Isaac ben Melchizedek (Hebrew: יצחק בן מלכי צדק; also known by the acronym Ribmaṣריבמץ; c. 1090–1160), was a rabbinic scholar from Siponto, Italy, and one of the first medieval scholars to have composed a commentary on the Mishnah, of which only his commentary on Seder Zera'im survives. Elements of the Mishnaic order of Taharot are also cited in his name by the Tosafists,[1] but the complete work is no longer extant.
Rabbi
Isaac ben Melchizedek
Page from Ben Melchizedek's commentary, Kil'ayim 1:4 (Courtesy of the British Library)
Rabbi Isaac ben Melchizedek was the son of an astute Italian Jewish Talmudist. Rabbi Isaac eventually moved away from his home town and settled in Salerno. He is known to have fathered at least two sons: Judah and Shiloh. It was in Salerno that Isaac's son, Judah, met with the renowned Jewish traveler, Benjamin of Tudela. Benjamin of Tudelo referred to his father, Rabbi Isaac, as "the great rabbi." In Italy, Rabbi Isaac maintained a correspondence with Rabbi Yaakov ben Meir, known also as Rabbeinu Tam. Shiloh, his son, is mentioned in Sefer ha-'Iṭṭur.[2]
From Naples by sea to the city of Salerno, where the Christians have a school of medicine. About 600 Jews dwell there. Among the scholars are R. Judah, son of R. Isaac, the son of Melchizedek, the great Rabbi, who came from the city of Siponto.[3]
Isaac's Mishnah commentary is thought to have had a wide dissemination among Jewish communities throughout the Mediterranean littoral and Egypt, as some of his words are cited and argued against by great Jewish scholars in Fostat[4] and in Posquières.[5][6] Rabbi Abraham b. David of Posquières referred to Rabbi Isaac by the epithet, Ha-Rav ha-Yevani, meaning, "the Grecian rabbi," seeing that part of southern Italy was at that time under Byzantine influence. Rabbi Isaac's work is also widely cited by Solomon Sirilio where, occasionally, he decides in favor of Isaac's interpretation of a passage in the Mishnah over that of the later scholar, Maimonides. Both, Ishtori Haparchi and Rabbi Chaim Joseph David Azulai, make mention of him in their writings.[7][8] Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg mentions him with respect to teachings in Mishnah Kelim 8:6; Nega'im 11:1.[7]
Rabbi Isaac's commentary of Seder Zera'im has been printed in the 1890 Romm Wilna edition of the Babylonian Talmud. In most editions of the Berakhot tractate, his commentary on Seder Zera'im appears in its entirety. The portion of Rabbi Isaac's Mishnah commentary of Bikkurim 2:4, unto the end of the tractate, is of special importance, as it has been printed in Shimshon of Sens's commentary of the Mishnah where he left no commentary of his own.[7] In Rabbi Isaac ben Melchizedek's commentary, besides citing from the two Talmuds, he frequently makes use of other classical rabbinic sources, such as the Tosefta, the Sifra on Leviticus, Sifrei Zuṭa on the Book of Numbers, the Aramaic Targum, the Seder 'Olam, the Sefer Arukh of Rabbi Nathan ben Jehiel of Rome, the commentary written by Rabbi Hai Gaon on the Mishnaic orders of Zera'im and Ṭaharot, as well as cites elements taken from R. Nissim's Sefer Mafteaḥ ("The book of the key to unlocking the Talmud").
Manuscriptsedit
Two manuscripts exist of Isaac ben Melchizedek's Mishnah commentary, one at the Bodleian Library in Oxford (no. 392 - [Michael 203]), written on paper and copied in the 16-17th century, containing all of Seder Zera'im; the other is housed at the British Library (Or 6712), formerly the British Museum, written on parchment and also containing all of Seder Zera'im.
