o . 7 6 (fo l. 5 8 ).
4 1 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o sa fists , 1 : 3 8 0 ; A p to w itz e r, I n tr o d u c tio n to R a b ia h ; a n d m y
J e w is h E d u c a tio n , 5 6 - 5 7 .
4 2 . S e e n . 3 6 a b o v e , a n d A p to w itz e r, I n tr o d u c tio n to R a b ia h , 1 7 2 - 7 4 . N o te th a t R .
J o e l’s f a th e r - in - la w , R . E lie z e r b . N a th a n ( R a b a n ), s a t o n a c o u r t in M a in z w ith
h is fa th e r-in -la w , R . E ly a q im b . J o s e p h . T h e s e r a b b is a ls o s e n t ru lin g s to
F r a n c e , e v id e n c e o f th e e x c h a n g e s b e tw e e n s c h o la r s in G e r m a n y a n d n o r th e r n
F r a n c e th a t d id o c c u r d u r in g th e e a r lie r p e r io d . S e e , e .g ., S e fe r M o r d e k h a i le -
M a s s e k h e t Q id d u s h in , e d . Y . R o th (J e ru s a le m : J T S , 1 9 9 0 ) , 2 1 5 ; A . S h a p ir o ,
“ J e w is h L ife in G e r m a n y in th e T w e lfth C e n tu r y : A S tu d y o f th e E v e n h a - ‘e z e r
o f R . E lie z e r b . N a th a n (c . 1 0 9 0 - 1 1 6 0 ) a s a S o u rc e f o r th e H is to r y o f th e
P e r io d ” (P h .D . d is s., D r o p s ie U n iv e rsity , 1 9 6 8 ) , 2 3 , 1 8 8 - 9 9 ; a n d n . 7 2 b e lo w .
4 3 . S e e M o r d e k h a i K e tu b o t, § 1 5 2 ; S h e 'e lo t u - T e s h u v o t M a h a r s h a l, n o . 6 5 ; A p to w
itz e r, I n tr o d u c tio n to R a b ia h , 8 , 1 9 8 , 3 1 9 .
4 4 . S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , § 9 2 1 .
276
E p h r a im K a n a r f o g e l
c ie n tly im p o r ta n t to d o s o .'^ '^ R . J o e l h a - L e v i w a s th e g u a r d ia n f o r
a n o th e r w id o w a n d a p p e a r e d b e f o r e th e c o u r t o f h is s o n , R a b ia h .'^ ^
R . E iie a z e r o f T o u l w a s h ir e d to w o r k f o r R . H e z e k ia h in B o p p a r d .
R . H e z e k ia h w ith h e ld E lie z e r ’s w a g e s f o r a le n g th y p e r io d o f tim e . R .
E lie z e r a r g u e d th a t h e s h o u ld r e c e iv e a d d itio n a l m o n ie s s in c e h e
c o u ld h a v e in v e s te d h is s a la r y h a d h e b e e n p a id in a tim e ly f a s h io n .
T h e c o m p la in t c a m e f o r a d ju d ic a tio n b e f o r e R a b ia h , w h o r u le d th a t
H e z e k ia h s h o u ld b e lia b le f o r th e la r g e r a m o u n t." ^ ^
R . M e n a h e m b . D a v id a n d S h e ’a lti’e l b . M e n a h e m w e re a p p a r
e n tly m e m b e rs o f R a b ia h ’s c o u r t in C o l o g n e .R a b i a h r e s p o n d e d ,
w ith th e a g r e e m e n t o f R . S h e ’a lti’e l, to a q u e r y f r o m R . M o s e s b .
M o r d e k h a i o f th e M a in z c o u r t o n a n is s u e o f p r o p e r ty b o u n d a rie s .* ^ ^
I t s h o u ld a ls o b e n o te d th a t R a b ia h p r e s c r ib e d a n d d is p e n s e d la s h e s XWV
{ m a lk o t) f o r a v o w th a t w a s b r o k e n , a n d f o r e a tin g b r e a d b a k e d b y
n o n - J e w s o n th e S a b b a th , u n m is ta k a b le in d ic a to r s o f th e s tr o n g
a u th o r ity o f h is c o u r t.'^ ^
W e a r e f o r tu n a te to h a v e e x te n s iv e r e c o rd s o f th e s h e ta r o t d r a w n
u p in C o lo g n e a n d th e p r o c e e d in g s u n d e rta k e n to r a tify th e m f o r th e
p e r io d f r o m 1 2 6 0 to 1 3 0 0 . T h e s e r e c o r d s in d ic a te th a t th e r e w a s a
4 5 . S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , $ 9 9 7 , a n d c f. m s . J T S R a b . 6 7 3 , fo ls . 3 4 8 v - 3 4 9 v .
E p h r a im o f B o n n w a s in M a in z , a n d h e w a s th e f o u r th s ig n a to r w ith R iv a q ,
M o s e s b . M o r d e k h a i, a n d R . B a ru k h ; s e e , e .g ., M o r d e k h a i B a b a B a tr a , § § 4 6 7 68, and n. 8 above.
4 6 . S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , $ 9 5 7 .
4 7 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', v o l. 3 , p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i‘a , § 1 8 1 . R . Is a a c O r Z a r u a ‘ ( a n d
o th e r s ) h a d d if f e r e n t v ie w s in th is m a tte r . C f. U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fists , 1 : 3 3 5 - 3 6
n . 9 , a n d N a h u m R a k o v e r , “ P e n a ltie s I n c u r r e d f o r W ith o ld in g F u n d s O w e d ”
( H e b r e w ) , T o r a h s h e - b e -'a l p e h 1 9 ( 1 9 8 6 ) : 1 3 6 - 3 7 . R a b ia h { T e s h u v o t, § 1 0 0 5 )
r e s p o n d s to a q u e r y a b o u t a c a s e o f in h e r ita n c e th a t w a s s e n t to h im b y th e
u n n a m e d ju d g e s o f S tr a sb o u r g .
4 8 . S e e H . G r o s s in M o n a ts s c h r ift fiir G e sc h ic h te u n d W is s e n s c h a ft d e s J u d e n tu m s
3 4 ( 1 8 8 5 ) : 3 7 0 - 7 1 , a n d T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , § 1 0 0 7 . A c c o r d in g to A p to w itz e t^
I n tr o d u c tio n to R a b ia h , 1 9 8 , 3 9 4 , R a b ia h s a t in ju d g m e n t w ith o th e r s b u t a f te r
a c e r ta in p o in t s ig n e d d e c is io n s b y h im se lf, a s th e m o s t im p o r ta n t fig u re o n th e
c o u r t. S o m e o f th e e v id e n c e c ite d h e r e , h o w e v e r, d o e s n o t s u p p o r t h is c o n te n
tio n . S e e a ls o n n . 6 , 3 4 a b o v e .
4 9 . S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , § 9 9 6 , S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a M e fi'a , § 4 9 6 [=
N e z e r M a tta ’a i, 6 5 - 6 8 ] .
5 0 . S e e M o r d e k h a i S h e b u 'o t, § 7 5 6 ; S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', v o l. 2 , h ilk h o t Y o m T o v ,
§ 3 5 8 ; a n d m y “ R a b b in ic A ttitu d e s to w a rd N o n o b s e r v a n c e in th e M e d ie v a l
P e r io d ,” in J e w is h T r a d itio n a n d th e N o n tra d itio n a l J e w , e d . J . J . S c h a c h te r
( N o r th v a le , N .J .: A r o n s o n , 1 9 9 2 ), 1 4 - 1 7 .
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r e m a r k a b ly s ta b le c o r e g r o u p o f ju d g e s , a lo n g w ith o th e r f ig u r e s
w h o w e r e a v a ila b le to s u p p le m e n t th e m a in ju d g e s in c e r ta in c a s e s
a n d to p r o v id e o th e r s e r v ic e s , s u c h a s w itn e s s in g tr a n s a c tio n s a n d
th e lik e . F o r a lm o s t a ll o f th is p e r io d , th e tw o m o s t a c tiv e ju d g e s
w e r e R . Y a q a r b . S a m u e l h a - L e v i a n d R . H a y y im b . Y e h i’e l H e fe s
Z a h a v . T h e y a r e jo in e d in th e 1 2 8 0 s b y R . J a c o b b . J o s e p h .
M a g d e b u rg
I n M a g d e b u r g d u r in g th e m id th ir te e n th c e n tu r y , R . H e z e k ia h b .
J a c o b , o n e o f th e la s t o f th e to s a f is ts , s a t o n a c o u r t to g e th e r w ith R .
I s a a c O r Z a r u a ‘.' XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
^ H e z e k ia h a n d h is c o u r t is s u e d a r u lin g th a t th e
h u s b a n d o f a r e c a lc itr a n t w o m a n w h o r e f u s e d to im m e r s e h e r s e lf in
th e m ik v e h ( a n d w h o h a d n e v e r th e le s s a llo w e d h e r h u s b a n d to h a v e
r e la tio n s w ith h e r, c la im in g th a t s h e h a d n o t s e e n a n y m e n s tr u a l
b lo o d ) c o u ld d iv o r c e h is w if e w ith o u t h a v in g to p a y h e r k e tu b a h .
T h e w if e tr ie d to in v a lid a te th is r u lin g b y a p p e a lin g to o th e r a u th o r
itie s , in c lu d in g R . A a r o n o f R e g e n s b u r g a n d R . J a c o b b . S o lo m o n o f
C o u r s o n . T h e s e a u th o r itie s w r o te to R . H e z e k ia h , w h o in tu r n
e x p la in e d a n d ju s tif ie d h is c o u r t’s r u lin g in f u r th e r d e ta il.'^ ^
5 1 . S e e M o r itz S te rn a n d R o b e r t H o n ig e r,
D a s ju d e n s c h r e in s b u c h d e r L a u r e n z -
p fa r r e z u K o ln (B e rlin : L . S im io n , 1 8 8 8 ). C f. S . C J o ld in , U n iq u e n e s s , 1 2 3 - 2 4 .
A t o n e p o in t (S te rn a n d H o n ig e r , ju d e n s c h r e in b u c h , 5 5 4 - 5 5 e n tr y n o . 1 6 6 ,
d a te d 1 2 8 4 ), re fe re n c e is m a d e to th e “ e x p e r t ju d g e s o f C o lo g n e .” O n R .
H a y y im b . Y e h i’e l H e fc § Z a h a v , s e e a ls o n n . 6 8 , 1 3 1 b e lo w .
5 2 . S e e I. T a -S h m a , “ je w s in P o la n d ,”
3 5 5 -5 6 , a n d U . F u ch s, “ T h re e N ew
R e s p o n sa b y R . Is a a c b . M o s e s O r Z a r u a ‘” ( H e b r e w ) , T a r b iz 7 0 (2 0 0 1 ): 1 1 1 ,
1 1 7 . S o u rc e s c ite d in th e s e s tu d ie s re fe r to a n a d d itio n a l R . Is a a c w h o s e rv e d a s
a ju d g e w ith R . H e z e k ia h , a n d a ls o to R . J a c o b h a - K o h e n (o f C r a c o w ) , w h o
w a s a ju d ic ia l e x p e r t o f s u c h m a g n itu d e th a t it w a s c o n s id e r e d in a p p ro p r ia te fo r
th o s e liv in g in h is a r e a to s e e k ju s tic e e lse w h e re . S e e a ls o I. A . A g u s , R e s p o n s a
o f th e T o s a fis ts ( N e w Y o rk : Y e s h iv a U n iv e rs ity , 1 9 5 4 ), 1 1 8 (= m s . P a r m a 8 6 ,
§ 3 0 1 ) , fo r a d e c is io n th a t is s ig n e d b y Is a a c b . M o s e s b . Is a a c [ O r Z a ru a * ], Is a a c
“ ta lm id ” s o n o f M o s e s, a n d H e z e k ia h b . J a c o b . R . Is a a c , O r Z a r u a ‘s g r a n d f a
th e r, Is a a c b . S h a lo m , w a s a ls o a ju d g e { S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p isq e i B a b a B a tra ,
§ 1 7 6 ), a s w a s Is a a c O r Z a r u a 's r a b b in ic s u c c e s s o r in V ie n n a , R . A v ig d o r b . E li
ja h K a tz . S e e F u c h s , 1 1 2 - 1 4 ; H . j . Z im m e ls in H a - ^ o fe h le - H o k h m a t Y isr a ’e l
1 5 (1 9 3 1 ): 1 1 9 ; H . G r o s s , G a llia J u d a ic a (P a ris : C e r f , 1 8 9 7 ) , 4 3 5 ; a n d G e r m a
n ia J u d a ic a , e d . I. E lb o g e n e t a l. (B re s la u : M a r c u s , 1 9 3 4 ), 1 2 5 - 2 8 .
5 3 . S e e R e s p o n s a a n d D e c isio n s , e d . K u p fe r, 2 7 2 - 8 1 . C f. M o r d e k h a i S h e b u 'o t,
$ $ 7 7 0 - 7 1 (fo r tw o r u lin g s , m e - p is q e i R . H iz q iy y a h , o n c o u r t a n d e v id e n tia r y
Ephraim Kanarfogel
278
W u rzb u rg
I n W u r z b u r g , R . S a m u e l b . M e n a h e m ( h a - L e v i) a n d S im h a h b . G e rs h o m w e r e m e m b e r s o f th e c o u rr.^ " ^ S a m u e l ( b . 1 2 1 2 ) w a s a te a c h e r
o f R . M e ir o f R o th e n b u r g a n d is c ite d in XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIH
T o s a fo t Y o m a .^ ^ A ls o s e r v
in g a s ju d g e s in W u r z b u r g w e re M o s e s A z r i’e l b . E le a z a r h a - D a r s h a n , E le a z a r b . Y e h i’e l, a n d E p h r a im b . J o e l ( w h o d e c id e d a c a s e o f
m a r ita l in f id e lity th a t in v o lv e d o th e r d e c is o r s in W u r z b u r g a n d
E r f u r t, a s w e ll a s R . M e ir o f R o th e n b u r g )'^ ^ a n d o th e r s a s s o c ia te d
w ith R . M e ir o f R o th e n b u r g in c lu d in g R . M e n a h e m b . N a tr o n a i, R .
M e n a h e m b . D a v id , a n d R . H ille l b . A z r i’e l.
A d d itio n a l E v id e n c e fro m th e L a te T h ir te e n th C e n tu r y
M a h a r a m o f R o th e n b u r g h im s e lf s e e m s , f o r th e m o s t p a r t, to h a v e
r e s p o n d e d o n ly to a p p e a ls f r o m c o u r ts . T h e r e is little e v id e n c e f o r
h is s ittin g in itia lly o n a c tu a l c a s e s .I n d e e d , h e s o m e tim e s r e f u s e d to
p ro c e d u re s). O n R . A a ro n o f R e g e n sb u rg , see n . 3 1 a b o v e . O n R . Ja co b b .
S o lo m o n , s e e n . 1 0 0 b e lo w .
5 4 . S e e T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . C r e m o n a , n o . 1 7 (n . 1 2 1 b e lo w ).
5 5 . S e e T o s a fo t Y o m a 4 0 b , s .v . m a h ; U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 2 : 5 2 6 ; a n d c f. A g u s,
R e s p o n s a o f th e T o s a fis ts , 2 1 6 . R . S a m u e l is a ls o c ite d in a m a n u s c r ip t v e r s io n
o f T o s a fo t B a b a B a tra (m s . M o s c o w 1 8 6 , fo l. lO lr ) . H e w a s c o n s u lte d in th e
c a s e o f a w o m a n w h o s e h u s b a n d h a d a s s ig n e d a ll o f h is a s s e ts iu s t p r io r to h is
d e a th (a s a s h e k h iv m e -ra ) to a n o th e r p e r s o n . C f. Y . L ifsh irz , “ A M a n u s c rip t o f
T o s a fo t B a b a B a tr a " ( H e b r e w ) , in M e m o r ia l V o lu m e fo r R . Is a a c N is s im , e d .
M e ir B e n a y a h u (J e ru s a le m : Y a d h a - R a v N is sim , 1 9 8 5 ) , 3 : 2 8 - 3 0 .
5 6 . T e s h u v o t M a im u n iy y o t le - H ilk h o t I s h u t, n o . 2 5 . A s U r b a c h
n o te s (T h e
T o s a fjsts , 2 : 5 2 2 ) , M a h a r a m ’s f a th e r , B a r u k h b . M e ir, w a s d e s c r ib e d a s b e in g
“ lik e a ju d g e ” ( k e - d a y y a n ) , s u g g e s tin g th a t a d a y y a n h a d c e r ta in p r e r o g a tiv e s .
S e e T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . C r e m o n a , n o . 3 1 ; e d . B lo c h , p . 1 9 8 , n o . 1 0 1 ; a n d
c f. E p h r a im U r b a c h , I n v e s tig a tio n s in J e w is h S tu d ie s ( H e b re w ) , e d . M . D . H e r r
a n d Y . F r e n k e l (J e ru s a le m : M a g n e s , 1 9 9 8 ), 2 : 7 7 5 - 7 6 .
5 7 . S e e , e .g ., T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 9 2 , 1 4 3 (= e d . C r e m o n a , n o . 2 3 );
e d . L e m b e r g , n o . 1 0 8 ; S . E m a n u e l, “ L o s t H a la c h ic W o r k s ,” 2 8 4 n . 5 2 ; I. A g u s,
R e s p o n s a o f th e T o s a ftsts , 1 4 5 - 4 6 ; a n d n . 1 2 1 b e lo w .
5 8 . F o r o n e s u c h s o u r c e , s e e T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 1 0 0 9 . C f. A g u s,
R e s p o n s a o f th e T o s a fis ts , 9 6 - 9 7 , w h o a ttr ib u te s th is p a s s a g e ( in c o rr e c tly ) to
R . E p h r a im o f R e g e n s b u r g (a s s h o w n b y S . E m a n u e l, “ T h e P r a g u e E d itio n o f
th e R e sp o n s a o f M a h a ra m o f R o th e n b u r g ” ( H e b r e w ) , T a r b if 5 7 [1 9 8 8 ]: 5 8 6 n .
1 3 2 ). S e e a ls o A g u s , 1 4 7 . A n o th e r p a s s a g e f o u n d in T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m (e d .
P r a g u e , n o . 9 1 7 , a n d w ith a d d itio n a l d e ta il in e d . C r e m o n a , n o . 1 7 ) , w h ic h
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist PeriodZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
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g e t in v o lv e d e v e n in r e s p o n s e to r e q u e s ts f r o m o th e r c o u r ts .'^ ^ R .
P e r e s o f C o r b e il, a s lig h tly y o u n g e r c o n te m p o r a r y o f R . M e ir , s e n t
m a te r ia l f r o m
a c o u r t c a s e to M a h a r a m , a lth o u g h it is u n c le a r
w h e th e r R . P e r e s w a s s e r v in g a s a ju d g e o r w h e th e r h e w a s s im p ly
g a th e r in g in f o r m a tio n .^ ^ R . M e ir ’s c o lle a g u e R . Y a q a r h a - L e v i w a s
o n e o f th e k e y XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
d a y y a n im in C o lo g n e d u r in g th e m id a n d la te th ir
te e n th c e n tu r y .^ ^ A c c o r d in g to R . M e ir, h is te a c h e r R . J u d a h b .
M o s e s h a - K o h e n o f F r ie d b e rg ( s o n o f M o s e s b . S o lo m o n h a - K o h e n ,
d a y y a n o f M a in z ) , r u le d a s th e h e a d o f a h e it d in a b o u t a p p ly in g a
b a n o f s e ttle m e n t [ h e r e m h a - y is h u v ) .^ ^ R . I s a a c O r Z a r u a ‘ w r ite s to
d is c u s s a ju d ic ia l d e c is io n ta k e n b y R . J u d a h h a - K o h e n , R . M e s h u l1 a m b . D a v id , a n d R . D a v id b . S h e ’a lti’e l c o n c e r n in g a b e tr o th e d
w o m a n w h o h a d b e e n r a p e d d u r in g th e p e r s e c u tio n s in F r a n k f u rt
d e s c r ib e s th e s e le c tio n o f a r a b b in ic c o u r t a n d th e r u lin g th a t it r e n d e re d , d o e s
n o t in c lu d e M a h a r a m a s o n e o f its m e m b e r s . S e e n . 1 1 4 b e lo w a n d c f. E .
