Rishonim

Rabbis and poskim of the 11th–15th centuries

Rabbinical eras

* Chazal
* Zugot
* Tannaim
* Amoraim
* Savoraim
* Geonim
* Rishonim
* Acharonim

* v
* t
* e

Rishonim (Hebrew: [ʁiʃoˈnim]; Hebrew: ראשונים, lit. 'the first ones'; sing. ראשון, Rishon) were the leading rabbis and poskim who lived approximately during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the Shulchan Aruch (שׁוּלחָן עָרוּך, "Set Table", a common printed code of Jewish law, 1563 CE) and following the Geonim (589–1038 CE). Rabbinic scholars subsequent to the Shulchan Aruch are generally known as acharonim ("the latter ones").

The distinction between the Rishonim and the Geonim is meaningful historically; in halakha (Jewish law) the distinction is less important. According to a widely held view in Orthodox Judaism, the Acharonim generally cannot dispute the rulings of rabbis of previous eras unless they find support from other rabbis in previous eras. On the other hand, this view is not formally a part of halakha itself, and according to some rabbis is a violation of the halakhic system.[1] In The Principles of Jewish Law, Orthodox rabbi Menachem Elon writes that:

> [such a view] "inherently violates the precept of Hilkheta Ke-Vatra'ei, that is, the law is according to the later scholars. This rule dates from the Geonic period. It laid down that until the time of Rabbis Abbaye and Rava (4th century) the halakha was to be decided according to the views of the earlier scholars, but from that time onward, the halakhic opinions of post-talmudic scholars would prevail over the contrary opinions of a previous generation.[2]

## List of Rishonim

[edit]

Abraham Ibn Ezra (center) Isaac Alfasi Maimonides' statue in Córdoba Nachmanides Rashi

### 11th Century

[edit]

* Menahem ben Helbo, 11th century French tosafist and exegete
* Isaac ibn Ghayyat (Me'ah She'arim), 11th century Spanish halakhist and commentator.
* Simhah ben Samuel of Vitry, 11th century French Talmudist (?-1105)
* Bahya ibn Paquda, (Hovot ha-Levavot), 11th century Spanish philosopher and moralist
* Rabbenu Gershom, 11th century German Talmudist and legalist
* Isaac Alfasi, (Hilkhot haRif), 11th century North African and Spanish Talmudist and Halakhist
* Jonah ibn Janah, 11th century Hebrew grammarian
* Rashi, (Solomon ben Yitzchak), 11th century French Talmudist and exegete
* Tosafists, (Tosafot), 11th, 12th and 13th century Talmudic scholars in France and Germany
* Simeon Kara, 11th century rabbi and Joseph's father
* Baruch ben Samuel (haHokhmah), 12th century Talmudist and poet (d. 1221)

### 12th Century

[edit]

* Isaac of Chernigov, 12th century exegete
* Eleazar of Worms (Rokeah), 12th century German halakhist
* Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg (Hasidim), 12th century German mystic and halakhist
* Isaac ben Abba Mari (Ittur Soferim), 12th century Provençal rabbi (c. 1122 – c. 1193)
* Jacob ben Meir, 12th century Talmudist, halakhist, and Biblical philologist (1100–1171)
* Shemaiah of Soissons, 12th century Talmudist and Biblical exegete
* Joseph Kara, 12th century Biblical exegete. (c. 1065 – c. 1135)
* Isaiah di Trani, 12th century Biblical exegete and halakhist. (c. 1180 – c. 1250)
* Isaac ben Dorbolo, 12th-century halakhist
* Abraham ibn Daud, (Kabbalah), 12th century Spanish philosopher
* Abraham ibn Ezra, (Ibn Ezra), 12th century Spanish-North African Biblical commentator
* Samuel ben Jacob Jam'a, 12th century North African rabbi and scholar
* Joseph Kimhi (HaGilui), 12th century exegete, grammarian, and lexicographer
* Moses Kimhi, 12th century biblical commentator and grammarian.
* David Kimhi, (RaDaK) 12th century French biblical commentator, philosopher, and grammarian
* Eliezer ben Nathan, 12th century poet and pietist
* Hillel ben Eliakim, (Rabbeinu Hillel), 12th century Talmudist and disciple of Rashi
* Solomon ben Meir, 12th century grandson of Rashi, one of the Tosafot.
* Ibn Tibbon, a family of 12th and 13th century Spanish and French scholars, translators, and leaders
* Joseph ibn Migash 12th century Spanish Talmudist and rosh yeshiva; teacher of Maimon, father of Maimonides
* Maimonides, Moshe Ben Maimon, (Rambam), 12th century Spanish-North African Talmudist, philosopher, and law codifier
* Samuel ben Judah ibn Tibbon, 12th-13th century French Maimonidean philosopher and translator
* Yehuda Halevi, (Kuzari), 12th century Spanish philosopher and poet devoted to Zion
* David ben Reuven Bonafed [he], (Rabbeinu David), 12th century Talmudist with a commentary on Masechet Pesachim that has become influential on contemporary Iyyun
* Yitzhak Saggi Nehor, (Isaac the Blind), 12th-13th century Provençal Kabbalist
* Zerachiah ha-Levi of Girona, (Maor) 12th century Talmudist
* Moses ben Isaac ben ha-Nessiah (Shoham) 12-13th century grammarian