Rabbi Isaac's Mishnah commentary was published and edited by Nisan Meir Zaks (q.v. N.M. Zaks) in 1975, laureate of the "Rav Kook Award" for original Torah literature. When read in conjunction with other commentaries, it is an indispensable source for helping scholars understand the diachrony of the Hebrew language, especially in its use of Greek loan words, and how that some words have changed in meaning over the course of two millennia.[Note 1] Rabbi Isaac's method of elucidating the Mishnah is concise, resembling that of Rashi's commentary on the Talmud. His commentary is unique in that he not only employs in his commentary Aramaic words to elucidate the text, but also Arabic, Greek, Latin and Italian words, written in Hebrew characters.
Further readingedit
The Commentary of Ribmas on Mishnah Zera'im (Based on the London MS and Oxford MS)[10] (OCLC 745167494)
Gottlieb, Isaac (1975). "The Commentary of Rabbi Isaac ben Melchizedek (פירוש הריבמ"ץ)". Sinai: Journal of Torah and Jewish Studies (in Hebrew). 76: 97–109. OCLC 233313958. (on Mishnah Bikkurim, ch. 1)
*Gross, H. (1875). "Isaak b. Malki-Zedek aus Siponto und zeine Süditalischen Zeitgenossen". Magazin für Geschichte und Literatur II (in German)., nos. 6–11
Notesedit
^Solomon Sirilio (Jerusalem Talmud, Kil'ayim 1:2, s.v. קישות), citing Rabbi Isaac of Siponto, attempts to show this in the Greek load-word "melephephon," which had the connotation of "melon." The word aspethei (Hebrew: אַסְפְּתֵי) in Mishnah Ohalot 13:4, is another disputed Greek loan word. According to R. Isaac of Siponto[9] and R. Shimshon of Sens, the word was used for a weaver's stave; derived from the Greek word σπάθη, and being no more than the sword-like batten (beater) used in the weaver's loom for packing of the weft yarn (filling yarn). Since the batten in many cultures is a flat board of wood that is tapered to a thin edge all along its broad side, it is actually called in some countries "sword." Maimonides thought the word aspethei to mean "nail," while his disputant, Rabbi Abraham ben David, thought the same word to mean a "pair of tongs" used as an accessory to a candlestick that hung from a wall.
^David Jeremy Silver, Maimonidean Criticism and the Maimonidean Controversy 1180–1240, E.J. Brill, Leiden 1965, p. 22 (note 2)
^ abcFrankel, Zechariah (1859). Darkei ha-Mishnah (Hodegetica in Mischnam) - part 1 (in Hebrew). Leipzig: Henrici Hunger. p. 331. OCLC 39944634.
^cf. Ishtori Haparchi (1999). Avraham Yosef Havatzelet (ed.). Sefer Kaftor Ve'ferah (in Hebrew). Vol. 3 (chapter 48). Jerusalem: Bet ha-midrash la-halakhah ba-hityashvut. p. 174. OCLC 32307172.
^As told by Rabbi Abraham ben David's gloss in Maimonides' Mishne Torah (Tum'eoth ha-Met 14:7) who mentions the rabbi under the name "the Grecian rabbi."