S h o c h e tm a n , “ T h e R e q u ir e m e n t to D o c u m e n t th e R a tio n a le o f L e g a l R u lin g s”
( H e b r e w ) , S h e n a to n h a - m is h p a t h a - 'iv r i 6 - 7 ( 1 9 7 9 - 8 0 ) : 3 3 7 .
5 9 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fists , 2 : 5 3 9 - 4 0 . C f. S . G o ld in , U n iq u e n e s s, 1 3 3 - 3 5 ;
R e s p o n s a a n d D e c isio n s , e d . K u p fe r, 1 5 9 - 6 1 ; T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . C r e
m o n a , n o s . 2 9 7 , 3 1 1 ; M o r d e k h a i G ittin , § 3 8 1 ; a n d M o r d e k h a i B a h a M e ^ i'a ,
§ 2 4 7 ; M o r d e k h a i S a n h e d rin , § 7 0 7 (a n d c f. E . S h o c h e tm a n , “ T h e R e q u ir e m e n t
o f R a b b in ic C o u r ts to R e a c h a V e rd ic t in th e T h e ir D e c is io n s ” (H e b re w ),
S h e n a to n h a - m is h p a t h a - 'iv r i 1 0 - 1 1 [ 1 9 8 1 - 8 3 ] : 2 6 6 - 6 8 , a n d n . 9 5 b e lo w );
T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 9 2 . M a h a r a m u p h e ld a n id d u i p r o n o u n c e d
b y a c o u r t c o n s istin g o f R . N e h e m y a h , R . M a n o a h , a n d R . D a n ; s e e R e s p o n s a
a n d D e c isio n s , e d . K u p fe r, 1 5 9 . O n R . D a n (in a d d itio n to ib id ., n . 2 ), s e e I. T a S h m a , “ T h e C a r e e r o f R a b b i D a n in G e r m a n y a n d S p a in ” ( H e b r e w ) , S tu d ie s in
M e d ie v a l J e w is h T h o u g h t a n d J e w is h E th ic s P r e se n te d to Is a ia h T is h b y , e d . J .
D a n a n d J . H a c k e r (J e ru s a le m : M a g n e s ,
1 9 8 6 ), 3 8 5 - 9 4 , a n d m y P e e r in g
th r o u g h th e L a ttic e s: M y s tic a l, M a g ic a l, a n d P ie tis tic D im e n s io n s in th e
T o sa fist P e r io d ( D e tr o it: W a y n e S ta te U n iv e r sity P re s s, 2 0 0 0 ) , 2 3 6 , 2 4 7 - 4 8 . O n
M a h a r a m ’s in v o lv e m e n t w ith c o m p le x m a r r ia g e a n d d iv o rc e c a s e s, s e e , e .g .,
U r b a c h , 2 : 5 2 9 - 3 4 . F o r c o u r t p r o c e d u r e s o u tlin e d b y M a h a r a m , s e e , e .g .,
M o r d e k h a i S h e b u 'o t, § 7 6 1 .
6 0 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 2 : 5 7 6 - 7 7 . C f. S . E . S te r n , “ L e g a l R u lin g s o f
R a b b e n u P e r e s ” ( H e b r e w ) , N e tiv o t T o r a h 2 ( 1 9 9 3 ) : 3 7 , n o . 1 3 7 (= id e m ,
M e ’o r o t h a - R is h o n im [J e ru s a le m : H a m u l, 2 0 0 2 ] , 3 9 0 ).
6 1 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 2 : 5 7 8 . O n R . Y a q a r’s ju d ic ia l a c tiv itie s in C o lo g n e ,
s e e n . 5 1 a b o v e . R . M e ir a ls o in te r a c te d w ith th e ju d g e R . J o s e p h b . J a c o b o f
C o lo g n e ; s e e U r b a c h , 2 : 5 3 0 n . 4 7 .
6 2 . T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . L e m b e rg , n o . 2 1 3 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 2 : 5 2 6 2 7 , 1 :4 3 3 .
280
Ephraim KanarfogeiZYX
( 1 2 4 1 ) , a n d w h o s e in te n d e d h a d m a r r ie d a n o th e r w o m a n .^ ^
I n th e la tte r p a r t o f th e th ir te e n th c e n tu r y , v a r io u s ju d g e s f r o m
th e c o m m u n itie s o f S p ir e s , W o r m s a n d M a in z XWVUTSRQPONMLKJ
{ q e h illo t S h u m ) w r o te
jo in tly to c o m p e l th e d e f e n d a n t [ n itb a ) ‘A z r i’e l b . Y e h i’e l to g o to a
c o u r t in th e lo c a le o f th e c la im a n t { to v e a ') . A c c o r d in g to th e ir
r e p o r t, th e p r e s u m p tio n in A s h k e n a z w a s , s in c e e a r lie r tim e s , th a t
th e d e f e n d a n t m a y n o t r e f u s e to a p p e a r b e f o r e a c o m p e te n t c o u r t in
th e lo c a le o f th e c la im a n t b y in s is tin g th a t ju d g e s f r o m th e d e f e n
d a n t’s c ity o r to w n m u s t b e p r e s e n t. If in f o r m a tio n n e e d s to b e
o b ta in e d f r o m th e o th e r lo c a tio n , th e h e a d o f th e c o u r t h e a rin g th e
c a s e c a n d ir e c t th e g a th e r in g o f th is in f o r m a tio n . O n e w h o d o e s n o t
a d h e r e to th e s e g u id e lin e s is in c o n te m p t o f c o u r t, w h e th e r h e is a
s im p le o r a n im p o r ta n t p e r s o n . E v e n if th e d e f e n d a n t in v ite s th e
c la im a n t to th e c o u r t o f o n e o f th e la r g e r c o m m u n itie s in th e a r e a
{ m a z m in o la - q e h illo t) , th e c la im a n t c a n s till in s is t o n g o in g to a
c o m p e te n t c o u r t in h is lo c a le o r n e a r it, if th e d is p u te is m o n e ta r y in
n a tu r e . If, h o w e v e r , th e r e is a m o r e s e r io u s o f f e n s e in v o lv e d s u c h a s
in f o r m in g o r a c h a r g e o f p h y s ic a l h a r m , th e d e f e n d a n t c a n c h o o s e
w h ic h la r g e r c o m m u n a l c o u r t h e w is h e s to a p p e a r b e f o r e , a n d w h e r e
h e th in k s h e w ill b e tr e a te d fa irly . T h e S p ir e s ju d g e s s ig n e d o n th is
w r it a r e S h e m a r y a h b . I s a a c , J a c o b b . M e n a h e m , a n d B a r u k h b .
A s h e r ; f r o m W o r m s , S a m s o n b . J u d a h , M e ir b . J u d a h , J u d a h b . S im
e o n , a n d Y e k u ti’e l b . M e ir ; a n d f r o m M a in z , I s a a c b . M e ir a n d
H a y y im b . I s a a c O r Z a ru a * .^ " ^
I n te r e s tin g ly , th e r e c a lc itr a n t litig a n t in th is in s ta n c e w a s h im s e lf
a r a b b in ic s c h o la r a n d ju d g e o f s o m e n o te , R . A z ri’e l b . Y e b i’e l h e H a s id , a n d h e is a d d r e s s e d a s s u c h in th e d o c u m e n t s e n t to h im b y
th e ju d g e s o f q e h illo t S h u m .^ ^ R . A z ri’e l w a s a s tu d e n t o f R . M e ir o f
R o th e n b u r g a n d R . P e r e s o f C o r b e il, a n d h is o w n c o u r t w a s lo c a te d
in W u r z b u r g , w h e r e h e s a t a lo n g w ith a R . Y o s e f b . H a y y im . H is
s o n - in - la w , R . J a c o b b . M o r d e k h a i, w a s a ju d g e in R o th e n b u r g .^ ^ A
6 3 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a \ v o l. 1 , § 7 4 7 . S e e a ls o U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 4 3 3 .
6 4 . S e e M o r d e k h a i S a n h e d rin , § 7 0 9 ; T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . B e rlin , § § 6 7 8 - 7 9 , p .
3 1 9 ; H a m is h a h Q u n tr e s im , e d . C o r o n e l, fo l. 9 7 a (in a m a r g in a l n o te to S e fe r
£ $ H a y y im le -R . H a y y im O r Z a r u a ‘); B . Z . D in u r, Is r a e l in th e D ia sp o r a
( H e b r e w ) (T e l A v iv ; D v ir, 1 9 5 8 ) , 2 /3 : 4 5 3 ; a n d th e c o r r e c te d te x t w ith o th e r
m a n u s c rip t v a r ia n ts p u b lis h e d b y A . H a v a z e le t in Z e fu n o t 1 ( 1 9 8 9 ) : 1 3 . C f. U .
F u c h s , n . 8 1 b e lo w .
6 5 . M o r e in u v e -r a b b e n u 'a iu fe in u h a - M e s u b b a l h a - R a v A z r ie l b . H e - H a s id R .
Y e h i’e l. O n th e p h r a s e ‘a iu fe in u h a - M e s u b b a l, c f. B e r a k o t 1 7 a .
6 6 . S e e T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 1 0 2 0 , a n d H a v a z e le t, 7 . S e e a ls o R .
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g r a n d s o n o f R . I s a a c O r Z a r u a ‘, R . M e n a h e m b . A b r a h a m o f O b e r lin g e n , a llo w e d a w o m a n to h a v e th e s e c u la r a u th o r itie s c o m p e l h e r
h u s b a n d to a p p e a r w ith h e r b e f o r e R . A z r i’e l’s c o u r t, w h ic h w a s th e
c o u r t in th e ir c ity .^ ^ In th e c o u r s e o f r e s p o n d in g to a r e q u e s t f o r th e
in v o lv e m e n t o f h is c o u r t, R . H a y y im b . Y e h i’e l H e fe s Z a h a v , a n
a c tiv e ju d g e a n d XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
'a v b e lt d in in C o lo g n e , w r o te to th e c ity o f B o p p a r d a n d its h e a d ju d g e , R . A b r a h a m , s a y in g th a t h e p r e f e r r e d th a t
n o ( e x te r n a l) c a s e s c o m e b e f o r e h im . N o n e th e le s s , th e y o u n g m a n
in v o lv e d in th is p a r tic u la r c a s e w a s in th e p r o c e s s o f m o v in g a n d
w a s r e la tiv e ly c lo s e to C o lo g n e . In a d d itio n , r e s id e n ts o f B o p p a rd
u tiliz e d th e c e m e te r y in C o lo g n e , e n titlin g th e m a ls o to h a v e th e ir
le g a l c a s e s h e a r d b y th e C o lo g n e c o u r t.
In n o r th e r n F r a n c e , it is p o s s ib le to id e n tif y le a d in g r a b b in ic c o u r ts
a n d th e ir m e m b e r s b y n a m e th r o u g h th e m id d le o f th e tw e lf th c e n
tu r y a n d b e y o n d . A s w e s h a ll s e e , h o w e v e r , th is p a tte r n c h a n g e s d u r
in g th e la s t q u a r te r o f th e tw e lf th c e n tu r y .
A z ri’e l’s a p p lic a tio n o f a T a q q a n a t K a h b e n u T a m (o n r e tu r n in g th e d o w r y to
th e w if e ’s fa m ily w h e r e th e w ife p a s s e d a w a y d u r in g th e f ir s t y e a r o f m a r r ia g e )
r e c o r d e d in M o r d e k h a i Q id d u s h in , 5 5 1 . S e e a ls o Y . C o h e n , “ C o m m u n a l E n a c t
m e n ts C o n c e r n in g a H u s b a n d I n h e r itin g f r o m H is W if e ” ( H e b re w ) , S h e n a to n
h a - m is h p a t h a - ‘iv ri 6 ~ 7 (1 9 7 9 -S O ): 1 4 8 - 4 9 , a n d n . 1 4 6 b e lo w .
6 7 . S e e M . W e in b e r g e r a n d A . H a v a z e le t, “ R e sp o n s a o f A s h k e n a z ic S c h o la r s”
( H e b r e w ) , M e m o r ia l V o lu m e fo r R . Y a 'a q o v B e z a l’e l Z o lty , e d . Y . B u k s b o im
(J e ru s a le m : M o r ia h , 1 9 8 7 ), 2 4 8 - 5 0 . R . A z rie l’s c o m m e n ta r y to tr a c ta te N a z ir
w a s p u b lis h e d f r o m a C r a c o w m s . b y Z v i L e itn e r in th e M e m o r ia l V o lu m e fo r
R . S h m u ’e l B a r u k h V e r n e r , e d . Y . B u k s b o im (J e ru s a le m : M o r ia h , 1 9 9 6 ), 1 5 6 6 2 . S e e a ls o S . E m a n u e l, “ L o s t H a la c h ic W o r k s ,” 2 9 7 - 3 0 1 .
6 8 . S e e T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 2 4 9 . C f. M . F r a n k , A s h k e n a z ic C o m
m u n itie s , 2 7 ; S . G o ld in , U n iq u e n e s s , 1 2 4 ; a n d R . B a rz e n e t a l., “ T h e H ie ra r c h y
o f M e d ie v a l J e w is h S e ttle m e n ts S e e n th r o u g h J e w is h a n d N o n - J e w ish S o u rc e s ,”
J e w is h S tu d ie s 4 0 ( 2 0 0 0 ) : 6 3 * . T h is s tu d y n o te s th a t th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n
th e u s e o f th e c e m e te r y a n d th e c o u r t ju r is d ic tio n w a s a ls o d is c u s se d in r a b b in ic
s o u rc e s f r o m n o r th e r n F r a n c e d u r in g th e tw e lf th a n d th ir te e n th c e n tu r ie s . S e e
a ls o S . S c h w a r z f u c h s , A C o n c is e H is to r y o f th e R a b b in a te ( O x f o r d : O x f o r d
U n iv e rs ity P re ss , 1 9 9 3 ) , 1 6 - 1 7 . O n R . H a y y im b . Y e b i’e l’s ju d ic ia l a c tiv itie s
( s tr e tc h in g f r o m 1 2 6 6 to 1 2 9 2 ) , s e e S te rn a n d H o n ig e r , J u d e n s c h r e in s b u c h , 2 7 2 9 , 3 8 - 3 9 , 4 3 , 5 2 - 5 7 , 7 3 - 7 4 . O n h is r a b b in ic s c h o la r s h ip , s e e S . E m a n u e l,
“ T h e C o lle c tio n s o f th e R e sp o n s a o f M a h a r a m o f R o th e n b u r g ” ( H e b r e w ) , (M .
A . th e s is , H e b r e w U n iv e rs ity , 1 9 8 7 ), 2 6 , 3 3 , 3 5 . S e e a ls o n . 1 3 1 b e lo w .
Ephraim Kanarfogel
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1120-1170
T h e c o u r t o f E lija h b . J u d a h h a - K o h e n o f P a r is ( c a . 1 1 6 0 ) in c lu d e d a
le s s e r - k n o w n r a b b in ic f ig u r e , R . M o s e s b . Y e h i’e l.^ ^ E a r lie r , h o w
e v e r, th e P a r is c o u r t c o n s is te d o f R . E lija h , R a s h b a m , a n d th e
P r o v e n c a l- b o r n R . M e s h u lla m b . N a t h a n / ^ T h is w a s th e a r r a n g e
m e n t u n til 1 1 4 5 , w h e n M e s h u lla m le f t f o r M e lu n to h e a d h is o w n
c o u r t. R . Y o m T o v b . J u d a h o f F a la is e p e r h a p s s a t o n R . E lija h o f
P a r is ’s c o u r t a t th a t tim e a s w e ll.^ * P r io r to th a t { c a . 1 1 3 0 ) , R a s h
b a m p r e s e n te d h is a r g u m e n ts b e f o r e th e e ld e rs o f P a r is , R . M a tity a h u , R . J u d a h b . A b r a h a m , R . Y e h i’e l, a n d R . J u d a h b . Y o m
T o v .^ ^ R a s h b a m a ls o s a t o n th e r a b b in ic a l c o u r t in T r o y e s w ith R .
J o s e p h b . M o s e s .^ ^
I n th e m id tw e lf th c e n tu r y , R . J a c o b T a m r e s p o n d e d to a q u e s
tio n f r o m th e O r le a n s c o u r t o f h is s tu d e n t, R . J o s e p h b . I s a a c B e k h o r
S h o r. T h e c a s e c o u ld n o t b e d e a lt w ith lo c a lly in O r le a n s b e c a u s e ,
g iv e n th e r e la tiv e ly s m a ll s iz e o f th e c o m m u n ity , v ir tu a lly a ll th e
m a le s a v a ila b le to s e r v e a s ju d g e s w e r e re la te d .^ '* T h e o n e o th e r XWV
6 9 . S e e S e fe r R a b a n , e d . E h r e n r e ic h , fo ls . 2 0 8 d - 9 . M o s e s b . Y e h i’e l w a s th e g r a n d
s o n o f a n e a r lie r P a ris ju d g e , R . M a ttity a h u (n . 7 2 b e lo w ) . S e e M a i? z o r V itr y ,
2 4 7 ( § 2 8 0 ) , a n d S . A . P o z n a n s k i, I n tr o d u c tio n to N o r th e r n F r e n c h C o m m e n ta -
to r s o n th e B ib le (re p r. J e ru s a le m : M e k itz e N ir d a m im , 1 9 6 5 ) , 7 S ~ 7 6 . R a b a n
a s k e d a q u e s tio n o f th is c o u r t a n d o th e r s a b o u t th e r ig h ts a n d p r e r o g a tiv e s o f a
h o m e o w n e r c o n c e r n in g th e u s e o f w in d o w s { h a lo n o t) a n d th e ir a ir sp a c e . T h e
R e g e n s b u r g c o u r t o f R . I s a a c b . M o r d e k h a i a n d M o s e s b . J o e l w a s a ls o c o n
s u lte d , a s w a s R a b b e n u T a m . S e e a ls o M o r d e k h a i B a b a B a tr a , § 5 5 6 ; A p to w itz e r. I n tr o d u c tio n to R a b ia h , 1 8 7 ; a n d S e fe r h a -y a sh a r , n o . 9 4 - 9 5 .
7 0 . S e e S e fe r h a -y a sh a r , n o s . 2 4 , 5 1 , a n d R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u T a m ,” 2 7 - 3 2 .
7 1 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 :1 2 1 , a n d S e fe r O r Z a r u a \ v o l. 2 , h ilk h o t y o m to v ,
§355.
7 2 . S e e S e fe r R a b ia h ( H u llin ) , e d . D . D e b litz k y (B n e i B ra k : G r e e n b e r g , 1 9 7 6 ),
§ 1 1 4 3 (p . 2 0 9 ) , a n d S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, v o l. 1 , § 4 7 6 . S e e a ls o R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u
T a m ,” 4 6 , a n d S e fe r h a -y a sh a r , n o . 3 4 .
7 3 . S e e S e fe r h a -y a sh a r , e d . R o s e n th a l, n o . 7 7 . R . J o s e p h s e n t a q u e s tio n to
R a b b e n u T a m c o n c e rn in g a b ill o f d iv o r c e b e fo re th e c o u r t in T r o y e s. S e c S e fe r
h a -y a sh a r , § § 1 4 - 1 5 a n d c f. U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fists , 1 : 1 1 4 - 1 5 , 2 8 6 .