### 13th Century

[edit]

* Isaac ben Joseph of Corbeil (Mitzvot Katan), died 1280, halakhist
* Isaac of Ourville (Menahel), 13th-century halakhist
* Menahem Recanati (Pisqe Recanati), 13th-century halakhist
* Abraham ben Nathan (Manhig), 13th century Provençal Talmudist.
* Moses de León (Zohar), 13th century Spanish Kabbalist
* Moses ben Meir of Ferrara, 13th century Tosafist
* Eliezer ben Samuel of Metz (Yereim), 13th century Tosafist. (c. 1140-1237)
* Eliezer ben Samuel of Verona, 13th century Tosafist.
* Judah ben Benjamin Anaw, 13th century Italian halakhist and Talmudist (c. 1215-1280)
* Zedekiah ben Abraham Anaw (Shibbolei HaLeqet), 13th century Italian halakhist (c. 1220-1280)
* Benjamin ben Abraham Anaw, 13th century poet, exegete, and halakhist. (d. c. 1289)
* Abba Mari, (Minhat Kenaot), 13th century Provençal rabbi (c. 1250 – c. 1306)
* Isaiah di Trani the Younger, 13th century Biblical exegete and halakhist
* Asher ben Jehiel, (Rosh), 13th century German-Spanish Talmudist
* Meir of Rothenburg, 13th century German rabbi and poet
* Isaac ben Moses of Vienna, 13th century Bohemian Posek
* Meir Abulafia, (Yad Ramah), 13th century Spanish Talmudist
* Mordecai ben Hillel, (The Mordechai), 13th century German Halakhist
* Nahmanides, Moshe ben Nahman, (Ramban), 13th century Spanish and Holy Land mystic and Talmudist
* Menachem Meiri, (Meiri), 13th century Talmudist
* Yom Tov Asevilli, (Ritva), 13th century Talmudist
* Solomon ben Aderet, (Rashba), 13th century Talmudist
* Aharon HaLevi, (Ra'ah), 13th century Talmudist
* Meshullam ben Jacob, (Meshullam Hagadol), 13th century Talmudist.(1235-1310)
* Joseph Caspi, 13th–14th century talmudist, grammarian, and philosopher. (1280—1345)
* Bahya ben Asher ibn Halawa, 13th-14th century commentator, Talmudist and Kabbalist
* Moses of Évreux, one of three rabbi brothers in 13th century Normandy, modern-day France.

### 14th Century

[edit]

* Moses da Rieti (Miqdash Me'at), 14th-century poet and philosopher
* David Abudirham, 14th century liturgical commentator
* Gersonides, Levi ben Gershom, (Ralbag), 14th century French Talmudist and philosopher
* Jacob ben Asher, (Arba'ah Turim), 14th century German-Spanish Halakhist
* Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin, (Maharil), 14th century codifier of German minhag
* Hasdai Crescas, (Or Hashem), 14th century Talmudist and philosopher
* Isaac Lattes (Kiryat Sefer), 14th-century French chronicler.
* Immanuel of Rome, 14th century Italian poet (1261-c. 1335)
* Benjamin ben Judah, 14th century Italian exegete. (c. 1290-1335)
* Kalonymus ben Kalonymus, 14th-century French translator and philosopher.
* Benjamin ben Isaac of Carcassonne, 14th century scholar.
* Nissim of Gerona, (RaN), 14th century Halakhist and Talmudist
* Crescas Vidal, 14th century Talmudist and philosopher
* Moses of Zurich [he] (SM"K miZurich), 14th-century halakhist (fl. 1360)
* Samuel ben Aaron Schlettstadt (Mordechai haKatan), 14th century German halakhist

