Ḥagiz, Jacob

Palestinian Talmudist; born of a Spanish family at Fez in 1620; died at Constantinople 1674. Ḥagiz's teacher was David Karigal ("Ḳorban Minḥah," No. 105), who afterward became his father-in-law. About 1646 Ḥagiz went to Italy for the purpose of publishing his books, and remained there until after 1656, supporting himself by teaching. Samuel di Pam, rabbi at Leghorn, calls himself a pupil of Ḥagiz. About 1657 Ḥagiz left Leghorn for Jerusalem, where the Vega brothers of Leghorn had founded a bet ha-midrash for him (Grätz, "Gesch." x. 212), and where he became a member of the rabbinical college (Moses ibn Ḥabib, "Geṭ Pashuṭ," p. 129). There a large number of eager young students gathered about him, among whom were Moses ibn Ḥabib, who became his son-in-law, and Joseph Almosnino, later rabbi of Belgrade (Moses Ḥagiz, "Mishnat Ḥakamim," No. 624). Another son-in-law of his was Moses Ḥayyun (Azulai, "Shem ha-Gedolim").

Shabbethai Ẓebi's chief opponent was Jacob Ḥagiz, who put him under the ban (Grätz, l.c. x. 475, note 3). About 1673 Ḥagiz went to Constantinople to publish his "Leḥem ha-Panim," but he died before this was accomplished. This book, as well as many others of his, was lost (Moses Ḥagiz, in the introduction to "Halakot Ḳeṭannot"). He also wrote: "Teḥillat Ḥokmah," on Talmudic methodology, published together with Simson of Chinon's "Sefer Keritot" (Verona, 1647); "Oraḥ Mishor," on the conduct of rabbis (an appendix to the preceding work; 2d ed., with additions by Moses Ḥagiz, Amsterdam, 1709); "Petil Tekelet," on the "Azharot" of Solomon Gabirol (Venice, 1652; 2d ed., London, 1714); "'Eẓ, ha-Ḥayyim," on the Mishnah (Leghorn, 1654-55; 2d ed., Berlin, 1716).

Ḥagiz also translated the "Menorat ha-Ma'or" of Isaac Aboab into Spanish (1656).

Bibliography:

  * Grätz, Gesch. x. 212 et seq., and note 3.



D. L. Grü.