7 4 . O n th e re la tiv e ly s m a ll s iz e o f th e J e w is h c o m m u n itie s in n o r th e rn F r a n c e d u r
in g th e tw e lf th a n d th irte e n th c e n tu rie s ( c e r ta in ly a s c o m p a r e d to th e le a d in g
J e w is h c o m m u n itie s in G e r m a n y ) , s e e , e .g ., S . A lb e c k , “ T h e A ttitu d e o f
R a b b e n u T a m to w a rd th e D ile m m a s o f H is D a y ” ( H e b r e w ) , Z io n 1 9 (1 9 5 4 ):
1 0 4 - 5 ; S . W . B a r o n , “ R a s h i a n d th e C o m m u n ity o f T r o y e s ,” in R a s h i A n n iv e r
s a r y V o lu m e , e d . H . L . G in s b e rg ( N e w Y o r k : A m e ric a n A c a d e m y o f J e w is h
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist Period
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q u a lif i e d a n d a v a ila b le p e r s o n in O r le a n s , a R . S o lo m o n b . I s a a c ,
w a s n o t in te r e s te d in g e ttin g in v o lv e d in th is c a s e . T h e c h o ic e w a s
e ith e r to s e n d th e c a s e to th e s ittin g c o u r t in P a r is ( w h ic h o n e litig a n t
d id n o t w a n t) o r to s e n d it to R a b b e n u T a m in R a m e r u p t. R a b b e n u
T a m a g r e e d to h a n d le th is a p p e a l e v e n th o u g h h e d id n o t c o n s id e r
h im s e lf to b e a r e g io n a l o r h ig h e r c o u r t XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGF
{ h e it h a - v a ‘a d ) 7 ^ I t s h o u ld
b e n o te d th a t R . J o s e p h B e k h o r S h o r o f O r le a n s a n d R . S o lo m o n b .
I s a a c o f O r le a n s d id is s u e a c o u r t r u lin g to g e th e r in th e c a s e o f a
w id o w ’s c o lle c tin g a s s e ts f r o m th e in h e r ita n c e o f th e o r p h a n s .^ ^
A c c o r d in g to a to s a fo t p a s s a g e , R a b b e n u T a m s a t o n c a s e s r e g u
la r ly a s a p r im a r y ju d g e .^ ^ A n o th e r p a s s a g e r e p o r ts th a t R a b b e n u
R e s e a r c h , 1 9 4 1 ) , 5 8 - 6 2 ; B . B lu m e n k r a n tz , “ Q u a r tie r s ju ifs e n F r a n c e (x iii^ , x iv ®
s ie c le s ),” M e la n g e s d e P h ilo s o p h ie e t d e L ite r a tu r e J u iv e s 3 - 5 ( 1 9 5 8 - 6 2 ) : 7 7 8 6 ; W . C . J o r d a n , T h e F r e n c h M o n a r c h y a n d th e J e w s ( P h ila d e lp h ia : U n iv e rs ity
o f P e n n s y lv a n ia P re s s, 1 9 8 9 ), 4 - 8 , 5 8 - 6 1 , 1 8 3 - 8 4 ; A . H a v e r k a m p , M e d ie v a l
G e r m a n y ^ 1 0 5 6 - 1 2 7 3 ( O x f o r d : O x f o r d U n iv e rs ity P re s s, 1 9 8 8 ), 1 7 0 - 7 3 , 2 9 4 —
9 8 ; K . S to w , “ T h e J e w is h F a m ily in th e R h in e la n d in th e H ig h M id d le A g e s :
F o rm
and
F u n c tio n ,” A m e ric a n
H isto r ic a l R e v ie w
92
(1 9 8 7 ):
1 0 8 5 -9 5 ;
M ic h a e l T o c h , “ T h e F o r m a tio n o f th e D ia s p o r a : th e S e ttle m e n t o f J e w s in th e
M e d ie v a l G e r m a n R e ic h ,” A s c h k e n a s 7 ( 1 9 9 7 ) : 5 5 - 7 4 ; m y J e w is h E d u c a tio n ,
2 4 ; a n d G . N a h o n , “ F r o m th e R u e a u x J u if s to th e C h e m in d u R o y : T h e C la s s i
c a l A g e o f F re n c h J e w ry , 1 1 0 8 -1 2 2 3 ,” in J e w s a n d C h r is tia n s in T w e lfth - C e n
tu r y E u r o p e , e d . M . S ig n e r a n d J . V a n E n g e n ( N o tr e D a m e : N o tr e D a m e
U n iv e rs ity P re s s, 2 0 0 1 ) , 3 1 2 - 1 8 . F o r G e r m a n y th r o u g h th e p e r io d o f th e F irst
C r u s a d e , s e e A . G r o s s m a n , T h e E a r ly S a g e s o f G e r m a n y ( H e b re w ) (J e ru s a le m :
M a g n e s, 1 9 8 1 ), 6 -9 .
7 5 . S e fe r h a -y a sh a r , n o . 3 6 . C f. S . G o ld in , U n iq u e n e s s, 1 2 6 - 2 7 ; S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘,
p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 1 4 , a n d n . 8 1 b e lo w .
7 6 . S e e T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , § 9 2 5 ; a n d A p to w itz e r, I n tr o d u c tio n to R a b ia h , 2 9 5 . C f.
m s . V ie n n a 7 3 { S e fe r M o r d e k h a i), fo l. 3 6 v (in a m a r g in a l g lo s s); H a g g a h o t
M o r d e k h a i to B a b a M e ^ i'a , § § 4 5 4 - 5 5 ; N . R a k o v e r, “ P e n a ltie s I n c u r re d ,” 1 5 5 5 6 ; H . S o lo v e itc h ik , “ P a w n b r o k in g : A S tu d y in U s u r y a n d o f th e H a la k h a h in
E x ile ,” P r o c e e d in g s o f th e A m e ric a n A c a d e m y o f J e w is h R e s e a r c h 3 8 - 3 9
( 1 9 7 2 ) : 2 5 2 n . 9 3 ; a n d id e m , P a w n b r o k in g , 6 8 - 6 9 n . 3 3 .
77.
S e e T o s a fo t K e tu b o t 6 9 a , s .v . v e - 'is h tiq . C f. T o s a fo t h a - R o s h , P e r u sh h a - R o s h ,
H id d u s h e i R itv a , S h ifa h M e q u b b e ^ e t, a d lo c . (c itin g R iv a s h ). S e e a ls o S e fe r O r
Z a r u a ‘, p isq e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 2 0 2 ( a n d c f. T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . P r a g u e , n o .
7 9 6 ) . I n th is p a s s a g e (w h ic h d e a ls w ith a n o n - J e w ish s tr a w m a n in te r p o s e d
b e tw e e n a J e w is h b o r r o w e r a n d le n d e r ), R a b b e n u T a m d is p e n s e s a d v ic e to
o th e r c o u r ts a n d a u th o r itie s , w h ile n o tin g a c tu a l c a s e s th a t c a m e b e f o r e h is
c o u r t a n d o th e r s . A t th e e n d o f th e p a s s a g e , R a b b e n u T a m a p p e n d s a s h ta r
f o r m th a t c o u ld b e u s e d in th is ty p e o f s itu a tio n . R . I s a a c O r Z a ru a * a d d s th a t
Ephraim Kanarfogel
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T a m s u p e r v is e d o r tr a in e d ju d g e s /^ R a b b e n u T a m ’s s tu d e n t, R .
E lie z e r b . S a m u e l o f M e tz ( d . 1 1 9 8 ) , d e s c r ib e s a n u n u s u a l d iv o r c e
c a s e th a t to o k p la c e in T r o y e s , “ in th e XWVUTSRQPONMLK
b e lt d in o f R . J a c o b . R .
I s a a c O r Z a r u a * r e p o r ts th a t h e h a d h e a r d o f a c a s e th a t c a m e b e f o r e
R a b b e n u T a m , in w h ic h A o w e d B m o n e y a n d s u b s e q u e n tly d ie d .
T h e q u e s tio n w a s w h e th e r A ’s b u r ia l c o u ld b e d e la y e d u n til A ’s h e ir s
p a id h is d e b t. R a b b e n u T a m c o n s u lte d R . S h e m a r y a h b . M o r d e k h a i
( o f S p ir e s ) , w h o a r g u e d th a t th is c o u ld b e d o n e , a n d R a b b e n u T a m
a c c e p te d h is v ie w .^ ^ A lth o u g h R a b b e n u T a m a s s e r te d th a t h is c o u r t
w a s to b e c o n s id e r e d th e le a d in g c o u r t o f th e g e n e r a tio n f o r p u r
p o s e s o f e x e c u tin g a p r o z h o b th e r e a r e o th e r in s ta n c e s in w h ic h h e
g a v e e q u a l s ta n d in g to a ll lo c a l c o u r ts .
h e c o p ie d th e w o r d s o f R a b b e n u T a m f r o m a h a n d w r itte n c o p y m a d e b y h is
te a c h e r , R . J u d a h S irle o n o f P a ris. S e e S o lo v e itc h ik , “ P a w n b r o k in g ,” 2 5 1 - 5 5 ,
a n d c f. id e m . P a w n b r o k in g , 1 3 6 - 4 1 , a n d n o te s 8 5 , 9 9 , 1 0 9 b e lo w .
7 8 . S e e T o s a fo t B a b a Q a tn m a 1 1 8 , s . v . R a v N a h m a n . C f. T o s a fo t K e tu b o t 1 0 5 b
s .v . m a i, a n d T o s a fo t h a - R o s h (a d lo c .) , s .v . ’im d o m e h d a y y a n le - m e le k h s h e -
’e in ^ a r ik h k e lu m . O n R a b b e n u T a m a n d c o u r t p r o c e d u r e s , s e e a ls o S e fe r O r
Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 2 0 0 (p e s a q im o f R a b ia h a n d R a b b e n u T a m , a n d a
r e s p o n s u m o f R . M e s h u lla m o f M e lu n , o n p a y in g a n o b lig a tio n b e f o r e it is
d e m a n d e d in c o u r t) . S e e a ls o L . F in k e ls te in , J e w is h S e lf- G o v e r n m e n t in th e
M id d le A g e s , 2 n d e d . ( N e w Y o rk : F e ld h e im , 1 9 6 4 ) , 1 9 4 . T h is p a s s a g e is, h o w
e v e r, a p a r t o f ta k k a n o t R a b b e n u T a m a n d m a y th e r e f o r e re fe r to a s u p e r - c o m
m u n a l g a th e r in g o r c o n te x t r a th e r th a n to a lo c a l c o u r t.
7 9 . S e e S e fe r y e r e 'im
h a - s h a le m , 1 : 2 2 ( § 7 ) , a n d H a g g a h o t M a im u n iy y o t to
H ilk h o t I s h u t, 9 :3 (1 ). S e e a ls o T o s a fo t Q id d u s h in 5 2 a , s .v . v e -h ilk h e ta ; H id d u s h e i h a -R a s b a to Q id d u s h in , 5 1 b ; m s . J T S R a b . 6 7 3 , fo i. 6 3 ; a n d U r b a c h ,
T h e T o s a fis ts , 1 : 1 4 8 . A lth o u g h th e c o u r t in q u e s tio n s e e m s lik e a r e g u la r c o m
m u n a l o n e u n d e r R a b b e n u T a m ’s d ir e c tio n , it s h o u ld b e n o te d th a t th e c o u r t
w a s c o n v e n e d in T r o y e s ( r a th e r th a n R a m e r u p t) , w h ic h w a s a r e g io n a l ju d ic ia l
c e n te r ( a n d R a b b e n u T a m ’s re s id e n c e in h is la te r y e a r s) , a n d th e is s u e a t s ta k e
w a s o n e in v o lv in g d iv o r c e , a n a r e a o f J e w is h la w w h e r e a n o r g a n iz e d ju d ic ia l
p r e s e n c e w a s m o r e c o m m o n , e v e n in n o r th e r n F ra n c e . S e e , e .g ., S e fe r h a -y a sh a r
le - R a b b e n u T a m (n o v e lla e ), e d . S im o n S c h le s in g e r (J e ru s a le m : D a f l^ e n P re ss ,
1 9 7 4 ),
1 0 2 ; m s . M o n te f io r e
1 3 4 , fo ls .
149v,
1 5 0 r ; S e fe r h a -y a s h a r , e d .
R o s e n th a l, n o s . 2 4 , 3 4 , a n d h e lo w , n o te s 9 0 , 1 0 5 .
8 0 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a B a tr a , § 1 9 9 . T h e r e is n o in d ic a tio n o f w h ic h
ju d g e s o r in d e e d w h e th e r a n y o th e r ju d g e s w e r e w ith R a b b e n u T a m ; p e r h a p s
h e is su e d h is r u lin g a s a “ s in g u la r e x p e r t.” C f. n . 4 0 a b o v e .
8 1 . S e e , e .g . Y . K a p la n , “ D e c is io n -m a k in g b y th e J e w is h C o m m u n ity in T h e o ry a n d P ra c
tic e A c c o rd in g to R a b b e n u T a m ” (H e b re w ), Z io n 6 0 (1 9 9 5 ): 2 7 7 - 3 0 0 ; m y “ D e v e l
o p m e n t a n d D iffu s io n ,” 2 1 - 4 4 ; a n d U . F u c h s , “ T h re e N e w R e sp o n s a ,” 1 2 7 -3 1 .
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1 1 7 0 -1 2 2 0
R a b b e n u T a m ’s n e p h e w a n d s u c c e s s o r a s th e le a d e r o f th e n a s c e n t
to s a f is t e n te r p r is e in n o r th e r n F r a n c e , R . I s a a c b . S a m u e l o f D a m p ie r r e ( R i) , a ls o p r e fe r re d , w h e r e v e r p o s s ib le , th a t a lo c a l c o u r t h e a r
c a s e s th a t a r o s e , r a th e r th a n h a v in g th e m s e n t b y m e s s e n g e r to o th e r
v e n u e s . T h u s h e w r ite s th a t th e c o u r t o f R . H a y y im K o h e n in P a r is ,
w h ic h w a s th e c lo s e r lo c a l c o u r t, s h o u ld h a v e h e a r d a p a r tic u la r c a s e
in its ju r is d ic tio n th a t w a s s e n t in s te a d to th e c o u r t o f R . J o s e p h
B e k h o r S h o r in O r l e a n s . I t a p p e a r s f r o m th e te x ts a s s e m b le d h e r e
th a t th e r e w e r e e s ta b lis h e d c o u r ts in P a r is a n d O r le a n s d u r in g th e
m id d le o f th e tw e lf th c e n tu r y ,^ ^ w ith R a b b e n u T a m a n d th e n R i
d e a lin g w ith a n d r e s p o n d in g to a p p e a ls , p e r h a p s w ith th e s ta tu s o f a
s in g u la r e x p e r t XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
( y a h id m u m h e h ). I t s h o u ld b e n o te d , h o w e v e r , th a t
w e c a n n o t c o n f irm th e n a m e s o f a n y o th e r ju d g e s ( w ith o n e e x c e p
tio n ) w h o s a t o n th e c o u r ts o f R . H a y y im K o h e n a n d R . J o s e p h
B e k h o r S h o r ( b o th s tu d e n ts o f R a b b e n u T a m ) , o r th e n a m e s o f th e
ju d g e s w h o s a t o n th e T r o y e s c o u r t a f te r R a b b e n u T a m , o n ly th a t
th e s e w e r e r e c o g n iz e d lo c a l ( o r p e r h a p s r e g io n a l) c o u r ts in th e ir
d a y .^ '^ A n d a s w e s h a ll s e e , m u c h o f th e d o c u m e n te d a c tiv ity o f th e s e
c o u r ts w a s lim ite d to is s u e s o { g ittin .
I n d e e d , w h ile w e c a n n o t im a g in e th a t R i o r h is to s a f is t h e ir, R .
S a m s o n ( R a s h ) b . A b r a h a m o f S e n s , d id n o t s it a t s o m e p o in t o n a n
a c tu a l p r im a r y b e it d in , th e r e is s c a n t e v id e n c e th a t d o c u m e n ts th e ir
p a r tic ip a tio n .^ - ^ I n te re s tin g ly , R i c le a r ly in d ic a te s th a t R a s h b a m d id ,
8 2 . S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 2 3 2 . U r b a c h s e c s th is m o r e a s a re fle c tio n o f R i’s
re s p e c tfu l n a tu r e a n d h is d e s ire to e n s u r e th a t R . H a y y im ’s h o n o r n o t b e
in su lte d .
8 3 . R a m i R e in e r tr a c e s th e a c tiv itie s o f th e s e c o u r ts d u r in g th is p e r io d in h is d o c
to r a l d is s e r ta tio n ( a t H e b r e w U n iv e rs ity ) o n th e c a r e e r o f R a b b e n u T a m ; s e e
e s p . c h a p te r s 2 a n d 3 . C f. n . 9 0 b e lo w .
8 4 . C f. U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 1 2 0 , * 4 6 ( c itin g a p a s s a g e in M o r d e k h a i h a -
Q a ^ a r ).
8 5 . F o r R i, s e e M o r d e k h a i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § § 3 6 3 - 6 4 , a n d c f. U r b a c h , T h e T o sa fists ,
1 : 2 3 9 . R i a d v is e d o th e r s a b o u t h o w to tr a n s f e r a p a w n to a n o n - J e w ish s tr a w
m a n b u t d o e s n o t in d ic a te (a s R a b b e n u T a m d id ) th a t a n y a c tu a l c a s e s o f th is
k in d c a m e b e f o r e a b e it d in o n w h ic h h e s a t. S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, p is q e i B a b a
M e s i'a , § § 2 1 3 - 1 4 ; S o lo v e itc h ik , “ P a w n b r o k in g ,” 2 5 4 - 5 5 ; a n d n . 7 6 a b o v e . A
r e s p o n s u m b y R . S a m s o n o f S e n s ( r e c o rd e d in S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', § 2 1 4 ) s h o w s
th a t R . S a m s o n , lik e R i, r e s p o n d e d to a p p e a ls f r o m o th e r s in th is m a tte r , w ith
o u t a n y in d ic a tio n th a t R . S a m so n s a t o n a c a s e o f th is ty p e h im s e lf.
Ephratm KanatfogelZYX
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d e s c r ib in g a b
XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
e it d in r u lin g a n d p r o c e d u r e th a t R a s h b a m in itia te d .
I n e s ta b lis h in g a c o m p a r is o n to th e ta lm u d ic p e r io d c o n c e r n in g th e
e x is te n c e o f p e r m a n e n t o r f ix e d c o u r ts th a t w e r e a v a ila b le to e a c h
c o m m u n ity , R i w r ite s th a t s in c e th e r e a r e n o lo n g e r a n y s e t c o u r t
d a y s , c la im s c a n b e p r e s e n te d b e f o r e th r e e ( ju d g e s ) o n a n y d a y o f th e
w e e k . S im ila r ly , w itn e s s e s in th e ta lm u d ic p e r io d k n e w to a p p e a r a t
th e c o u r t o n p a r tic u la r d a y s , w h ic h is n o lo n g e r th e c a s e . A lth o u g h
th is f o r m u la tio n s u g g e s ts a d d itio n a l f le x ib ility in R i’s e r a , it a ls o
d e s c rib e s a le s s f o r m a l ju d ic ia l s tr u c tu r e .
T h e p e s a q im th a t w e h a v e f r o m R i a n d R a s h m i- S h a n s in m a tte r s
o f m o n e ta r y la w a n d to r ts a r e f o r m u la te d a lm o s t e x c lu s iv e ly o n th e
b a s is o f th e ir a c a d e m ic in te r p r e ta tio n s o f r e le v a n t ta lm u d ic s u g y o t
o r in r e s p o n s e to a q u e r y ( o r a p p e a l) a n d d o n o t a p p e a r to h a v e b e e n
d e r iv e d in th e c o u r s e o f c o u r t d e lib e r a tio n s a n d d e c is io n s .^ ® O n e o f
th e f e w c o u r t c a s e s th a t c a m e b e f o r e R . S a m s o n o f S e n s f o r w h ic h
w e h a v e d o c u m e n ta tio n c o n c e rn s th e c o n d itio n s u n d e r w h ic h a p a r
tic u la r ty p e o f o a th [ s h e v u 'a t b e s e t) s h o u ld b e a d m in is te re d b e f o r e a
litig a n t m a y c o lle c t h is j u d g m e n t .A n o t h e r c a s e c o n c e r n s th e
p ro p e r
p ro c e d u re s
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8 6 . S e e M o r d e k h a i B a b a M e p 'a , § 4 1 4 ( c o rr e c te d a c c o r d in g to m s . V e rc e lli C 2 3 5 ) .
R a b b e n u T a m a ls o r e f e r s to a ju d ic ia l d e c is io n o f R a s h b a m (c ite d b y R i in
T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 3 5 8 ) .
8 7 . S e e T o s a fo t ( a n d T o s a fo t R a s h m i-S h a n ^ ) K e tu b o t 3 a , s .v . 7 ‘ik k a b a tte i d in . C f.