### 15th Century

[edit]

* Don Isaac Abravanel (Abarbanel), 15th century philosopher and Torah commentator (1437–1508)
* Joseph ben Moses (Leqet Yosher), 15th century halakhist (c. 1420–1488)
* Abraham Saba, Castilian exegete (1440–1508)
* Meir ben Ezekiel ibn Gabbai (Tola'at Yaakov), Sephardic kabbalist (1480-c. 1540)
* Joseph Albo (Ikkarim), 15th century Spain
* Israel Bruna, 15th century German Rabbi and Posek
* Obadiah ben Abraham of Bertinoro (Bartenura), 15th century commentator on the Mishnah

## See also

[edit]

* Rabbinic literature
* Eras of history important in Jewish law
* List of rabbis
* History of Responsa § Rishonim
* Rishon (disambiguation)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ See Kesef Mishna (Maamrim 2:2), Kovetz Igros Chazon Ish (2:26)
2. ^ See Piskei Ha'Rosh, Bava Metzia 3:10, 4:21, Shabbat 23:1

## External links

[edit]

* The Rules of Halacha, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
* The different rabbinic eras, faqs.org
* RabbiMap \- interactive map showing where the rishonim and other notable rabbis lived
* Torah Personalities and the Times in Which They Lived[usurped] (MP3s), Rabbi R. Y. Eisenman
* 9th Through 11th Century
* 12th Century
* 13th Century
* 14th Century
* 15th Century
* 16th Century

* v
* t
* e

Rishonim

North Africa|

* Isaac Alfasi (Rif)
* Chananel ben Chushiel
* Dunash ben Labrat
* Zechariah Aghmati
* Nissim ben Jacob
* Samuel ben Jacob ibn Jam
* Shemariah ben Elhanan

Spain (except Catalonia)|

* Maimonides
* Judah Halevi
* Abraham ibn Ezra
* Yom Tov Asevilli (Ritva)
* Joseph ibn Migash (Ri Migash)
* Meir Abulafia (Ramah)
* Bahya ibn Paquda
* Bahya ben Asher
* David Abudirham
* Joseph Albo
* Isaac ben Moses Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)
* Rabbenu Yerucham
* Shem Tov ben Abraham ibn Gaon (Migdal Oz)
* Meir ben Solomon Abi-Sahula
* Isaac ibn Ghiyyat
* Maimon ben Joseph
* Isaac Aboab I
* Abraham ibn Daud
* Moses ibn Ezra
* Jonah ibn Janah
* Abraham Saba

Catalonia|

* Nachmanides
* Menachem HaMeiri
* Nissim of Gerona (Ran)
* Shlomo ibn Aderet (Rashba)
* Yonah Gerondi (Rabbeinu Yonah)
* Zerachiah ha-Levi of Girona (Baal HaMaor)
* Hasdai Crescas
* Aharon HaLevi (Ra'ah)
* Isaac ben Sheshet (Rivash)
* Simeon ben Zemah Duran (Tashbatz)
* Vidal of Tolosa (Maggid Mishneh)
* Joseph ibn Habib (Nimmukei Yosef)
* Azriel of Gerona
* Judah ben Yakar
* Judah ben Barzillai

Provence|

* Hachmei Provence
* Abraham ben David (Raavad)
* Gersonides (Ralbag)
* David Kimhi (Radak)
* Abba Mari
* Isaac ben Abba Mari (HaIttur)
* Abraham ben Nathan (HaManhig)
* David ben Levi of Narbonne (HaMichtam)
* Moses ben Joseph (Rambi)
* Abraham ben Isaac of Narbonne (Raavad II, HaEshkol)
* Levi ben Abraham ben Hayyim
* Moshe ha-Darshan
* Meshullam ben Jacob
* Asher ben Meshullam
* Abraham of Montpellier
* Joseph Caspi
* Isaac the Blind
* Samuel ibn Tibbon
* Isaac of Narbonne
* Aaron ben Jacob ha-Kohen
* Jonathan of Lunel