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore (1901–1906). "Isaac ben Melchizedek of Siponto". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
External linksedit
The British Library - Collection of Talmud Commentaries (Hebrew Manuscripts Digitisation Project), including commentary of Isaac ben Melchizedek of Siponto
The Commentary of Rabbi Isaac ben Melchzedek of Siponto - Seder Zera'im
October 28, 2023
isaac, melchizedek, hebrew, יצחק, בן, מלכי, צדק, also, known, acronym, ribmaṣ, ריבמץ, 1090, 1160, rabbinic, scholar, from, siponto, italy, first, medieval, scholars, have, composed, commentary, mishnah, which, only, commentary, seder, zera, survives, elements,. Isaac ben Melchizedek Hebrew יצחק בן מלכי צדק also known by the acronym Ribmaṣ ריבמץ c 1090 1160 was a rabbinic scholar from Siponto Italy and one of the first medieval scholars to have composed a commentary on the Mishnah of which only his commentary on Seder Zera im survives Elements of the Mishnaic order of Taharot are also cited in his name by the Tosafists 1 but the complete work is no longer extant RabbiIsaac ben MelchizedekPage from Ben Melchizedek s commentary Kil ayim 1 4 Courtesy of the British Library PersonalBornc 1090SipontoDiedc 1160ReligionJudaismProfessionRabbiOccupationMishnaic exegeteJewish leaderProfessionRabbiResidenceSouthern Italy Contents 1 Background 2 Manuscripts 3 Importance 4 Further reading 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksBackground editRabbi Isaac ben Melchizedek was the son of an astute Italian Jewish Talmudist Rabbi Isaac eventually moved away from his home town and settled in Salerno He is known to have fathered at least two sons Judah and Shiloh It was in Salerno that Isaac s son Judah met with the renowned Jewish traveler Benjamin of Tudela Benjamin of Tudelo referred to his father Rabbi Isaac as the great rabbi In Italy Rabbi Isaac maintained a correspondence with Rabbi Yaakov ben Meir known also as Rabbeinu Tam Shiloh his son is mentioned in Sefer ha Iṭṭur 2 From Naples by sea to the city of Salerno where the Christians have a school of medicine About 600 Jews dwell there Among the scholars are R Judah son of R Isaac the son of Melchizedek the great Rabbi who came from the city of Siponto 3 Isaac s Mishnah commentary is thought to have had a wide dissemination among Jewish communities throughout the Mediterranean littoral and Egypt as some of his words are cited and argued against by great Jewish scholars in Fostat 4 and in Posquieres 5 6 Rabbi Abraham b David of Posquieres referred to Rabbi Isaac by the epithet Ha Rav ha Yevani meaning the Grecian rabbi seeing that part of southern Italy was at that time under Byzantine influence Rabbi Isaac s work is also widely cited by Solomon Sirilio where occasionally he decides in favor of Isaac s interpretation of a passage in the Mishnah over that of the later scholar Maimonides Both Ishtori Haparchi and Rabbi Chaim Joseph David Azulai make mention of him in their writings 7 8 Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg mentions him with respect to teachings in Mishnah Kelim 8 6 Nega im 11 1 7 Rabbi Isaac s commentary of Seder Zera im has been printed in the 1890 Romm Wilna edition of the Babylonian Talmud In most editions of the Berakhot tractate his commentary on Seder Zera im appears in its entirety The portion of Rabbi Isaac s Mishnah commentary of Bikkurim 2 4 unto the end of the tractate is of special importance as it has been printed in Shimshon of Sens s commentary of the Mishnah where he left no commentary of his own 7 In Rabbi Isaac ben Melchizedek s commentary besides citing from the two Talmuds he frequently makes use of other classical rabbinic sources such as the Tosefta the Sifra on Leviticus Sifrei Zuṭa on the Book of Numbers the Aramaic Targum the Seder Olam the Sefer Arukh of Rabbi Nathan ben Jehiel of Rome the commentary written by Rabbi Hai Gaon on the Mishnaic orders of Zera im and Ṭaharot as well as cites elements taken from R Nissim s Sefer Mafteaḥ The book of the key to unlocking the Talmud Manuscripts editTwo manuscripts exist of Isaac ben Melchizedek