G o ld in , U n iq u e n e s s, 1 1 8 .
8 8 . S e e , e .g ., S e fe r O r Z a r u a \ p is q e i B a b a Q a m m a , § § 2 8 , 5 0 , 7 2 , 1 3 4 , 1 3 7 , 2 5 2 ,
4 0 8 , 4 1 1 , a n d 4 3 9 ; p is q e i B a b a M e p 'a , § § 3 , 1 0 , 3 8 , 1 1 9 , 1 2 5 , 1 8 3 , 1 8 9 , 2 0 4 ,
2 1 4 , 2 1 5 , 2 1 8 , 2 2 3 , 2 7 6 , a n d 3 2 6 ; p is q e i B a b a B a tr a , § § 9 7 , 1 3 8 , 1 4 2 , 1 6 2 ,
a n d 2 1 2 . P isq e i S a n h e d rin , § 5 8 , c o n ta in s a n in te r p r e ta tio n a n d a r e s p o n s u m b y
R i a b o u t c o u r t p r o c e d u r e , w h ic h a r e f o llo w e d b y th e o r e tic a l r u lin g s , f r o m R .
S im h a h o f S p ire s, R a b ia h , a n d R . S a m s o n o f S e n s. R . Is a a c b . M o r d e k h a i (s e e
a b o v e , n o te s 2 1 - 2 2 ) , d e lin e a te s a s e rie s o f b e it d in r u le s c o lle c te d in S e fe r O r
Z a r u a ‘ p is q e i B a b a B a tr a , § § 2 2 2 , 2 2 4 , 2 2 5 , a n d 2 2 8 . A lth o u g h th is m a y re fle c t
R ib a m ’s r o le a s a n a c tiv e c o u r t ju d g e , m a n y o f R ib a m ’s th e o r e tic a l r u lin g s , lik e
th o s e o f R i, a r e a ls o c ite d in S e fe r O r Z a r u a \ F o r p e s a q im f r o m R a s h m iS h a n z , s e e e .g ., p is q e i B a b a Q a m m a , § § 1 7 , 5 3 , a n d 7 3 . C f. H . S . S h a ’a n a n ,
“ R u lin g s o f R . Y e b i’e l o f P a r is in M a tte r s o f T o r ts ” ( H e b r e w ) , M o r ia h 1 8 , n o s .
7 -8 (1 9 9 2 ): 3 -1 0 .
8 9 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 1 0 (R . H a i, R . Is a a c A lfa s i, a n d
R a b b e n u T a m a ll r u le d th e s a m e w a y in th e o r y ) . R . S a m s o n ’s b r o th e r , R i§ b a , is
th e n c ite d a s a d d in g a p r o c e d u r a l in s tr u c tio n f o r th e ju d g e s . C f. n . 9 9 b e lo w .
9 0 . S e fe r O r Z a r u a \ p is q e i B a b a B a tr a , § 5 5 . H e r e to o , in te r p r e ta tio n s b y R a b b e n u
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist PeriodZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
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e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘ a llo w u s to e a s ily id e n tif y
a n d c o m p a r e th e g u id a n c e o f f e re d ( to o th e r s ) b y F r e n c h a u th o r itie s ,
w ith th e h a n d s -o n e x p e rie n c e s o f G e r m a n c o u r ts a n d ju s tic e s . S e fe r
O r Z a r u a ' r e c o r d s a ta lm u d ic in te r p r e ta tio n o f R i d e a lin g w ith th e
lia b ility o f a n o n p r o f e s s io n a l w h o e v a lu a te d c o in s f o r a n o th e r p e r
s o n . R . J o e l h a - L e v i s u g g e s te d th e s a m e in te r p re ta tio n . B u t in a d d i
tio n , R . J o e l a s k e d R . E p h r a im o f R e g e n s b u r g a b o u t th is m a tte r . R .
E p h r a im s u g g e s te d a m o d if ie d a p p r o a c h , a n d h e r e f e r s to a n a c tu a l
c a s e in w h ic h s u c h a r u lin g w a s g iv e n .‘^* In s im ila r f a s h io n , R . S a m
s o n o f S e n s n o te s th a t R i h e a r d a r u lin g o f R a b b e n u T a m in w h ic h h e
h a d a c c e p te d w r itte n te s tim o n y in a c a s e th a t c a m e b e f o r e h im . R .
J o e l h a -L e v i, o n th e o th e r h a n d , a c tu a lly a c c e p te d s u c h te s tim o n y (a s
R a b b e n u T a m d id ) w h ile s e r v in g a s a ju d g e .
R i a d d e d to a r e s p o n s u m o f R a b b e n u T a m th a t w a s w r itte n in
r e s p o n s e to a n a p p e a l s e n t to h im a b o u t c o lle c tin g a n o v e r p a y m e n t
w h e n a n o n - J e w is in v o lv e d . A t th e s a m e tim e , R iv a q b . M o s e s o f
M a in z a s k e d R . E p h r a im b . I s a a c o f R e g e n s b u r g to r e n d e r a d e c is io n
f o r h im in th is k in d o f m a tte r . I t a p p e a r s th a t R iv a q , u n lik e R i, w a s
in v o lv e d w ith a n a c tu a l c a s e a n d w a s tu r n in g to R . E p h r a im f o r
im m e d ia te g u id a n c e .^ ^ In a le n g th y p a s s a g e , S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘ o f f e r e d
a d is c u s s io n a b o u t w h e th e r a n y k in d o f o a th m a y b e ta k e n in c o n
n e c tio n w ith a c la im o n r e a l e s ta te . R a b ia h a r g u e d , in th e n a m e o f
th e G e o n im , th a t a s h e v u 'a t h e s e t m a y b e a d m in is te re d , a n d R iz b a
( R . I s a a c b . A b r a h a m o f D a m p ie r r e ) r e s p o n d e d s im ila r ly . R ib a ( th e
y o u n g e r ) , h o w e v e r , r e je c te d th e ir ( th e G e o n ic ] p r o o f s , a n d R . S a m u e l
b . N a tr o n a i ( R a s h b a t), R . B a r u k h b . S a m u e l, a n d R . S im h a h o f
S p ir e s o f f e r e d p r o o f s th a t n o o a th s w h a ts o e v e r c a n b e ta k e n in c o n
n e c tio n w ith la n d . “ A n d m y te a c h e r R a b ia h o f B o n n r u le d in a n
a c tu a l c a s e th a t n o o a th s a r e to b e ta k e n o n r e a l e s ta te ... a n d it is
c le a r to u s th a t R a b ia h is c o r r e c t.” ^"^
T a m , R ib a h a -L e v i, a n d R . I s a a c b . M o r d e k h a i a r e p r e s e n te d first. R . Is a a c O r
Z a ru a * c h o s e to re ly o n th e a p p r o a c h o f R a b b e n u T a m , b a s e d o n th e f a c t th a t
a n a c tu a l c a s e c a m e b e fo re R . S a m so n b . A b r a h a m o f S e n s, w h o d e c id e d h is
c a s e a c c o r d in g to th e p o s itio n o f R a b b e n u T a m .
9 1 . S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a Q a tn m a , § § 4 0 8 - 1 0 .
92. See
A b ra h a m
F uss,
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T e s tim o n y
in
M o n e ta ry
C a s e s ” ( H e b re w ) ,
S h e n a to n h a -M s s h p a t h a - ‘I v r i 3 - 4 ( 1 9 7 5 - 7 6 ) : 3 3 1 - 3 7 .
9 3 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', § 4 1 5 . C f. S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 1 4 (n . 7 5
a b o v e ).
9 4 . S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 9 . S e e a ls o T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . P ra g u e ,
288
Ephraim KanarfogelZYX
W e a ls o le a r n a b o u t th e n a tu r e a n d p o w e r o f lo c a l c o u r ts in
n o r th e r n F r a n c e in th e la te tw e lf th a n d e a r ly th ir te e n th c e n tu r ie s ,
a n d th e r e la tiv e la c k o f p a r tic ip a tio n in th e s e c o u r ts o n th e p a r t o f
le a d in g r a b b in ic s c h o la rs , f r o m a r e s p o n s u m b y R i’s g r a n d s o n , R .
S a m u e l b . E lh a n a n ( d . 1 2 3 0 ) , w h o w a s a c o n te m p o r a r y o f R . M o s e s
o f C o u c y a n d R . Y e h i’e l o f P a r is . S a m u e l r u le s th a t a litig a n t w h o is
c o n c e r n e d le s t h e b e ta k e n a d v a n ta g e o f in a lo c a l c o u r t b y im p o r
ta n t c o m m u n a l le a d e r s {XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
g e d o le i h a - ‘ir u - fa r n a s e h a h ) w h o h a d in v ite d
h im th e r e ( th e ju d g e s m a y b e in tim id a te d b y th e le a d e r s a n d th e liti
g a n t’s c la im s w ill n o t b e h e a r d p r o p e rly ) , c a n h a v e th e c a s e h e a r d in
a n o th e r c ity . I n d e e d , “ it is b e s t f o r th e ju d g e s a n d th e litig a n ts to g o
to th e n e x t lo c a le .” S a m u e l s u p p o r ts h is r u lin g b y n o tin g th a t h is
g r a n d f a th e r R i d id p r e c is e ly th is , d ir e c tin g a m e m b e r o f th e T r o y e s
c o m m u n ity n o t to a p p e a r b e f o r e th e c o u r t in T r o y e s s in c e h is le g a l
a n ta g o n is t w a s a c o m m u n a l h e a d { r o s h h a - ‘ir ) a n d w a s v e r y in f lu e n
tia l. F o r s im ila r c o n s id e r a tio n s , R . S a m s o n o f S e n s a llo w e d h is s o n in - la w w h o liv e d in T r o y e s n o t to a p p e a r a t th e c o u r t th e r e , a n d R .
J u d a h ( S irle o n ) o f P a r is r u le d th e s a m e w a y o n b e h a lf o f h e - h a v e r
Y o m T o v h a - n a d iv .^ ^
A lth o u g h R . S a m u e l b . E lh a n a n in h is r e s p o n s u m is , f o r th e m o s t
p a r t, s u p p o r tiv e o f th e p o w e r s o f th e lo c a l c o u r t e x c e p t w h e r e th e r e
m a y b e c le a r in d ic a tio n s o f b ia s , s e v e r a l u n d e r ly in g f a c to r s m u s t b e
n o te d . T h e le a d in g to s a f is ts r e f e r re d to a r e n o r h e a r in g th e c a s e s
th e m s e lv e s in T r o y e s o r in P a r is . M o r e o v e r , th e y a r e n o t c o n s u ltin g
w ith o r r e fe r rin g to a n y c o lle a g u e s in th e s e lo c a le s (a s o n e “ h e a d o f a
c o u r t” to a n o th e r ) b u t a r e r u lin g f r o m a f a r . I n d e e d , w e h a v e n o
r e c o r d a n d n o c lu e a s to w h o w e r e th e ju d g e s o n th e s e v a r io u s
c o u r ts . A ll o f th is o c c u r s a t p r e c is e ly th e s a m e tim e th a t w e c a n id e n
tif y f u lly a n d p r e c is e ly a la r g e n u m b e r o f a c tiv e c o u r ts in v a r io u s
G e r m a n c itie s a n d to w n s .
n o s . 3 5 7 - 6 0 , 3 6 9 . I n th e se r e s p o n s a a s w e ll, R i g iv e s ju d ic ia l a d v ic e in m o n e
ta r y c a s e s b u t n e v e r s e e m s to b e th e ju d g e o n th e c a s e its e lf. I t s h o u ld b e n o te d
g e n e r a lly th a t th e la r g e s t c o lle c tio n s o f R i’s p e s a q im th a t h a v e b e e n p re s e rv e d
a r e in th e a r e a o f r itu a l la w a n d ‘is s u r v e -h e te r . S e e , e .g ., E m a n u e l, “ R e sp o n s a
in th e C o lle c tio n s o f M a h a r a m o f R o th e n b u r g T h a t W e re N o t A u th o r e d b y
H im ” ( H e b r e w ) , S h e n a to n h a - M is h p a t h a - 'I v ri 2 1 ( 1 9 9 8 -2 0 0 0 ) , 1 6 0 - 6 4 .
9 5 . S e e th e r e s p o n s u m c ite d in U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fists , 1 : 4 8 6 ( a n d s e e a ls o 1 : 2 5 4 ) ;
T o s a fo t s h a n s le - m a s s e k h e t S a n h e d r in (S a n h e d r e i G e d o la h , v o l. 6 ) , e d . Y . L ifs h itz (J e ru s a le m : , 1 9 7 4 ) , 1 1 7 ; a n d m s . J T S R a b . 6 7 3 , fo l 3 5 7 v . C f. S . G o ld in ,
U n iq u e n e s s, 1 2 7 - 2 8 , a n d m s . C a m b r id g e O r. 7 1 (S e fe r M o r d e k h a i h a -Q a ^ a r ),
fo l. 3 8 r (in a m a r g in a l n o te ) [= m s . B o d l. 6 7 2 , fo l. 3 2 v J .
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist PeriodZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
289
B a s e d o n h is c lo s e r e a d in g o f a ta lm u d ic p a s s a g e , R i d is c u s s e s th e
is s u e o f w h e th e r o n e litig a n t c a n f o r c e th e s e c o n d to g o to a n o th e r
c o u r t, b u t th e f o r m u la tio n is p u r e ly p r e s c r ip tiv e .^ ^ I n a r e s p o n s u m ,
R i o v e r s e e s th e w a y a c o u r t d is tr ib u te s a s s e ts to a w if e w h o s e h u s
b a n d e n tr u s te d th e m to a n o th e r p e r s o n , b u t it is c le a r ly n o t h is c o u r t
th a t o r ig in a lly h e a r d th e c a s e .^ * R . S a m s o n b . A b r a h a m o f S e n s ’s
b r o th e r , R . I s a a c b . A b r a h a m ( R is b a ) , r e f e r s in a r e s p o n s u m to w h a t
v a r io u s ju d g e s XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
{ d a y y a n im ) d id , in c lu d in g R . H a y y im K o h e n , w ith
th e im p lic a tio n th a t h e h im s e lf w a s n o t o f f e r in g a ju d ic ia l r u lin g in
th is m a tte r .^ ^ R i§ b a w r ite s to h is c o r r e s p o n d e n t, h e - H a v e r J o s e p h b .
h e - H a v e r S o lo m o n , a b o u t th e p r o c e d u re to b e f o llo w e d w h e n m o n
ie s w e r e c o n f is c a te d b y th e r u le r f r o m
o n e J e w , w h o p r o m p tly
a c c u s e d a n o th e r J e w o f in f o r m in g o n h im in a w a y th a t le d to th e
c o n f is c a tio n .^ ^
T h e im p r e s s io n f o s te r e d b y a ll o f th e s e te x ts is th a t le a d in g
n o r th e r n
F r e n c h to s a f is ts in
th e g e n e r a tio n
a f te r R a s h b a m
and
R a b b e n u T a m w e r e n o t p a r tic u la r ly in v o lv e d w ith th e lo c a l c o u r ts ,
a n d th a t in d e e d , th e s e c o u r ts a p p e a r to h a v e b e e n r a th e r in f o r m a l
b o d ie s w ith little o f th e ir d is c u s s io n s p r e s e r v e d . T h is im p r e s s io n is
s u b s ta n tia lly c o n f irm e d b y th e r e s p o n s e o f R . S a m s o m o f S e n s to a
q u e s tio n f r o m
h is s tu d e n t, R . J a c o b b . S o lo m o n o f C o u rso n ,^ * ^ ^
a b o u t c h o o s in g lo c a l ju d g e s a n d th e r ig h t o f a litig a n t to ta k e h is
c a s e to a g r e a te r ( o r th e g r e a te s t) c o u r t { h e it d in h a - g a d o l) . R . S a m
s o n , w h o c e r ta in ly r e s p o n d e d to a p p e a ls ^ ^ ' h u t d o e s n o t a p p e a r to
9 6 . M o r d e k h a t S a n h e d rin , § 7 0 7 ; m s . J T S R a b . 6 7 3 , fo l. 3 5 6 r - v . C f. E . S h o c h e tm a n
( n . 5 9 a b o v e ) , 2 6 4 - 6 5 ; U . F u c h s , “ T h r e e N e w R e s p o n s a ,” 1 2 7 - 3 1 ; T e s h u v o t
M a h a r a m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 4 9 7 ; a n d n o te s 1 5 2 - 5 3 b e lo w .
9 7 . T e s h u v o t m a im u n iy y o t le - h ilk h o t 'is h u t, n o . 2 1 .
9 8 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a \ p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § § 2 6 2 - 6 3 . C f. A g u s , R e s p o n s a o f th e
T o s a fis ts, 8 8 - 8 9 n o . 2 9 .
9 9 . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a Q a m m a , § 2 8 3 , a n d A g u s , R e s p o n s a o f th e
T o s a fis ts, 8 9 - 9 1 n o . 3 0 . O n R iz b a a n d J o s e p h b . S o lo m o n , s e e m y “ D e v e lo p
m e n t a n d D if f u s io n ,” 2 6 . C f. n . 7 7 a b o v e . A lth o u g h R i^ b a c o p ie d a n d p r e
s e rv e d a n im p o r ta n t p r o c e d u r a l r u lin g (a n d s h ta r ) o f R a b b e n u T a m , th e r e is
a g a in n o e v id e n c e th a t h e im p le m e n te d it a s a s ittin g ju d g e (w h ic h R a b b e n u
T a m d id ).
lO O .In la te r y e a rs , R . J a c o b liv e d in G e r m a n y a n d ta u g h t a n u m b e r o f s tu d e n ts
th e r e . F o r h is h a la c h ic w r itin g s , s e e S . E m a n u e l, “ L o s t H a la c h ic W o r k s ,” 2 7 4 8 2 , a n d c f. n o te s 1 6 a n d 5 1 a b o v e .
1 0 1 .R a s h m i- S h a n z r u le d b y r e s p o n s u m in th e d is tr ib u tio n o f th e a s s e ts o f a p e r s o n
w h o w a s n e a r d e a th ; s e e , e .g ., M o r d e k h a i B a b a B a tr a , § § 6 6 8 - 6 9 . S o to o , h e
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h a v e s a t o n a f ix e d lo c a l c o u r t o f a n y k in d , in d ic a te d to R . J a c o b th a t
lo c a l c o u r ts a r e to b e c h o s e n th r o u g h th e ta lm u d ic p r in c ip le o f XWVUTSRQP
z a b la
{ z e h b o r e r lo ’e h a d ^ e a c h litig a n t p ic k s o n e ju d g e a n d th e tw o ju d g e s
c h o s e n , in tu r n , p ic k a th ir d ), a n d th a t th e le a d in g s c h o la r in a c ity
( w h o is c h o s e n to s e r v e o n a c o u r t) is a k in to th e b e it d in h a - g a d o l s o
th a t litig a n ts c a n n o t th e r e f o r e p e titio n to h a v e th e ir c a s e s h e a r d e ls e
w h e re .
A c a s e th a t th e T o s a f is t ( a n d le a d in g s tu d e n t o f R a b b e n u T a m )
R . E lie z e r b . S a m u e l o f M e tz p a r tic ip a te d in s u g g e s ts th a t h e s e r v e d
a s a ju d g e c h o s e n th r o u g h th e m e th o d o f z a b la . R . E lie z e r f o u n d
h im s e lf h e a rin g a c a s e a s p a r t o f a c o u r t, to g e th e r w ith o n e o f th e
r e g u la r h o u s e h o ld e r s { 'e h a d m i- b a 'a le i h a - b a ttim ) w h o h a d a ls o b e e n
c h o s e n to
re m o v e d
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th r o u g h a p u b lic d u m p in g g r o u n d . T h e la y m a n a d v is e d R . E lie z e r
a n d R . S im h a h o f S p ire s r u le d b y r e s p o n s u m o n th e a p p r o p r ia te n e s s o f p a y in g
a n e x h o r b ita n t fe e to a m a tc h m a k e r; s e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a Q a m tn a ,
§457.