France (except Provence)|

* Rabbi Abin ha-Gadol
* Rashi
* List of Tosafists
* Rabbeinu Tam
* Rashbam
* Solomon ben Meir
* Samson ben Joseph of Falaise
* Yom Tov of Falaise
* Eliezer ben Samuel (Yereim)
* Isaac ben Samuel (Ri HaZaken)
* Moses ben Jacob of Coucy (Semag)
* Judah ben Nathan (Rivan)
* Bechor Shor
* Abraham ben Joseph of Orleans
* Elijah of Paris
* Judah ben Yom Tov
* Haim ben Hananel HaCohen
* Yechiel of Paris
* Rivam
* Peretz ben Elijah
* Eliezer of Toul
* Chaim Paltiel
* Jacob of Orléans
* Samson of Chinon
* Jacob of Chinon
* Eliezer of Touques
* Isaac ben Abraham of Dampierre
* Elhanan ben Isaac of Dampierre
* Baruch ben Isaac
* Samson ben Abraham of Sens
* Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi
* Meir ben Samuel
* Moses of Évreux
* Samuel of Évreux
* Samuel ben Solomon of Falaise
* Judah ben Isaac Messer Leon
* Joseph ben Samuel Bonfils
* Menahem ben Helbo
* Simeon Kara
* Shemaiah of Soissons
* Elijah ben Menahem HaZaken
* Ephraim ben Samson

Germany|

* Meshullam ben Kalonymus
* Gershom ben Judah (Rabbeinu Gershom)
* Simeon bar Isaac of Mainz
* Asher ben Jehiel (Rosh)
* Jacob ben Asher (Baal HaTurim)
* Mordechai ben Hillel (Mordechai)
* Meir of Rothenburg (Maharam MeRotenberg)
* Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin (Maharil)
* Eliezer ben Nathan (Ra'aven)
* Eliezer ben Joel HaLevi (Raavyah)
* Eleazar of Worms (Rokeach)
* Meir HaKohen (Hagahot Maimuniot)
* Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg (Yehudah haHasid)
* Yaakov ben Yakar
* Isaac ben Mordecai of Regensburg
* Ephraim ben Isaac of Regensburg
* Samson ben Eliezer
* Eliezer ben Isaac ha-Gadol
* Judah ben Kalonymus
* Yehuda HaKohen ben Meir
* Meir ben Baruch Halevi
* Israel Bruna
* Israel of Bamberg
* Ephraim of Bonn
* Judah ben Asher
* Joel ben Isaac ha-Levi
* Jacob ben Judah Landau
* Samuel ben Natronai
* Alexander Suslin
* Jacob Weil
* Isaac ben Asher ha-Levi
* Simha of Speyer
* Isaac Asir HaTikvah

England|

* Aaron of Canterbury
* Aaron of York
* Elias of London
* Eliyahu Menachem of London
* Hagin Deulacres
* Jacob ben Judah of London
* Josce of London
* Moses ben Isaac ben ha-Nessiah
* Moses of London
* Yom Tov of Joigny
* Berechiah de Nicole

Austria|

* Israel Isserlein (Terumat HaDeshen)
* Isaac of Vienna (Or Zarua)
* Avigdor Cohen of Vienna
* Isaac Tyrnau

Italy|

* Nathan ben Jehiel (the Aruch)
* Isaiah di Trani (Rid)
* Isaiah di Trani the Younger (Riaz)
* Obadiah of Bertinoro
* Menahem Recanati
* Zedekiah Anaw (Shibbolei HaLeket)
* Benjamin Anaw
* Judah Anav
* Moses ben Meir of Ferrara
* Eliezer ben Samuel of Verona
* Hillel ben Samuel
* Joseph Colon Trabotto
* Isaac ben Melchizedek
* Judah Messer Leon

Elsewhere|

* Isaac Abarbanel
* Elijah Mizrachi
* Tobiah ben Eliezer (Lekach Tov)
* Zerahiah the Greek
* Isaac ben Dorbolo
* Isaac ben Samuel of Acre
* Moses Taku
* Isaac ben Jacob ha-Lavan
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* Hillel ben Eliakim
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