s Mishnah commentary one at the Bodleian Library in Oxford no 392 Michael 203 written on paper and copied in the 16 17th century containing all of Seder Zera im the other is housed at the British Library Or 6712 formerly the British Museum written on parchment and also containing all of Seder Zera im nbsp Mishnah Kil ayim 1 2 3 Courtesy of the British Library Importance editRabbi Isaac s Mishnah commentary was published and edited by Nisan Meir Zaks q v N M Zaks in 1975 laureate of the Rav Kook Award for original Torah literature When read in conjunction with other commentaries it is an indispensable source for helping scholars understand the diachrony of the Hebrew language especially in its use of Greek loan words and how that some words have changed in meaning over the course of two millennia Note 1 Rabbi Isaac s method of elucidating the Mishnah is concise resembling that of Rashi s commentary on the Talmud His commentary is unique in that he not only employs in his commentary Aramaic words to elucidate the text but also Arabic Greek Latin and Italian words written in Hebrew characters Further reading editThe Commentary of Ribmas on Mishnah Zera im Based on the London MS and Oxford MS 10 OCLC 745167494 Gottlieb Isaac 1975 The Commentary of Rabbi Isaac ben Melchizedek פירוש הריבמ ץ Sinai Journal of Torah and Jewish Studies in Hebrew 76 97 109 OCLC 233313958 on Mishnah Bikkurim ch 1 Gross H 1875 Isaak b Malki Zedek aus Siponto und zeine Suditalischen Zeitgenossen Magazin fur Geschichte und Literatur II in German nos 6 11Notes edit Solomon Sirilio Jerusalem Talmud Kil ayim 1 2 s v קישות citing Rabbi Isaac of Siponto attempts to show this in the Greek load word melephephon which had the connotation of melon The word aspethei Hebrew א ס פ ת י in Mishnah Ohalot 13 4 is another disputed Greek loan word According to R Isaac of Siponto 9 and R Shimshon of Sens the word was used for a weaver s stave derived from the Greek word spa8h and being no more than the sword like batten beater used in the weaver s loom for packing of the weft yarn filling yarn Since the batten in many cultures is a flat board of wood that is tapered to a thin edge all along its broad side it is actually called in some countries sword Maimonides thought the word aspethei to mean nail while his disputant Rabbi Abraham ben David thought the same word to mean a pair of tongs used as an accessory to a candlestick that hung from a wall References edit Cf the Sefer ha Makhri a Leghorn 1779 of Isaiah di Trani nos 62 86 et al Chaim Yosef David Azulai in Shem ha Gedolim i 106 and E E Urbach Tosafot index e g Baba Metsi a 30a Tosafot s v אף עובד דניחא ליה Sefer ha Iṭṭur ed Lemberg i 14b Benjamin of Tudela 1904 The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela The Jewish Quarterly Review 16 4 724 JSTOR 1450908 Simcha Assaf Kiryat Sefer XVIII 1941 p 65 R Abraham b David of Posquieres gloss to Mishneh Torah Tum eot ha Met 1 2 14 7 and 17 3 David Jeremy Silver Maimonidean Criticism and the Maimonidean Controversy 1180 1240 E J Brill Leiden 1965 p 22 note 2 a b c Frankel Zechariah 1859 Darkei ha Mishnah Hodegetica in Mischnam part 1 in Hebrew Leipzig Henrici Hunger p 331 OCLC 39944634 cf Ishtori Haparchi 1999 Avraham Yosef Havatzelet ed Sefer Kaftor Ve ferah in Hebrew Vol 3 chapter 48 Jerusalem Bet ha midrash la halakhah ba hityashvut p 174 OCLC 32307172 As told by Rabbi Abraham ben David s gloss in Maimonides Mishne Torah Tum eoth ha Met 14 7 who mentions the rabbi under the name the Grecian rabbi Neubauer Cat Bodl Hebr MSS No 392Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Singer Isidore 1901 1906 Isaac ben Melchizedek of Siponto In Singer Isidore et al eds The Jewish Encyclopedia New York Funk amp Wagnalls External links editThe British Library Collection of Talmud Commentaries Hebrew Manuscripts Digitisation Project including commentary of Isaac ben Melchizedek of Siponto The Commentary of Rabbi Isaac ben Melchzedek of Siponto Seder Zera im Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isaac ben Melchizedek amp oldid 1165987307, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