1 0 2 .S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, p is q e i B a b a Q a m m a , § 4 3 6 ; T e s h u v o t M a im u n iy y o t le -
S e fe r S h o ftim , n o . 2 ; T o s a fo t S h a n z le - M a s s e k h e t S a n h e d rin , e d . L ifs h itz , 1 1 5 ;
m s . J T S R a b . 6 7 3 , fo ls 3 5 6 v -3 5 7 r ; U . F u c h s , “ T h r e e N e w R e s p o n s a ,” 1 1 9 - 2 1 ;
a n d M o r d e k h a i S a n h e d rin , § 7 0 9 ( c o r r e c te d a c c o r d in g to m s . B u d a p e s t 1 , fo L
1 9 7 v , c o l. 1 , a n d m s . V e rc e lli C 2 3 5 , fo l. 9 4 r, c o l. 1 ). W h ile a c k n o w le d g in g th a t
n o t a il p la c e s a r e n e c e s sa rily th e s a m e a s th a t o f R . S a m s o n , s in c e h e w a s
u n iq u e in h is g e n e r a tio n ( a n d it is th e r e f o r e d if f ic u lt to d e riv e a p a tte rn f o r
e v e ry o n e b a s e d o n w h a t w a s d o n e in h is c ity ) , R . Is a a c O r Z a ru a * s u g g e s ts (s e e
a ls o § 4 3 7 ) th a t in o r d e r to p r e v e n t c h ic a n e r y ( r a m a ’in ) , it is a p p r o p r ia te to
c o m p e l b o th litig a n ts to h a v e th e ir c a s e h e a r d lo c a lly a n d a llo w n e ith e r o f th e m
to p e titio n to g o to th e g r e a te s t c o u r t { b e it d in h a -g a d o l), a s R . S a m s o n h a d
in d ic a te d . M o r e o v e r , th e r e is n o lo n g e r a c e n tra l ju d ic ia l e d ific e o r a u th o r ity
w h e r e le a d in g s c h o la r s g a th e r th a t c o u ld c a u se s o m e o n e a c tin g im p r o p e r ly to
b e e m b a r r a s s e d . C f. S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i S a n h e d rin , § 7 3 ; S . G o ld in , U n iq u e
n e s s , 1 1 7 ,1 2 5 - 2 7 ; T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 7 4 0 , c itin g a p a s s a g e in
S e fe r R a b a n , e d . E h r e n r e ic h , fo l. 2 2 7 c ; U . F u c h s , ib id , ( a n d 1 2 7 - 3 1 ) ; a n d n o te s
7 5 , 8 1 , a n d 8 7 a b o v e , f o r o th e r a n te c e d e n t f o r m u la tio n s in th e w r itin g s o f
R a b b e n u T a m a n d R i. O n th e a c c e p ta n c e o f z a b la b y I s a a c O r Z a ru a * a s th e
s ta n d a r d m e th o d f o r s e le c tin g ju d g e s a n d c o u r ts , s e e a ls o , p is q e i B a b a B a tr a ,
§ 2 3 2 , a n d p is q e i S a n h e d r in , § 7 . I t s h o u ld a ls o b e n o te d th a t I s a a c O r Z a ru a * s
s o n H a y y im E lie z e r a ls o p r e s u m e s th e p r a c tic e o f z a b la in h is tr e a tis e o n ju d i
c ia l p r a c tic e s { S e fe r D a t N iq r a S h e m o ) S e fe r E 4 ( h a - ) H a y y im . S e e H a m is h a h
Q u n tr e s im , e d . N . C o r o n e l (J e ru s a le m : F la m u l, 1 9 6 7 ) , fo ls . 9 7 v - 9 8 v , a n d m s .
P a r is 1 4 8 0 , fo ls . 1 7 2 v - 1 7 4 r .
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist Period
291ZYXWVUTSR
th a t h is a p p r o a c h in th is c a s e , to d e c la r e th e u s u r p e r a n e v il p e r s o n XWVUTSRQP
{ r a s h a ) a s p e r ta lm u d ic la w , w a s in s u f f ic ie n t. “ R e b b e ,” s a id th e la y
m a n , “ w e h a v e n o t s u f f ic ie n tly f u lf ille d o u r o b lig a tio n [ to p r o te c t th e
p o o r ] . W e s h o u ld a n n o u n c e in th e s y n a g o g u e th a t it is p e r m itte d to
p u b lic ly c a s tig a te th is p e r s o n a s a n e v il m a n u n til h e m a k e s r e s titu
tio n [ to th e p o o r m a n ] .” R . M e ir o f R o th e n b u r g , w h o r e p o r ts th is
c a s e , ta k e s n o te o f h o w a la y m a n w a s th e c a u s e o f th is g o o d a n d ju s t
r e s u lt. I t is a p p a r e n t th a t tw o in d iv id u a ls h a d b e e n s e le c te d a s
“ ju d g e s ” in th is c a s e , a n d th e y h a d c h o s e n R . E lie z e r o f M e tz , a le a d
in g s c h o la r o f th e d a y , to b e th e th ir d ju d g e .^ ^ ^ A lth o u g h th e r e is a
r e f e r e n c e to a ju d g m e n t in m o n e ta r y m a tte r s r e n d e r e d b y R . E lie z e r
o f M e tz { a n d a n o th e r r a b b in ic s c h o la r n a m e d R . J o s e p h T o v E le m )
in th e p r e s e n c e o f R a b b e n u T a m , th is w a s d u r in g th e ir s tu d e n t d a y s
a t th e a c a d e m y ( a n d c o u r t) o f R a b b e n u T a m .^ ® "^ R . E lie z e r w a s c e r
ta in ly c o n s u lte d , h o w e v e r , b y o th e r ju d g e s , e s p e c ia lly th o s e in G e r
m any.
1 2 2 5 -1 3 0 0
T h e ju d ic ia l s itu a tio n in n o r th e r n F r a n c e b e g in s to c h a n g e ( th a t is , to
r e tu r n to w h a t h a d b e e n m o r e c o m m o n p r e v io u s ly in n o r th e r n
F r a n c e th r o u g h th e m id tw e lf th c e n tu r y , a n d to w h a t w a s p r e v a le n t
in G e rm a n y th r o u g h o u t th is p e r io d ) in th e s e c o n d q u a r te r o f th e
th ir te e n th c e n tu r y . R . H e z e k ia h o f M a g d e b u r g s e n t a n a p p e a l to th e
1 0 3 . S e e R e s p o n s a a n d D e c isio n s , e d . K u p fe r, § 9 3 , 1 5 1 - 5 2 . S e e a ls o K u p f e r’s I n tr o
d u c tio n , 2 4 - 2 5 .
1 0 4 .S e e T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 7 2 1 , a n d S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, p is q e i B a b a
M e ^ i'a , § 7 1 . J o s e p h T o v E le m c a n n o t b e th e w e ll- k n o w n e le v e n th - c e n tu r y
s c h o la r o f th is n a m e . H e is p o s s ib ly R . J o s e p h Q a r a b u t m o r e lik e ly , f r o m th e
s ta n d p o in t o f r a b b in ic c o u r ts in th e tw e lf th c e n tu ry , R . J o s e p h o f O r le a n s . S e e
A . G r o s s m a n , E a r ly S a g e s , 4 6 ; U r b a c h , T h e T o sa fists , 1 : 1 5 4 ; a n d R e in e r,
“ R a b b e n u T a m ,” 5 4 . T h e p a s s a g e (fro m S e fe r h a - H o k h tn a h ) th a t lists R .
E lie z e r o n a c o u r t w ith R . B a r u k h o f M a in z { M o r d e k h a i B a b a B a tr a , § 5 0 7 ) is
m o r e lik e ly a re fe re n c e to R a b ia h th a n to R . B a r u k h ’s te a c h e r R . E lie z e r o f
M e tz . R a b ia h a n d R . B a r u k h w e r e to g e th e r f o r o th e r c o u r t p r o c e d u r e s a n d d is
c u s s io n s . S e e n . 5 a b o v e ; a n d c f. R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u T a m ,” 1 1 1 n . 3 8 2 ; a n d
E m a n u e l, “ R . B a r u k h o f M a in z ,” 1 4 2 n . 8 3 .
1 0 5 .S e e , e .g ., E m a n u e l, ib id ., 1 3 9 n . 6 6 , f o r a s e c tio n f r o m S e fe r h a - H o k h m a h
f o u n d in c e r ta in M o r d e k h a i te x ts to tr a c ta te Q id d u s h in in w h ic h a y o u n g
w o m a n w a s b e tro th e d to a k o h e n a n d th e r e w a s a p r o b le m w ith th e q id d u s h in .
R . E lie z e r o f M e tz w a s a m o n g th e le a d in g s c h o la r s c o n s u lte d .
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to s a H s t R . Y e h i’e l b . J o s e p h o f P a r is , o n e o f th e f ir s t s u c h c o n s u lta
tio n s ( f r o m G e r m a n y to n o r th e r n F r a n c e ) in q u ite a w h i l e . S i m i
la r ly , R . I s a a c O r Z a r u a ‘ s e n t a r u lin g f o r a p p r o v a l to R . Y e h i’e l a n d
to th e to s a f is t R . S a m u e l b . S o lo m o n o f F a la is e ( “ m y te a c h e r s in
P a r is ” ) c o n c e r n in g th e s e llin g o f a lo a n f o r c o lle c tio n . R . Y e h i’e l
r e p lie d th a t R . I s a a c h a d r u le d w e ll, a n d R . S a m u e l b e g a n h is
r e s p o n s e , “ W ith r e s p e c t to th e c a s e th a t c a m e b e f o r e y o u .” A lth o u g h
it a p p e a r s th a t th e s e r e s p o n s e s w e re w r itte n to R . I s a a c s e p a r a te ly , R .
Y e h i’e l a n d R . S a m u e l d id s ir o n th e s a m e P a r is c o u r t, a s w e s h a ll
s e e . I n a n y e v e n t, th is r e n e w e d c o n s u lta tio n b e tw e e n G e r m a n y ( o r
A u s tr ia ) a n d n o r th e r n F r a n c e is s ig n if ic a n t, a lth o u g h , to b e s u r e ,
I s a a c O r Z a r u a ‘ s tu d ie d w ith le a d in g to s a f is ts in b o th n o r th e rn
F r a n c e a n d G e r m a n y a n d is a b r id g e f ig u r e in th is r e g a r d a s w e ll.^ ^ ^
R . Y a q a r b . S a m u e l h a - L e v i o f C o l o g n e s e n t a r u lin g a b o u t f ix in g th e
r itu a l b a th in h is c ity to R . S a m u e l o f F a la is e a n d R . J a c o b b . J o s e p h
o f V e r d u n ( a n d to R . B a r u k h b . A b r a h a m o f M a in z a n d s e v e r a l r a b
b in ic s c h o la r s in S p ir e s ) f o r th e ir a p p ro v a l.
H e a r k e n in g b a c k to th e d a y s o f R a b b e n u T a m , R . Y e h i’e l o f
P a r is , a s r e p o r te d b y o n e o f h is s tu d e n ts , w a s a p p a r e n tly in v o lv e d in
a c o u r t c a s e c o n c e r n in g th e u s e o f a n o n - J e w is h m id d le m a n to s e c u r e
a lo a n b e tw e e n J e w s w ith in te r e s t. A lth o u g h R . Y e h i’e l d is a g r e e d
w ith th e p o s itio n ta k e n b y R a b b e n u T a m in th is ty p e o f s itu a tio n , R .
Y e h i’e l, lik e R a b b e n u T a m , h a d th e o p p o r tu n ity to p u t h is v ie w in to
p r a c tic e a s a m e m b e r o f a r a b b in ic c o u r t.^ ^ ^
R . Y e h i’e l o f P a r is a ls o s u p e r v is e d th e w r itin g a n d g iv in g XWVUTS
o ( g it-
tin . Q e r s h a v y a h u ( C r e s b ia ) b . I s a a c th e s c rib e ( o r p u n c tu a to r , h a 1 0 6 .S e e M o r d e k h a i G ittin , $ 2 7 9 , a n d T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . B e rlin , 2 1 0 (n o .
1 4 5 ). T h a t R . H e z e k ia h s e n t a r e la te d q u e r y to R . A v ig d o r K a tz ( § 3 8 0 ) is n o t a t
a ll u n u s u a l; c f. n . 5 2 a b o v e .
1 0 7 .S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, v o l. 3 , p is q e i B a b a M e ^ i'a , § 1 8 0 . (R . Is a a c O r Z a r u a ‘ a ls o
a d d s a r e s p o n s u m o f R i’s th a t h e f o u n d o n th is s u b je c t.) T h e r e s p o n s e o f R .
Y e b i’e l w a s s e n t to R . I s a a c O r Z a r u a ‘ a s th e fin a l p a r t o f a la r g e r r e s p o n s u m
p e n n e d b y R . Y e h i’e l th a t a d d r e s s e d s e v e ra l d if f e re n t is su e s r a is e d b y R . Is a a c ,
in c lu d in g a c a s e o f h a lv a h . S e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ‘, p a r t 1 , § 7 7 3 . C f. n . 1 1 7 b e lo w .
1 0 8 .S e e R e s p o n s a a n d D e c is io n s , e d . K u p fe r, 2 6 0 ( § § 1 5 9 - 6 5 ) . R . Y a q a r b . S a m u e l
h a -L e v i is a c o n te m p o r a r y o f R . M e ir o f R o th e n b u r g ; s e e a t n . 6 1 a b o v e ;
U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 2 : 5 7 8 n . 3 2 ; a n d m y P e e r in g th r o u g h th e L a ttic e s, 2 5 6 .
1 0 9 .S e e m s . H a m b u r g 4 5 , fo l. 1 8 3 c - d ( tra n s c r ib e d in H . S o lo v e itc h ik , P a w n b r o k
in g , 1 4 1 ). S e e a ls o S o lo v e itc h ik , 6 8 - 7 1 (e s p . n . 3 2 ) , 8 3 , a n d a b o v e , n . 7 7 . O n
m s . H a m b u r g 4 5 , c f. S . E m a n u e l, “ L o s t H a la c h ic W o r k s ,” 2 2 6 - 2 9 , a n d m y
P e e r in g th r o u g h th e L a ttic e s , 9 4 - 9 5 , 2 2 7 .
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist Period
293XWVUTSRQP
n a q d a n ) ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
w r ite s th a t h e w a s in P a r is a t th e c o u r t o f R . Y e h i’e l a n d h e
w a s in v o lv e d in th e w r itin g o f m a n y h ills o f d iv o r c e . S ittin g w ith R .
Y e h i’e l w e r e R . J u d a h b . D a v id o f M e lu n a n d R . S a m u e l b . S o lo m o n
o f C h a te a u
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d e s c r ib e d c e r ta in p r a c tic e s th a t th e y h a d r e c e iv e d f r o m th e ir te a c h
e r s , m o s t o f th e g ittin w e r e w r itte n u n d e r th e d ir e c tio n o f R . Y e h i’e l,
a n d th e o th e r s c h o la r s f o llo w e d h is p r o c e d u r a l d ir e c tiv e s .^
C o u r ts In v o lv e d w ith g ittin
I t s h o u ld b e n o te d , h o w e v e r , th a t m o s t o f th e le a d in g to s a f is ts in
n o r th e r n F r a n c e th r o u g h o u t th e tw e lf th a n d th ir te e n th c e n tu r ie s a ls o
s u p e r v is e d th e w r itin g o f b ills o f d iv o r c e a n d r e la te d d o c u m e n ts s u c h
a s g itte i h a lis a h , a n d
even convened
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p u r p o s e s . I n c lu d e d in th is lis t a r e R a b b e n u T a m
o f O r le a n s ,^ * ^
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( R is b a ) ^ ^ ^ a n d h is b r o th e r R . S a m s o n o f S e n s,* ^ * * R . B a r u k h b . I s a a c
llO .S e e U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fists , 1 : 4 6 1 ; S e e R e s p o n s a a n d D e c isio n s , e d . K u p fe r,
3 2 5 - 2 6 ; G a v rie l Z in n e r , O ^ a r p isq e i h a - R is h o n im 'a l h ilk h o t p e s a h ( N e w Y o rk :
a u th o r , 1 9 8 5 ) , 2 5 1 § 1 4 ; a n d N . (» o lb , T h e je w s in M e d ie v a l N o r m a n d y ( C a m
b rid g e : C a m b r id g e U n iv e rs ity P re ss , 1 9 9 8 ), 4 4 1 - 4 5 . T h e te x t is f o u n d in m s .
L o s A n g e le s, U C L A 7 7 9 , b o x 0 3 .3 ( A s h k e n a z , 1 2 8 6 ) , fo l. 9 9 r. T h is s e c tio n o f
th e m a n u s c r ip t c o n ta in s a n u m b e r o f g ittin - r c h te d te x t f o r m s a n d p r o c e d u re s
f r o m n o r th e r n F r e n c h to s a f ists , a s w e s h a ll s e e s h o rtly . S e e a ls o P isq e i R a h b e n u
Y e h i’e l m i-P a r is, e d . E . P in e s (J e ru s a le m : M a c h o n Y e ru sh a la y im , 1 9 7 3 ), e d ito r ’s
in tr o d u c tio n , 7 , c itin g S e m a q , 'a s e h 5 1 ( d a te d 1 2 5 7 ), r e p r o d u c e d a ls o in H a g -
g a h o t R a b b e n u P e re ^ to S e m a q , § 1 8 4 ; T e s h u v o t M a h a r iq , n o . 1 0 6 ; a n d S e fe r
h a - M o r d e k h a i le - m a s se k e t g ittin , e d . R a b in o w itz , 6 9 6 , § 1 5 9 .
1 1 1 .O n R a b b e n u T a m a n d R . J o s e p h B e k h o r S h o r o f O r le a n s , s e e , e .g ., A g u s,
R e s p o n s a o f th e T o s a fis ts, n o . 1 1 ; R a b in o w itz , 8 7 0 - 7 2 ; n o te s 6 6 a n d 7 5 a b o v e ;
S e fe r h a -y a s h a r le - R a b b e n u T a m , e d . S c h le sin g e r, 1 0 1 - 4 ( tiq q u n h a -g e t), 4 4 6 4 7 { s e d e r fia li^ a h ); S . E . S te r n “ T h e T r e a tis e o n H a lv a h C 'o m p ile d b y R a b b i
S o lo m o n f o r th e P e o p le o f P a r is ” ( H e b re w ) , Z e k h o r le -A v r a h a m (J e ru s a le m ,
1 9 9 4 - 9 5 ) , 9 - 1 2 ; m s . L o s A n g e le s U C L A 7 7 9 , fo l. 1 0 3 v { ‘in y a n h a li^ a h m i- p i
R a b b e n u T a m ); a n d c f. E . S h o c h e tm a n , “ C o n c e r n a b o u t C a s tin g A s p e rs io n s o n
E a r lie r A u th o r itie s a s a F a c to r in D e c id in g M a tte rs o f J e w is h L a w ” ( H e b r e w ) ,
B a r lla n 1 8 - 1 9 (1 9 8 1 ): 1 7 7 - 7 9 .
1 1 2 .S e e S e fe r h a - M o r d e k h a i le -m a s s e k e t G ittin , e d . R a b in o w itz , 8 5 0 - 5 6 , f o r a le t
te r f r o m R i o n v a r io u s g e t p r o c e d u r e s , in c lu d in g th e w a y a r a b b in ic c o u r t d e a ls
w ith a n a g e n t a p p o in te d b y th e w ife to re c e iv e th e g e t. S e e a ls o ib id ., 8 6 1 ;
T o s a fo t A lfa s i le -R . M o s h e h b . Y o m T o v m i- L o n d o n in S h ifa t h a - Q a d m o n im
Ephraim Kanarfogel
294
( th e a u th o r o f S
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e fe r h a - te r u m a h ) ^ ^ ^ ^ R . J u d a h S ir le o n o f P a r i s , R .
Y e h i’e l o f P a r is ( a s in d ic a te d h e r e ) , a n d R . P e re § b . E lija h o f C o rb e il.
T h is e x c e p tio n to th e p a tte r n th a t w e h a v e s e e n w ith r e s p e c t
to r a b b in ic c o u r ts in n o r th e r n F r a n c e is s tr ik in g b u t n o t s u r p r is in g .
The
e x tr e m e
consequences
and
u n u s u a lly
c o m p lic a te d
h a la c h ic
r e q u ir e m e n ts in h e r e n t in J e w is h d iv o r c e la w r e q u ir e d a ll le a d in g
s c h o la rs , e v e n th o s e w h o w e r e p e r h a p s n o t in v o lv e d in th e lo c a l ju d i
c ia l p r o c e s s g e n e r a lly , to le n d th e ir e x p e r tis e a n d th e ir s u p p o r t.
M o r e o v e r , th e d o c u m e n ta tio n o f th e s e k in d s o f p r o c e e d in g s w a s
e q u a lly c r itic a l, w h ic h a ls o h e lp s to a c c o u n t f o r th e c o u r t m a te r ia ls
th a t h a v e s u r v iv e d in m a tte rs o f d iv o r c e . In lig h t o f th e ju d ic ia l p a t
te r n s th a t h a v e e m e r g e d in th is s tu d y , it g o e s w ith o u t s a y in g th a t
W M a s s e k h e t Q id d u s h in , e d . M . B la u ( N e w Y o rk : D e u ts c h , 1 9 7 0 ), 3 4 7 - 4 9 ;
T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , § 9 2 9 ; a n d E . K u p fe r, “ T h e L a w s o f D iv o r c e F o r m u la te d b y
R . I s a a c b e n S a m u e l” ( H e b r e w ) , Q o i/e ^ ‘a l Y a d , n .s . 6 , p a r t 1 ( 1 9 6 6 ) : 1 2 3 - 4 2 .
1 1 3 .S e e S e fe r h a - M o r d e k h a i le - m a s s e k e t G ittin , e d . R a b in o w itz , 7 8 8 - 9 4 , § 2 0 5 .
R i§ b a r u le d o n th e v a lid ity o f a g e t th a t c a m e f r o m H u n g a r y ( ’e re ^ H a g a r ), b u t
a s k e d th a t h is r u lin g b e s h o w n to h is b r o th e r R . S a m s o n ( o f S e n s ) a n d “ o u r
R a b b is in P a r is ” f o r v e rific a tio n .
1 1 4 .S e e m s . P a r m a 1 8 0 9 , fo l 3 4 9 r ; m s . B o d l. 8 7 5 ( G e r m a n y , 1 2 9 9 ) , fo l. 1 5 7 v , c o l. 2
(e n d ); a n d S . E . S te rn , M e ’o r o t h a - R is h o n im , 3 1 3 - 1 7 . C f. S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p a r t
1 , § 7 7 8 ; A g u s , R e s p o n s a o f th e T o s a fists , 7 8 - 7 9 ; a n d n . 1 1 6 b e lo w .
1 1 5 .S e e R e s p o n s a a n d D e c is io n s^ e d . K u p fe r, 2 9 6 '- 9 7 , a n d Z in n e r , O ^ a r p is q e i h a -
R is h o n im , 2 5 0 ( § 1 3 ) . O n R . B a r u k h ’s life lo n g s ta tu s a s a F r e n c h m a n , s e e . S .
E m a n u e l, “ F o r a M a n ’s L o c a le .”
1 1 6 .R . J u d a h S irle o n o f P a r is c o m p e n s a te d tw o w itn e s s e s ( w h o w e r e c o n c e r n e d
a b o u t lo s in g a p o r tio n o f th e ir liv e lih o o d ) s o th a t th e y c o u ld b e a v a ila b le to
s ig n a g e t', s e e th e s o u rc e s c ite d in U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts , 1 : 3 2 5 n . 4 7 . S e e a ls o
M o r d e k h a i Q id d u s h in , § 5 6 8 ; S e fe r h a - M o r d e k h a i le -m a s s e k e t G ittin , e d .
R a b in o w itz , 3 2 8 - 3 3 , 8 5 9 - 6 0 ; T o s a fo t A lfa s i le -R . M o s h e h b . Y o m T o v m i-
L o n d o n , e d . M . B la u , 3 2 2 - 2 3 ; a n d m s . L o s A n g e le s U C L A 7 7 9 , fo l. lO O v ,
r e g a r d in g th e f o r m o f th e s h o e u s e d f o r h a lisa h . O th e r ru lin g s w ith r e g a r d to
th e h a lv a h s h o e a r e c ite d in th e n a m e o f R . S a m s o n o f S e n s (fo l. lO lr ) a n d R .
J a c o b o f V e rd u n (fo l. lO lv , c o n c e rn in g h o w th e s h o e s h o u ld b e tie d ) . R . Y a q a r
r e p o r ts h o w R . S a m u e l o f E v r e u x tie d th e s h o e o n th e b a s is o f a c a s e th a t c a m e
b e f o r e h im (fo l. lO lv ) .
1 1 7 .S e e e .g ., S e fe r M o r d e k h a i le - G ittin , e d . R a b in o w itz , 8 6 0 ; M o n te f io r e 1 3 0 , fo l.
4 6 v ; H a g g a h o t R a b b e n u P e r e ^ to S e m a q , § 1 8 5 ; a n d m s . L o s A n g e le s U C L A
7 7 9 , fo l. 9 5 v . F o r I s a a c b . J o s e p h o f C o r b e il ( a u th o r o f S e m a q a n d Y e b i’e l o f
P a r is’s s o n - in - la w ) , s e e O r h o t H a y y im le -R . A a r o n h a - K o h e n m i- L u n e l, v . 2 ,
1 7 1 - 7 2 , 1 8 2 - 8 4 , a n d m s . L o s A n g e le s U C L A 7 7 9 , fo l. 9 6 r.
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist Period
295ZYXWVUTS
G e r m a n y , a n d th e r e a r e m a n y r e c o rd s o f b o th p r o c e d u r e s a n d d o c u
m e n ts f r o m th e m .^ * ^
S u m m a ry f o r N o r th e rn F ra n c e
W h ile th e r e is a m p le e v id e n c e f o r a p p e a ls th a t w e r e s e n t b y lo c a l
c o u r ts to le a d in g to s a f is ts in n o r th e r n F r a n c e , th e r e is a n o tic e a b le
p e r io d o f tim e d u r in g w h ic h it is v ir tu a lly im p o s s ib le to d o c u m e n t
a n y k in d o f e s ta b lis h e d s ittin g c o u r t in a p a r tic u la r lo c a le , o r to fin d
a n y le a d in g to s a f is ts p la y in g a r o le in p a r tic u la r r a b b in ic c o u r ts .^ * ^
R a s h b a m a n d R a b b e n u T a m d id s e r v e a s c o u r t ju d g e s , a s d id s tu
d e n ts o f R a b b e n u T a m s u c h a s R . H a y y im K o h e n a n d R . J o s e p h
( B e k h o r S h o r ) o f O r le a n s . H o w e v e r , f r o m th e la s t q u a r te r o f th e
tw e lf th c e n tu r y u n til th e th ir tie s o f th e th ir te e n th c e n tu r y , le a d in g
to s a f is ts r e s p o n d e d to a p p e a ls a n d is s u e d a b s tra c t r u lin g s b u t a r e n o t
id e n tif ie d , w ith m in o r e x c e p tio n s , a s a c tu a lly s ittin g in ju d g m e n t. I t
1 1 8 .S e e e .g ., R
XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
e s p o n s a a n d D e c isio n s , e d . K u p fe r, 2 1 3 - 2 0 . (R . E lie z e r o f M e tz
s e rv e d b o th th e r e a n d in M a in z , s e e n . 2 2 a b o v e ); m s . W a r s a w 2 5 8 , fo l 3 4 2 ;
H a g g a h o t M a m u n iy y o t, H ilk h o t G e r u s h in 4 [3 0 ]; S . E m a n u e l, “ L o s t H a la c h ic
W o r k s ,” 2 1 5 - 1 7 ; a n d I. T a -S h m a , “ S o m e M a te r ia l o n R . Is a a c O r Z a r u a ‘ f r o m
M a n u s c rip t S o u r c e s ” ( H e b r e w ) , M e m o r ia l V o lu m e fo r R a b b i Y . Y . F r a n k e l, e d .
Y . B u k s b o in (J e ru s a le m : M o r ia h , 1 9 9 2 ), 2 7 2 - 8 0 . S e c a ls o T e s h u v o t R a b ia h , e d .
D e b litz k y , § 9 2 2 . R a b ia h s u p e rv is e d th e w r itin g o f g ittin in C o lo g n e , a n d R .
B a r u k h b . S a m u e l o v e rs a w th e g iv in g o f th e s e g ittin in M a in z . S e e a ls o S e fe r
R a b ia h , v o l. 4 , § 8 9 4 ( a n d th e e d ito r ’s in tr o d u c tio n , 1 7 - 1 8 , 4 6 - 5 1 ) , fo r h a li^ a h
( a n d o th e r r e la te d ) d o c u m e n ts , a s w e ll a s in s tru c tio n s f o r th e ju d g e s , fro m
R a b a n , R a b ia h , a n d R . I s a a c O r Z a r u a ‘; S . E . S te rn , M e 'o r o t h a - R is h o n im ,
3 4 8 - 6 0 , f o r S e fe r A s s u fo t ( a u th o r e d b y a s tu d e n t o f R a b ia h a n d R . E le a z a r o f
W o rm s ); a n d S te rn , “ S e d e r G ittin le -R a b b e n u Y i§ b a q b . R a b b e n u M e ir h e H a s id , Z e fu n o t4 , n o . 2 [o v e ra ll n o . 1 4 ) ( 1 9 9 2 ) : 7 - 1 3 [= M e ’o r o t h a - R is h o n im ,
3 3 6 - 4 8 ] . R . Is a a c b . M e ir a p p e a r s to h a v e b e e n a G e r m a n c o n te m p o r a r y o f R .
Is s a c O r Z a r u a ' w h o s tu d ie d in n o r th e r n F r a n c e a s w e ll. C f. U r b a c h , T h e
T o sa fists , 1 : 4 8 7 .
1 1 9 .T h e to s a f ist R . T u v y a h o f V ie n n e , a c o n te m p o r a r y o f R . Y e b i’e l o f P a ris,
r e c o r d s in th e n a m e o f R i§ b a th a t y o u n g m e n w h o c a u s e d a m a g e s to e a c h o th e r
in th e c o u r s e o f th e m e rr im e n t o f th e P u r im fe s tiv a l o u g h t n o t b e s u m m o n e d to
a b e it d in . S e e U r b a c h , ib id . A lth o u g h u n d o u b te d ly u n in te n tio n a l, th is r a r e r e f
e re n c e to a b e it d in d u r in g th is p e r io d f u r th e r s th e p e r c e p tio n th a t th e b e it d in
w a s n o t s e e n a s a lo c u s o f p a th b re a k in g r a b b in ic s c h o la r sh ip . F o r th e c o n te x t
o f R . T u v y a h ’s r u lin g , c f. m y “ M e si’u t (R e a lia ) a n d H a la k h a h in M e d ie v a l A s h
k e n a z : S u rv e y in g th e P a r a m e te r s a n d D e fin in g th e L im its ,” J e w is h L a w A n n u a l
1 4 (2 0 0 3 ): 2 1 6 - 2 4 .
296
Ephraim KanarfogelZYX
s e e m s im p r o b a b le th a t th e y n e v e r s e r v e d a s ju d g e s . F o r s o m e r e a s o n ,
h o w e v e r , th e s e e x p e r ie n c e s w e r e n o t r e c o r d e d o r r e m a r k e d u p o n in
th e r a b b in ic lite r a tu r e o f th e p e r io d , a s th e y w e r e in G e r m a n y . T h is
d if f e re n c e in a ttitu d e , if n o t in a c tu a l o c c u r r e n c e , is n o n e th e le s s
h ig h ly s ig n ific a n t.^ ^ ®
A n e x c e p tio n to th is p a tte r n e x is ts w ith r e g a r d to b ills o f d iv o r c e
a n d r e la te d m a tte r s . H e r e , it a p p e a r s th a t a ll le a d in g s c h o la r s d id
p a r tic ip a te in s o m e w a y , e ith e r p r o v id in g a n d a p p r o v in g d o c u m e n ts
f o r d iv o r c e ( a n d p e r h a p s hXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
a lis a h )^ o r e v e n s ittin g o n a c tu a l c a s e s a s
w e w o u ld e x p e c t le a d in g s c h o la r s to d o , a n d a s th e G e r m a n to s a f is ts
c e r ta in ly d id . B u t in m a tte rs o f m o n e ta r y la w a n d e v e n m a r ita l la w
a n d in h e r ita n c e a p a r t f r o m
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p a r tic ip a tio n
by
n o r th e r n
F re n c h
to s a f is ts a n d th e ir s tu d e n ts a n d a s s o c ia te s .
T o b e s u r e , n o r th e r n F r e n c h te x ts d u r in g th e “ b la c k o u t p e r io d ”
o f 1 1 7 5 - 1 2 2 5 d o r e fe r to a c tio n s ta k e n b y r a b b in ic c o u r ts , b u t it is
e x c e p tio n a lly d if f ic u lt to p in p o in t w h o w a s o n th e m . E v e n if le a d in g
to s a f is ts d id s e r v e , f e w r e p o r ts o f th e ir s e r v ic e e x is t, a n d th e r e a r e n o
r e c o r d s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e tw e e n c o u r ts th a t w e r e s o c o m m o n in
G e r m a n y ( w h e r e r a b b in ic c o n s u lta tio n w a s , in a n y c a s e , u b iq u ito u s ) .
W h e r e w e d o h a v e ju d ic ia l e v id e n c e f r o m n o r th e r n F r a n c e , it s u g
g e s ts th a t c o u r ts w e r e , f o r th e m o s t p a r t, c h o s e n th r o u g h z a b la .
T h e r e is e v id e n c e f o r z a b la p r a c tic e s in G e r m a n y to o ,^ ^ ^ b u t a s w e
h a v e s e e n , th e r e w e r e m a n y f ix e d lo c a l b a tte i d in a s w e ll, o f te n
h e a d e d o r m a n n e d b y le a d in g r a b b in ic s c h o la r s . T h is is u n d e r s c o r e d
b y th e r e p o rt o f M e ir o f R o th e n b e r g ’s s tu d e n t R . S a m s o n b . S a d o q ,
w h o s u g g e s ts th a t th e r e w e r e G e r m a n c itie s w ith tw o s ittin g o r
e s ta b lis h e d c o u r t s . T h e G e r m a n w a y w a s to h a v e c o h e s iv e , lo n g la s tin g c o u r ts th a t e n d u r e d th r o u g h th e g e n e r a t i o n s .R e f le c t i n g
th e G e r m a n a p p r o a c h , S e fe r H a s id im in s e v e r a l p a s s a g e s d e c r ie s th e
llO .ln r e re s tin g ly , a s w e h a v e n o te d , a n u m b e r o f th e p r o m in e n t lo c a l ju d g e s in G e r
m a n y d u r in g th e la s t q u a r te r o f th e tw e lf th c e n tu r y h a d s tu d ie d in n o r th e r n
F r a n c e w ith R a b b e n u T a m .
1 2 1 .S e e , e .g ., S e fe r R a b a n , fo l. 2 2 4 a ; T e s h u v o t M a h a r a m , e d . P r a g u e , n o . 9 1 7 ( w ith
a d d itio n a l d e ta il in T e s h u v o t M a h a ra m , e d . C r e m o n a , n o . 1 7 , a n d c f. F r a n k ,
A s h k e n a z ic C o m m u n itie s , 1 5 2 n . 1 ); n . 2 0 a b o v e ; G o ld in , U n iq u e n e s s, 1 1 6 - 1 9 ,
1 3 0 - 3 1 ; a n d n o te s 1 1 7 a b o v e a n d 1 4 0 b e lo w .
1 2 2 .S e e R . S a m s o n b . S a d o q , S e fe r T a s h b e ^ , § 5 1 6 , a n d G o ld in , 2 0 8 n . 1 5 .
1 2 3 .A n y c o m p a r is o n b e tw e e n th e ju d ic ia r ie s w ith in J e w is h a n d C h r is tia n s o c ie ty
m u s t b e u n d e r ta k e n w ith c a u tio n , g iv e n th e v e ry d if f e r e n t le g a l s y s te m s a n d
u n d e r ly in g v a lu e s th a t w e r e in v o lv e d . N o n e th e le s s , it is in te r e s tin g to n o te th e
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist PeriodZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
297
p o o r r e s u lts th a t XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
z a b la c a n o f te n y ie ld : ju d g e s w h o a r e n o t p a r tic u
la r ly k n o w le d g e a b le in J e w is h la w , a n d w h o a r e in s e n s itiv e to th e lit
ig a n ts in a d d i t i o n .E s t a b l i s h e d c o u r ts , c o n s is tin g o f p r o m in e n t
ju d g e s , w e re f a r le s s lik e ly to b e a f f lic te d b y th e s e s h o r tc o m in g s .
IV
I n a n u m b e r o f r e s p e c ts , th e d if f e r e n c e s th a t h a v e b e e n id e n tif ie d in
th is s tu d y p a r a lle l a d is tin c tio n th a t h a s a lr e a d y b e e n n o te d in m o d
e r n s c h o la r s h ip b e tw e e n n o r th e r n F r a n c e a n d G e rm a n y w ith r e s p e c t
to th e w r itin g a n d c o lle c tio n o f r e s p o n s a . A lth o u g h th e r e is a m p le
e v id e n c e th a t n o r th e r n F r e n c h r a b b in ic s c h o la r s o f th e tw e lf th a n d
th ir te e n th c e n tu r ie s w r o te le g a l d e c is io n s { p e s a q im ) a n d to a le s s e r
e x te n t r e s p o n s a (in r e s p o n s e to p a r tic u la r q u e r ie s ) , c o lle c tio n s o f
r e s p o n s a a r e p r e s e r v e d a n d c ir c u la te d , f o r th e m o s t p a r t, w ith in th e
w r itin g s o n ly o f G e r m a n s c h o la r s .^ ^ ^ O n a s im p le le v e l, p e r h a p s th e
le a d in g r a b b in ic s c h o la r s o f n o r th e r n F r a n c e (a s o p p o s e d to th e ir
c o u n te r p a r ts in G e rm a n y ) d id n o t fe e l th e n e e d to p r e s e r v e r e c o r d s
a n d d e s c r ip tio n s o f th e ir ju d ic ia l s e r v ic e , ju s t a s th e y d id n o t p r e s e r v e
th e ir r e s p o n s a in a n y s ig n if ic a n t o r s y s te m a tic w a y . I n te r e s tin g ly , w e
h a v e s e e n th a t s o m e o f th e m o s t im p o r ta n t s o u r c e s f o r ju d ic ia l a c tiv
ity in G e r m a n y a r e to b e f o u n d w ith in th e r e s p o n s a p r o d u c e d b y
le a d in g G e r m a n to s a f is ts a n d h a la c h is ts .
S e v e r a l m o r e n u a n c e d e x p la n a tio n s f o r th e d if f e r e n c e s th a t w e
h a v e f o u n d , b o th s o c ie ta l a n d id e o lo g ic a l, c a n a ls o b e s u g g e s te d . O n
re la tiv e ly o r g a n iz e d a n d e ffe c tiv e ju d ic ia l s y s te m in tw e lf th - c e n tu r y C o lo g n e
( f e a tu r in g th e s c a h tn i), w h ic h p la y e d a s ta b iliz in g c o m m u n a l r o le th r o u g h
m u c h o f th e th ir te e n th c e n tu ry . S e e P . S tr a it, C o lo g n e in th e T w e lfth C e n tu r y
(G a in e s v ille ; U n iv e r sity o f F lo r id a P re s s, 1 9 7 4 ), 2 4 , 4 5 - 4 6 , 6 1 - 6 8 . S e e a ls o S .
S c h w a r z f u c h s , C o n c is e H is to r y , 1 1 - 1 2 .
1 2 4 .S e e , e .g ., S e fe r H a s id im , e d . P a r m a , § § 1 1 4 2 , 1 3 0 9 - 1 0 , 1 3 1 2 , 1 3 1 5 , a n d 1 3 7 4 .
S e e a ls o n . 1 5 1 b e lo w f o r S e fe r H a s id im 's s u p p o r t f o r th e h e r e m b e lt d in , w h ic h
w a s a c o m m u n a l a tte m p t to in s u r e th a t c o m p e te n t ju d g e s w o u ld h e a r c a s e s ,
a n d c f. § § 1 3 1 3 a n d 1 3 0 1 , a n d n . 1 0 3 a b o v e (e n d ).
1 2 5 .S e e , e .g ., S o lo v e itc h ik , P a w n b r o k in g , 8 2 - 8 5 ; I. T a - S h m a ’s in tr o d u c tio n to
M a fte a h h a - s h e 'e lo t v e h a - te s h u v o t s h e l h a k h m e i A s h k e n a z , $ a r e fa t, v e -Ita ly a h ,
e d . B . L ifs h itz a n d E . S h o c h e tm a n (J e ru s a le m : M a g n e s , 1 9 9 7 ) , 1 1 - 1 3 ; a n d c f. S .
E m a n u e l, “ F o r a M a n ’s L o c a le ,” 4 2 6 - 2 7 .
Ephraim Kanarfogel
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th e s o c ie ta l o r lo g is tic a l s id e , th e s m a ll s iz e o f th e n o r th e r n F r e n c h
J e w is h c o m m u n itie s m u s t b e ta k e n in to a c c o u n t w h e n c o n s id e r in g
th e s ta tu s o f th e r a b b in ic c o u r ts . A s w e h a v e s e e n , th e r e w e r e o c c a
s io n a lly s itu a tio n s in w h ic h m a n y o f th e m e m b e r s o f th e c o m m u n ity
w e r e r e la te d to a ll p o te n tia l j u d g e s . I n G e r m a n y , s m a lle r s e ttle
m e n ts h a d a r r a n g e m e n ts w ith la r g e r o n e s to p r o v id e c o u r t s e r v ic e s
f o r th e m . O n e g u id in g p r in c ip le th e r e w a s th a t a s m a lle r s e ttle m e n t
th a t b u r ie d its d e a d in th e c e m e te r y o f a la r g e r ( o r m o r e e s ta b lis h e d )
s e ttle m e n t w a s e n title d to b r in g its ju d ic ia l n e e d s to th e la r g e r s e ttle m e n t.^ ^ ^ T h e s m a ll s iz e o f th e c o m m u n itie s in n o r th e r n F r a n c e a ls o
m e a n t th a t n u m b e r s o f q u a lif ie d s c h o la r s w e r e n o t e a s ily f o u n d in
th e s e c o m m u n itie s , f u r th e r d im in is h in g th e p o s s ib ility o f m a in ta in
in g a n e s ta b lis h e d c o u r t.
A s e c o n d s o c ie ta l e x p la n a tio n r e la te s to th e u s e o f e x is tin g n o n -
J e w is h o r s e c u la r c o u r ts {XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFED
‘a r k a ’o t)^ e s p e c ia lly w ith r e g a r d to m o n e
ta r y m a tte r s . T h is p r a c tic e w a s d e c r ie d in a s u p e rc o m m u n a l o r d i
n a n c e p r o m u lg a te d a t a s y n o d in T r o y e s a r o u n d th e y e a r 1 1 5 0 .
A lth o u g h a n u m b e r o f p r o m in e n t G e r m a n r a b b in ic s c h o la r s a n d
le a d in g c o m m u n a l ju d g e s , s u c h a s R a b a n o f M a in z a n d R . E lie z e r b .
S a m s o n o f C o lo g n e , w e r e in c lu d e d a m o n g th e s ig n a to r s o f th is o r d i
n a n c e ; th e s y n o d its e lf w a s in itia te d b y R a b b e n u T a m a n d R a s h b a m
a n d w a s a tte n d e d p r im a r ily b y n o r th e r n F r e n c h le a d e r s . T h e o r d i
n a n c e f o r b id s a n y J e w to b r in g litig a tio n a g a in s t a n o th e r b e f o r e n o n J e w is h c o u r ts , a n d it f o r b id s a J e w f r o m u s in g a n y c o n n e c tio n to
th e s e c o u r ts a n d th e s e c u la r a u th o r itie s to h is a d v a n ta g e in h is c a s e
a g a in s t a n o th e r J e w ;^ ^ ^ a lth o u g h , to b e s u r e , la te r G e r m a n a u th o r i
tie s w e r e a ls o v e h e m e n tly o p p o s e d to ‘a r k a 'o t a s w e ll.* ^ ^
1 2 6 .S e e n . 7 4 a b o v e .
1 2 7 .S e e n . 6 8 a b o v e .
1 2 8 .C f. S e fe r H a s id im , § 1 3 0 1 (n . 1 2 4 a b o v e ).
1 2 9 .S e e F in k e ls te in , J e w is h S e lf- G o v e r n m e n t, 4 1 - 4 3 , 1 5 0 - 6 0 . T h e p r o h ib itio n o f
g o in g to 'a r k a ’o t m a y h a v e b e e n e m p h a s iz e d e a r lie r in a n o r d in a n c e a ttr ib u te d
to R . G e r s h o m o f M a in z . S e e M . E \o x \, J e w is h L a w (J e ru s a le m : M a g n e s , 1 9 7 8 ),
2: 635 n. 24.
1 3 0 .S e e M o r d e k h a i h a -sh a le m ‘a l m a s s e k h e t B a b a Q a m m a , e d . A . H a lp e r n , 2 4 4 - 4 5
( § § 1 9 5 - 9 6 ) . C f. U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 2 : 5 3 7 , a n d s e e a ls o ib id ., 5 1 2 . R . Is a a c
b . P e re z o f N o r th a m p to n , E n g la n d ( m id th ir te e n th c e n tu r y ) , r u le d th a t if a n
a g r e e m e n t h a d b e e n m a d e to h e a r a c a s e in th e s e c u la r c o u r t, e v e n th o u g h th is
w a s c le a r ly n o t p r e f e r re d , th e c a s e c o u ld n o t b e h e a r d a g a in in a b e it d in b e
c a u s e o f th e p r in c ip le o f d in a d e - m a lk h u ta d in a . S e e a ls o th e p e s a q o f R . Is a a c
o f C o r b e il (d . 1 2 8 0 ) , in th e M e m o r ia l V o lu m e fo r S h e m a y a h S h a ’a n a n , e d . H .
Religious Leadership During the Tosafist Period
299ZYXWVUTS
I n a d d itio n to th e s e s o c ie ta l o r lo g is tic a l a s p e c ts , th e r e is a p e r
s o n a l d im e n s io n th a t s h o u ld b e c o n s id e r e d . I n a te x t r e f e r r e d to e a r
lie r, th e C o lo g n e ju d g e R . H a y y im b . Y e h i’e l H e f e s Z a h a v s ta te s , “ I f
it w e r e u p to m e , I w o u ld p r e f e r th a t n o c a s e s h o u ld c o m e b e f o r e
m e .” ^ ^ ^ A lth o u g h R . H a y y im ’s c o m m e n t in c o n te x t a p p e a r s to b e
d ir e c te d a t a n a p p e a l c o m in g f r o m a d if f e r e n t c ity ( B o p p a r d ) , it
p o in ts to a n o th e r c o n s id e r a tio n a s w e ll. F o r a s c h o la r to s e r v e a s a n
a c tiv e c o m m u n a l ju d g e m e a n t a t le a s t th e p o s s ib ility ( d e p e n d in g
u p o n w h e r e h e r e s id e d ) o f b e in g ta x e d a n d b o m b a r d e d w ith a ll
k in d s o f c a s e s a n d q u e s tio n s . T h is c o m m u n a l r e s p o n s ib ility c o u ld
c e r ta in ly d a m p e n th e s c h o la r’s o w n c r e a tiv e s c h o la r s h ip .
R . H a y y im d o e s n o t, o f c o u r s e , fu lly e n u n c ia te th is c o n s id e r
a tio n , b u t th e v a lu e o f u n in te r r u p te d
ta lm u d ic s tu d ie s
( o r th e
in s tr u c tio n o f a d v a n c e d s tu d e n ts ) , v e r s u s s e r v in g th e c o m m u n ity a s a
r a b b in ic d e c is o r o r XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
d a y y a n , w a s d e b a te d q u ite e x p lic itly b y r a b b in ic
f ig u r e s in o th e r p e r io d s .* ^ ^ In a d d itio n , th e r e is a n e c d o ta l e v id e n c e
f r o m th e m e d ie v a l p e r io d f o r th e h e a v y b u r d e n p la c e d o n a s c h o la r
w h o s e r v e d h is c o m m u n ity a s b o th its c e n tra l r o s h y e s h iv a h a n d
d a y y a n P ^ M o r e o v e r , R . E p h r a im b . S a m s o n , a n A s h k e n a z ic b ib lic a l
c o m m e n ta to r a s s o c ia te d w ith R . E le a z a r o f W o r m s a n d th e m e th o d
o lo g y o f th e G e r m a n P ie tis ts , in te r p r e ts th e a d v ic e g iv e n to M o s e s b y
h is f a th e r - in - la w , J e th r o ( th a t M o s e s s h o u ld a p p o in t lo w e r c o u r ts
a n d ju d g e s s o th a t h e w o u ld n o t h a v e to h a n d le a ll c a s e s h im s e lf ) , in
p r e c is e ly th is m a n n e r . J e th r o c o n c lu d e s ( E x o d . 1 8 :2 3 ) b y a s s e r tin g
S h a ’a n a n (B n e i B ra k : a u th o r , 1 9 8 8 ) , 2 6 n o . 2 6 . A s U r b a c h n o te s , h o w e v e r (2 :
5 1 3 n . 5 ), M a h a ra m ’s s tu d e n t R . A s h e r b . Y e h i’e l w a s u n e q u iv o c a lly a g a in s t
a n y r e c o u r s e to 'a r k a ’o t. In s h o r t, a lth o u g h it is d if f ic u lt to d e m o n s tra te th a t
th is p r o b le m w a s e x c lu s iv e ly a F re n c h o n e , th e e v id e n c e f r o m n o r th e r n F ra n c e
is m o r e s u g g e s tiv e . C f. Z . A v n e ri, “ R e c o u rs e to N o n - J e w is h C o u r ts ” ( H e b r e w ) ,
Z /o « 2 5 ( 1 9 6 0 ) : 5 7 - 6 0 .
1 3 1 .S e e n . 6 8 a b o v e ; F r a n k , A s h k e n a z ic C o m m u n itie s , 2 7 - 2 8 ; a n d B . B u c h m a n ,
“ J e w is h C o u r ts in W e s te rn E u r o p e d u r in g th e M id d le A g e s ” (M .A . th e s is ,
Y e s h iv a U n iv e rsity , 1 9 7 5 ), 3 9 .
1 3 2 .S e e , e .g ., I m m a n u e l E tk e s , “ T h e R e la tio n s h ip B e tw e e n R a b b in ic S c h o la r sh ip
a n d th e R a b b in a te
( 1 9 8 8 ): 3 8 5 ^ 0 3 .
in
N in e te e n th - C e n tu r y
L ith u a n ia ” ( H e b re w ) , Z io n
53
1 3 3 .S e e , e .g ., S e fe r h a - Q a b b a la h , e d . G . D . C o h e n ( P h ila d e lp h ia : J e w is h P u b lic a tio n
S o c ie ty , 1 9 6 7 ) , 4 7 - 4 8 ( H e b r e w te x t) r e f e r r in g to R . N a th a n o f C o r d o b a , a n d
A . H . F r e im a n n , T h e R o s h a n d H is D e s c e n d a n ts ( H e b r e w ) (J e ru s a le m : M o s a d
h a - R a v K o o k , 1 9 8 6 ) , 3 2 - 3 3 , f o c u s in g o n R . A s h e r b . Y e h i’e l’s c a r e e r in T o le d o .
300
Ephraim Kanarfogel
th a t if M o s e s w e r e to im p le m e n t th e p r o p o s e d s y s te m , h e w o u ld b e
a b le to f u n c tio n p r o p e rly a s a le a d e r . A c c o rd in g to th e lite r a l m e a n
in g o f th is v e r s e , M o s e s “ w o u ld b e a b le to s ta n d .” In R . E p h r a im ’s
w o r d s , M o s e s w o u ld b e a b le to s ta n d w h e n e v e r h e w is h e d a n d
w o u ld n o t b e r e q u ire d “ to s it f r o m d a w n u n til d u s k in ju d g m e n t {XWVUTS
be-
d in )y th e r e b y f o r g o in g h is a b ility to e n g a g e in T o r a h s tu d y [ u -le -v a tte l T a lm u d T o r a h )
T o m y m in d , h o w e v e r , th e m o s t c o m p e llin g in te r p r e ta tio n o r
e x p la n a tio n f o r th e d if f e r e n c e s th a t w e h a v e n o te d b e tw e e n n o r th e r n
F r a n c e a n d G e r m a n y r e la te s to th e in te lle c tu a l liv e s a n d r o le s o f r a b
b in ic s c h o la rs , b u t h a s a s ig n if ic a n t s o c ie ta l a s p e c t a s w e ll. T h e k e y
f a c to r h e r e is th e r o le o f th e r a b b in ic c o u r t, a s o p p o s e d to o r v e r s u s
th e b e it m id r a s h o r a c a d e m y { y e s h iv a h ) , a s th e s e a t o f r e lig io u s le a d
e r s h ip a n d p o w e r w ith in th e c o m m u n itie s o f A s h k e n a z . T o p u t it
s u c c in c tly , th e n o tio n d e v e lo p e d in G e r m a n y th a t le a d in g s c h o la r s
c o u ld b e s t s e r v e th e c o m m u n ity , a n d e x e rt p o s itiv e in f lu e n c e s , a s
m a s te r s o f a n d p a r tic ip a n ts in th e r a b b in ic a l c o u r ts . M a n y o f th e
G e r m a n s c h o la r s th a t w e h a v e d is c u s s e d a ls o h e a d e d s tu d y h a lls o r
y e s h iv o t, b u t it m u s t b e k e p t in m in d th a t th e la r g e s t a n d m o s t
p r o m in e n t T o s a f is t s tu d y h a lls c o n s is te d o f tw e n ty fiv e s tu d e n ts o r
s o , a n d th e a v e r a g e s iz e w a s m o r e lik e ly in th e m id - te e n s .
S im c h a E m a n u e l h a s n o te d th a t R . B a r u k h b . S a m u e l o f M a in z , a
p r o m in e n t ju d g e a n d a u th o r o f th e v o lu m in o u s ( b u t n o
lo n g e r
e x ta n t) S e fe r h a - H o k h m a h ( w h ic h w a s d e v o te d p r in c ip a lly to m o n e
ta r y la w a n d S e d e r N e z iq in , a n d is c ite d w id e ly b y a n u m b e r o f
to s a f is ts ) d id n o t h a v e a n y s tu d e n ts o f w h o m w e a r e a w a re . E m a n u e l
c o n c lu d e s th a t R . B a r u k h w a s , in f a c t, e x c lu s iv e ly a ju d g e a n d n o t a n
a c a d e m y h e a d a t a ll. I n d e e d , R . B a r u k h in c lu d e s a s ig n if ic a n t s e le c
tio n o f th e ju d ic ia l d e c is io n s a n d c a s e s o f th e M a in z c o u r t w ith in
S e fe r h a - H o k h m a h in a d d itio n to h is o w n ta lm u d ic in te rp r e ta tio n s
a n d a p p l i c a t i o n s . I s u s p e c t th a t th e s a m e c h a r a c te r iz a tio n m a y b e
1 3 4 .S e e P e r u sh R . E p h r a im b . S h im s h o n ‘a l h a -T o ra h , e d . J . K lu g m a n n (J e ru s a le m :
K lu g m a n n , 2 0 0 0 ) , 2 3 9 , a n d T o s a fo t h a -S h a le m , e d . J . G e llis (J e ru s a le m : W a g s h e l, 1 9 9 0 ), 8 : 3 4 . T h is in te r p r e ta tio n is c ite d w ith o u t a ttr ib u tio n b y th e
to s a fis t T o r a h c o m m e n ta r y M o s h a v Z e q e n im (e d . S a s s o n , 1 5 6 ). A s G e llis n o te s ,
R . H a y y im A z u la i ( H id a ) a ttr ib u te s th is c o m m e n t to R . E le a z a r o f W o r m s (w h o
s e rv e d a s a c o m m u n ity d a y y a n ; s e e n . 9 a b o v e ) . S e e a ls o N im m u q e i H u m a s h le -
R a b b e n u Y e s h a y a h d i T r a n i, e d . C . B . C h a v e l (J e ru s a le m : M o s a d h a - R a v K o o k ,
1 9 7 2 ) , 4 4 , a n d c f. m s . M o s c o w 3 0 3 , fo ls . 7 6 v - 7 7 r .
1 3 5 .S e e m y J e w is h E d u c a tio n , 6 6 - 6 7 . C f. te x t a t n . 5 a b o v e . T h e s tu d y h a il in
M a in z a p p e a r s to b e s e c o n d a ry to th e r a b b in ic c o u r t th e r e .
1 3 6 .S e e E m a n u e l, “ R . B a r u k h o f M a in z ,” e s p . 1 5 4 .
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c o r r e c t f o r R . M e n a h e m b . J a c o b o f W o r m s , w h o is m e n tio n e d o n ly
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s u g g e s tio n b y A p to w itz e r th a t M e n a h e m b . J a c o b is th e R . M e n a
h e m h e - H a s id r e f e r r e d to b y R iv a q o f S p ir e s in h is S e fe r y ih u s e t
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o th e r G e r m a n c o lle a g u e s a n d c o n te m p o r a r ie s o f R . B a r u k h , in c lu d
in g h is te a c h e r R . E p h r a im o f R e g e n s b u r g a n d th e o th e r m e m b e rs o f
h is c o u r t in R e g e n s b u r g , s u c h a s R . I s a a c b . M o r d e k h a i a n d R .
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o f m o n e ta r y la w { d in e i m a m o n o t) .^ ^ ^
I n a d d itio n , o r p e r h a p s a s a c a u s e , le a d in g G e r m a n to s a f is ts a n d
r a b b in ic s c h o la r s a p p e a r to h a v e r e ta in e d th e n o tio n p r e v a le n t in th e
R h in e la n d d u r in g th e p r e - C r u s a d e p e r io d o f id e n tif y in g in s titu tio n s
( in c lu d in g a c a d e m ie s ) b y th e ir c o m m u n ity o r lo c a le a n d its tr a d i
tio n s , r a th e r th a n b y th e im p o r ta n t s c h o la r s w h o ta u g h t in th e m . In
a w o r d , th e r o s h y e s h iv a h w a s in a le s s c e n tr a l p o s itio n . In n o r th e r n
F r a n c e , o n th e o th e r h a n d , th e y s u p p o r te d m o r e c o m p le te ly th e
n o tio n th a t d e v e lo p s d u r in g th e tw e lf th c e n tu r y (in n o r th e r n F r a n c e ,
a n d to a le s s e r e x te n t in G e rm a n y ) th a t th e r o s h y e s h iv a h w a s , in
e f f e c t, th e m o s t im p o r ta n t d is tin g u is h in g c h a ra c te r is tic o f th e a c a d
e m y . T h e p e r s o n w h o s e r v e d a s r o s h y e s h iv a h b e c a m e m o r e s ig n if i
c a n t th a n th e o ffic e o f r o s h y e s h iv a h a s a n in s titu tio n . S tu d e n ts
f o llo w e d le a d in g s c h o la r s a s th e y c h a n g e d lo c a le s , a n d th e y id e n ti
f ie d w ith th e m in p a r tic u la r , r a th e r th a n w ith th e lo c a tio n o f th e
a c a d e m y a n d its p r a c tic e s . T h u s , w h ile it is p o s s ib le to s p e a k a b o u t
th e p r e - C r u s a d e P e r u s h M a g e n s a to v a r io u s tr a c ta te s , w e in v a r ia b ly
r e fe r to T o s a fo t R i o r T o s a fo t R . Y e h u d a h S ir le o n } ^ " ^
M o r e o v e r , th e r e is a s e r ie s o f n o r th e r n F r e n c h r a b b in ic te x ts th a t
1 3 7 .S e c U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fis ts, 1 : 3 7 0 , 4 0 6 . A p to w itz e r, w h o w a s s o m e w h a t m o re
a ttu n e d to th e s ig n ific a n c e o f G e r m a n c o m m u n a l a u th o r itie s , h a s a fa irly
le n g th y e n tr y o n M e n a h e m b . J a c o b . S e e I n tr o d u c tio n to R a b ia h , 3 8 2 - 8 4 .
1 3 8 .S e e n o te s 2 2 - 2 3 a b o v e . N o te a ls o th e c u r io u s b u t in te r e s tin g c o r r e la tio n
b e tw e e n m is h b a p a n d p iy y u f, f o u n d in th o s e G e r m a n r a b b in ic s c h o la r s w h o
w e re b o th p ro lific p a y y e fa n im a n d le a d in g c o m m u n a l ju d g e s , s u c h a s R .
E p h r a im o f R e g e n s b u r g , R . E p h r a im o f B o n n , R . B a r u k h o f M a in z , a n d R .
M e n a fie m b . J a c o b o f W o rm s .
1 3 9 . F o r th e p r e - C ru s a d e p e r io d , s e e e .g ., T e s h u v o t R a b b e n u G e r s h o m M a ’o r h a -
G o la h , e d . S . E id e lb e rg ( N e w Y o rk : Y e s h iv a U n iv e rsity , 1 9 5 5 ) , 9 8 - 9 9 (n o . 3 2 ).
F o r a p a r a lle l s itu a tio n c a . 1 2 0 0 , s e e S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', v o l. 4 , p is q e i ‘A b o d a
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d e s c r ib e th e w a y s tu d e n ts c o u ld a n d s h o u ld a tte m p t to c h a lle n g e th e XWVUT
r o s h y e s h iv a h o n th e b a s is o f th e ir b e s t u n d e r s ta n d in g o f ta lm u d ic
a n d r a b b in ic te x ts . S c h o la r ly r e p u ta tio n s w e r e to b e m a d e o n th e
b a s is o f in te lle c tu a l a n d in te r p r e ta tio n a l a b ilitie s a n d s k ills . A c c o r d
in g to R i, a s o p p o s e d to th e ta lm u d ic p e r io d in w h ic h th e te a c h e r
h a d a c c e s s to b o d ie s o f k n o w le d g e a n d a d e p th o f a n a ly s is th a t w e re
n o t e a s ily a v a ila b le to s tu d e n ts , n o w (in h is d a y ) w ith th e a p p e a r
a n c e a n d a v a ila b ility o f ta lm u d ic c o m m e n ta r ie s a n d p o s t- ta lm u d ic
h a la c h ic te x ts , a s tu d e n t c a n m o r e e a s ily a c h ie v e th e a b ility ( a n d th e
r ig h t) to r u le in m a tte rs o f J e w is h la w .^ ^ ^
In th e w o r d s o f R . S a m s o n o f S e n s , “ T h a t w h ic h w a s h id d e n to
e a r lie r s c h o la r s is s o m e tim e s r e v e a le d to la te r s c h o la r s ... f o r a s tu
d e n t c a n s o m e tim e s s e e w h a t h is te a c h e r c a n n o t f r o m its [ th e T a l
m u d ’s ] w o r d s . H e c a n ‘o u ts m a r t’ h is te a c h e r a n d s h a r p e n h is [ th e
te a c h e r ’s ] i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . I n d e e d , th e to s a f is t a c a d e m y h e a d s , R .
M o s e s a n d R . S a m u e l o f E v r e u x ( m id th ir te e n th c e n tu r y ), w r o te th a t
d e m o n s tr a tio n s o f r e v e r e n c e th a t a s tu d e n t m u s t s h o w h is m a jo r
te a c h e r a c c o rd in g to ta lm u d ic la w a r e n o lo n g e r r e q u ir e d . “ F o r th e
ta lm u d ic te x ts , th e c o m m e n ta r ie s , th e n o v e lla e , th e lh a la c h ic ] c o m
p o s itio n , th e y a r e th e te a c h e r s o f m e n . A n d a ll is d e te rm in e d b y o n e ’s
p e r s p ic a c ity . A n d th u s , it w a s u s u a l in th e ir lo c a le th a t a s tu d e n t
o p e n e d h is o w n s tu d y h a ll w ith o u t c o n c e r n f o r th e ta lm u d ic d ic tu m
th a t ‘o n e w h o d e c id e s a m a tte r o f la w in h is te a c h e r ’s p r e s e n c e is
p u n is h a b le b y d e a th .’ S im ila r ly , th e s tu d e n t, b y m e a n s o f s u p e r io r
r e a s o n in g , c a n c o n tr a d ic t h is te a c h e r .” ^ "^ ^ A c c o rd in g to th e b r o th e r s
o f E v r e u x , th e r ig h t o f a s tu d e n t to o p e n h is o w n a c a d e m y , in c o m
p e titio n a s it w e r e w ith h is te a c h e r , is p r e d ic a te d s o le ly o n th e a b ility
th a t th e s tu d e n t h a d to c o n v in c in g ly d e m o n s tr a te h is in te rp r e ta tio n s
a n d p o s itio n s w ith r e s p e c t to ta lm u d ic lite r a tu r e a n d la w . In n o r th
e r n F r a n c e , th e n , th e c o n c e p t o f th e a c a d e m y h e a d a s th e c e n tr a l fig Z a r a , § 2 5 2 . F o r fu ll d is c u s s io n o f th e se d is tin c tio n s ( in c lu d in g p a r a lle ls to e d u
c a tio n a l c o n v e n tio n s in m e d ie v a l C h r is tia n s o c ie ty ) s e e m y J e w is h E d u c a tio n .
1 4 0 .S e e S e fe r S e m a q m i- Z u r ic h , e d . Y . H a r - S h o s h a n im (J e ru s a le m , 1 9 7 3 ) , 1 : 2 7 5 .
1 4 1 .S e e M e ir b . T o d r o s h a -L e v i ( R a m a h ) A b u la f ia , K itd b a l-R a s il, e d . J e h ie ! B rill
(P a ris ; J . B rill, 1 8 7 1 ) , 1 3 1 - 3 2 .
1 4 2 .T h e s ta te m e n t o f th e b r o th e r s o f E v r e u x is f o u n d in a le tte r w r itte n b y th e m
a n d p r e s e r v e d in S e fe r O r h o t H a y y im !e -R . A h a r o n h a - K o h e n m i- L u n e l (e d .
F lo r e n c e , re p r. J e ru s a le m : Y a h a d u t, 1 9 8 6 ) , h ilk h o t T a lm u d T o r a h , § 2 1 . T h e ir
le tte r is c ite d , w ith s lig h t v a r ia tio n , in T e s h u v o t M a h a r a s h d a m , H o s h e n M is h -
p a t, n o . 1 . S e e a ls o U r b a c h , T h e T o s a fx sts , 1 : 4 7 9 - 6 0 , a n d M . E lo n , “ T h e L a w ,
B o o k s , a n d L ib r a r ie s ,” N a tio n a l J e w is h L a w R e v ie w 2 ( 1 9 8 7 ) : 1 6 - 1 8 .
R e l i g i o u s L e a d e r s h i p D u r i n g t h e T o s a f is t P e r i o d
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s u p r e m e a n d w a s to b e lin k e d m o s t c lo s e ly to th e v ir tu o s ity o f th e
a s p ir in g s c h o la r.^ ^ '^
F u r th e r s u p p o r t f o r th is a p p r o a c h in a c c o u n tin g f o r th e d if f e r
e n c e s in ju d ic ia l in v o lv e m e n t a m o n g n o r th e r n F r e n c h a n d G e r m a n
r a b b in ic s c h o la r s c o m e s f r o m th e f a c t th a t th e p e r io d w h e n th e d is
tin c tio n s th a t h a v e b e e n n o te d in th is s tu d y a r e m o s t p r o n o u n c e d
c o r r e s p o n d s p r e c is e ly to th e y e a r s w h e n n o r th e r n F r e n c h a n d G e r
m a n to s a f is ts a n d r a b b in ic s c h o la r s w e r e in a s e n s e c u t o f f f r o m e a c h
o th e r , in te r m s o f th e d is s e m in a tio n o f ta lm u d ic a n d r a b b in ic lite r a
tu r e a n d m e th o d o lo g y . Y a ‘a c o v S u s s m a n n h a s a r g u e d th a t b e g in n in g
w ith th e s tu d e n ts o f R i in th e la s t p a r t o f th e tw e lf th c e n tu r y a n d
c o n tin u in g in to th e th ir te e n th c e n tu r y ( u n til th e d a y s o f R . I s a a c O r
Z a r u a ‘, w h o s tu d ie d w ith R . J u d a h S ir le o n in P a r is ) , G e r m a n s tu
d e n ts a n d s c h o la r s , w ith f e w e x c e p tio n s , d id n o t c o m e to n o r th e r n
F r a n c e to s tu d y , n o r d id th e y c ite th e ir c o n te m p o r a r ie s f r o m F r a n c e
a n d v ic e v e r s a . T h e s e d e v e lo p m e n ts h e lp to e x p la in th e m ild e r f o r m
o f to s a f is t d ia le c tic in G e rm a n y d u r in g th is p e r io d , a s w e ll a s th e
g r e a te r in te r e s t th e r e in w o r k s a n d th e o r ie s o f h a la c h a , a s o p p o s e d
to ta lm u d ic c o m m e n ta rie s .* '* * ^ A ll o f th e s e p h e n o m e n a r e la te to th e
is s u e o f r a b b in ic le a d e r s h ip a n d p o w e r a s w e ll. D o e s r a b b in ic le a d e r
s h ip d e r iv e p r im a r ily f r o m o n e ’s a b ility to d is c o v e r XWVUTSRQPONM
h id d u s h im , a n
a b ility th a t r e s id e s in th e p e r s o n o f th e a c a d e m y h e a d a n d h is s tu
d e n ts ( n o r th e r n F r a n c e )? O r is le a d e r s h ip th e p r o v in c e o f th e m o s t
a u th o r ita tiv e s o u r c e o f J e w is h la w a n d tr a d itio n , a d a y y a n a n d h is
a s s o c ia te s ( G e r m a n y ) ? T h e tw o a im s a r e n o t m u tu a lly e x c lu s iv e , o f
c o u r s e ; th e q u e s tio n is o n ly o n e o f e m p h a s is . I n d e e d , b e f o r e a n d
a f te r th e p e r io d in q u e s tio n , th e d if f e r e n c e s b e tw e e n n o r th e r n F r a n c e
1 4 3 .F o r a d is c u s s io n o f th e f o r m u la tio n s o f R i ( in c lu d in g s o m e s ig n if ic a n t v a r ia n ts ) ,
R a s h m i-S h a n § , a n d th e b r o th e rs o f E v r c u x a n d o th e r r e la te d r a b b in ic te x ts,
a n d th e im p lic a tio n s f o r th e in te lle c tu a l a n d in s titu tio n a l h is to r y o f m e d ie v a l
A s h k e n a z ic J e w ry , s e e m y “ R a b b in ic A u th o r ity a n d th e R ig h t to O p e n a n
A c a d e m y in M e d ie v a l A s h k e n a z ,” M ic h a e l 1 2 ( 1 9 9 1 ) : 2 3 3 - 5 0 , a n d “ P ro g re ss
a n d T r a d itio n in M e d ie v a l A s h k e n a z ,” J e w is h H is to r y 1 4 ( 2 0 0 0 ) : 2 8 7 - 3 1 6 .
1 4 4 .S e e Y . S u s sm a n n , “ T h e S c h o la rly O e u v r e o f P r o f e s s o r E . E . U r b a c h ” ( H e b r e w ) ,
M u s a f M a d d a 'e i h a - Y a h u d u t 1 ( 1 9 9 3 ) : 3 9 n . 6 3 , 4 8 - 5 4 ; S o lo v e itc h ik , P a w n b r o k in g y 9 7 - 9 8 ; S . E m a n u e l, “ F o r a M a n ’s L o c a le ,” 4 3 7 - 3 9 ; a n d id e m , “ R .
B a r u k h o f M a in z ,” 1 2 9 - 3 0 . T h e a s s e s s m e n t o f th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e
G e r m a n P ie tis ts a n d th e to s a f ist e n te r p r is e in n o r th e rn F r a n c e in p a r tic u la r is
a ls o in f o r m e d b y th e s e d is tin c tio n s .
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a n d G e r m a n y in th e s e m a tte rs a r e m u c h le s s p r o n o u n c e d .
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k e n a z d u r in g th e h ig h M id d le A g e s .'" ^ ^ A lth o u g h th e s e tw o m o d e ls
w e r e o f te n lin k e d a n d in te r tw in e d , th e p e r io d a n d lo c a le s o n w h ic h
w e h a v e f o c u s e d a f f o r d u s a n o p p o r tu n ity to lo o k a t th e m s e p a ra te ly .
T o th is p o in t, m o s t s tu d e n ts o f th e to s a fis t p e r io d h a v e f o llo w e d th e
le a d o f U r b a c h a n d h a v e c o n c e n tra te d o n u n d e r s ta n d in g , d e s c r ib in g ,
a n d tr a c in g th e XWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
r o s h y e s h iv a h m o d e l, a lth o u g h a n u m b e r o f m o r e
1 4 5 . A fu ll a n a ly s is o f p r e - C r u s a d e ju d ic ia l a n te c e d e n ts is b e y o n d th e s c o p e o f th is
s tu d y . T h e r e is e v id e n c e th a t R a s h i s e rv e d o n a c o u r t in T ro y e s . S e e T e s h u v o t
R a s h i, e d . I. E lfe n b e in ( N e w Y o rk : M a k o r , 1 9 4 3 ), n o . 7 4 ; A . G r o s s m a n , T h e
E a r ly S a g e s o f F r a n c e ( H e b re w ) (J e ru s a le m : M a g n e s , 1 9 9 5 ) , 1 3 1 n . 3 3 , h a s
g a th e r e d a d d itio n a l e v id e n c e . T h e S o lo m o n b . Is a a c w h o s e r v e d a s a ju d g e
to g e th e r w ith J o s e p h b . I s a a c B e k h o r S h o r o f O r le a n s ( n o te d a ls o b y G ro s s m a n ) is s o m e o n e o th e r th a n R a s h i; s e e n o te s 7 5 - 7 6 a b o v e . C f. B re u e r, “ In v e s ti
g a tio n o f th e T y p o lo g y ,” 4 6 . S e fe r O r Z a r u a ', p is q e i B a b a Q a m m a , § 8 5 ,
r e c o r d s a r e s p o n s u m o f R a s h i’s to th r e e ju d g e s [ s h e lo s h e t h a - n e d iv im ) w ith
r e s p e c t to th e k e tu b a h o f a w o m a n w h o h a d d e v e lo p e d c e r ta in b le m is h e s. S e e
a ls o S o lo v e itc h ik , “ P a w n b r o k in g ,” 2 0 5 - 7 . F o r th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n ju d i
c ia l p r a c tic e s in f ifte e n th - c e n tu ry G e r m a n y a n d th o s e o f th e e a r lie r p e r io d , s e e
Y e d id y a h D in a r i, T h e S a g e s o f A s h k e n a z in th e L a te M id d le A g e s ( H e b re w )
( J e r u sa le m : M o s a d B ia lik , 1 9 8 4 ) , 1 2 5 - 3 4 . T h e p r o c e d u r a l c h a n g e s a n d a d ju s t
m e n ts th a t D in a r i h a s id e n tif ie d in th e la te r p e r io d w e r e m a d e a g a in s t th e b a c k
d r o p o f th e G e r m a n r a b b in ic c o u r ts o f th e th ir te e n th c e n tu r y . R a b b in ic c o u r ts
in n o r th e rn F ra n c e w e r e a p p a re n tly n o t ta k e n in to a c c o u n t.
1 4 6 . T h is s tu d y h a s f o c u s e d o n ly o n c o m m u n a l b a tte i d in , n o t o n ta q q a n o t h a -q a h a l
o r th e f u n c tio n in g o f th e q e h illa h its e lf a s a b e it d in w ith r e s p e c t to s e ttin g c o m
m u n a l p o lic y . S im ila rly , w e h a v e n o t d is c u s s e d th e r o le o f r a b b in ic s c h o la r s in
s u p e r c o m m u n a l g o v e r n m e n t, w h e r e it m a y b e a s s u m e d th a t le a d in g fig u re s
w o u ld b e m o r e in c lin e d to b e in v o lv e d . N o n e th e le s s , it is in te r e s tin g to n o te
w h ic h p r o m in e n t to sa f is ts a n d lo c a l ju d g e s a r e a m o n g th e s ig n a to r s o n s u p e rc o m m u n a l ta q q a n o t o f th e tw e lf th a n d th ir te e n th c e n tu r ie s . S e e , e .g . F in k e ls te in , J e w is h S e lf G o v e r n m e n t, 4 2 ( R a b a n o f M a in z , R . E lie z e r b . S a m so n o f
C o lo g n e ) , 6 2 - 6 3 (R . E le a z a r o f W o r m s , R a b ia h , R . S im h a h o f S p ire s , R .
B a r u k h o f M a in z ), 1 5 5 ( R a b b e n u T a m , R a s h b a m , R a b a n ) , 1 6 5 ( R a b b e n u
T a m ) , 1 9 8 (R . Y e h i’e l o f P a r is ) , 2 2 3 ( D a v id b . Q a lo n y m u s o f M u e n z b e r g ) . S e e
a ls o Y . C o h e n , “ C o m m u n a l E n a c tm e n ts ,” 1 4 8 - 5 0 .
R e lig io u s L e a d e rsh ip
D u r i n g t h e T o s a f is t P e r i o d
305
r e c e n t s tu d ie s p r o d u c e d in I s r a e l, to w h ic h I h a v e r e f e r r e d th r o u g h
o u t th is s tu d y , h a v e b e c o m e in te r e s te d in th e r o le o f th e to s a f is ts a s XWVUTSRQ
d a y y a n im . T h is is a w e lc o m e d e v e lo p m e n t b e c a u s e I b e lie v e th a t it
w ill o p e n th e v a s t lite r a tu r e o f th e to s a f is ts ( in c lu d in g th e m a te r ia l
th a t is s till in m a n u s c r ip t, a n d e s p e c ia lly th e w r itin g s o f s o m e le s s e r
k n o w n G e r m a n f ig u r e s ) to n e w d ir e c tio n s a n d p a tte r n s o f a n a ly s is
th a t m a y w e ll y ie ld a d d itio n a l s ig n if ic a n t ( a n d p e r h a p s u n e x p e c te d )
c o n c lu s io n s .
1 4 7 . In m y P e e r in g th r o u g h th e L a ttic e s , I h a v e h ig h lig h te d th e ric h n e s s o f th e
th o u g h t a n d s p iritu a lity o f a n u m b e r o f G e r m a n to s a h s ts ( a n d o th e r s in A u s tr ia
a n d Ita ly ) th a t h a s g o n e re la tiv e ly u n n o tic e d . M y f o r th c o m in g b o o k . T h e I n te l
le c tu a l H is to r y o f M e d ie v a l A s h k e n a zic J e w r y ( D e tr o it: W a y n e S ta te U n iv e rsity
P re ss ), w ill c o n tin u e to e x p lo r e th e w id e r a n g e o f in te lle c tu a l in te r e sts (a n d
v ie w s ) to b e f o u n d a m o n g to s a f is ts in G e r m a n y a n d n o r th e r n F ra n c e . T h e r e a r e
a ls o a n u m b e r o f s ig n if ic a n t g e o g r a p h ic is su e s th a t n e e d to b e a d d r e s s e d a n e w .
T h u s , f o r e x a m p le , R a m i R e in e r a r g u e s (in th e s e c o n d c h a p te r o f h is d o c to r a l
d is s e r ta tio n o n th e c a r e e r o f R a b b e n u T a m ) th a t tw o im p o r ta n t n o r th e r n
F re n c h s tu d e n ts o f R a b b e n u T a m , R . H a y y im K o h e n a n d R . E lie z e r o f M e tz ,
a ls o s p e n t a c o n s id e r a b le a m o u n t o f tim e in M a in z . F o r R . E lie z e r, s e e a ls o
R e in e r, “ R a b b e n u T a m ,” 1 1 0 - 1 3 .
Jewish Religious Leadership
Image and Reality
Edited by Jack Wertheimer
Volume 1
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I I
^^10 I
The Jewish
^^Theological
^1^ Seminary
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