Nissim ben Jacob (Hebrew: ניסים בן יעקב, also known as Rav Nissim Gaon or in Hebrew: רבנו נסים, lit. Nissim our teacher; 990–1062), was a rabbi best known today for his Talmudic commentary ha-Mafteach, by which title he is also known.
Rav Nissim studied at the Kairouanyeshiva, initially under his father - Jacob ben Nissim ("Rav Yaakov Gaon") who had studied under Hai Gaon - and then under Chushiel, who succeeded as head of the Yeshiva. Nissim himself later became head of the yeshiva; in this capacity he is closely associated with Chananel son of Chushiel. His most famous student is probably Isaac Alfasi (the "Rif"). Rav Nissim maintained an active correspondence with Hai Gaon and with Shmuel Hanaggid, whose son Joseph married Nissim's only daughter (1049 CE).[1]: xix
The commentary Sefer mafteaḥ le-manʻ ūlei ha-talmūd (Hebrew: "The book of the key to unlocking the Talmud"; often, simply ha-Mafteach, (The Key), linked here) is essentially a Talmudic cross-reference. In it Rav Nissim identifies the sources for Mishnaic quotes, identifying obscure allusions to other places in Talmudic literature. He quotes from the Tosefta, Mekhilta, Sifre, Sifra, and from the Jerusalem Talmud, the explanations of which he sometimes prefers to those of the Babylonian Talmud. Nissim did not confine himself to quoting references, he also discusses these in connection with the text; this work is thus also a commentary. The work was written on several tractates, and is printed, in many editions, on the page itself.
Nissim also wrote other works, some of which have been lost, but which are quoted by later sages:
"Megillat Setarim": a collection of notes concerning halakhicdecisions, explanations, and midrashim, primarily a note-book for the author's private use, and published by his pupils probably not until after his death.
A collection of tales, "Sefer Ma'asiyyot ha-Hakhamim wehu Ḥibbur Yafeh meha-Yeshu'ah": about sixty tales, based upon the Mishnah, Baraita, the two Talmuds, and the midrashic writings; and written at the request of Nissim's father-in-law, Dunash, on the loss of his son. This is translated into English as "An Elegant Compilation concerning Relief after Adversity" (Bibliography, below)
Literary portrayals
R. Nissim appears as a character in A Delightful Compendium of Consolation: A Fabulous Tale of Romance, Adventure and Faith in the Medieval Mediterranean, a novel by Burton Visotzky. The novel expands on the few known biographical facts (including the marriage of his daughter). Its title, A Delightful Compendium, derives from "Ḥibbur Yafeh".
^Davidson, Israel (1924). Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol. Schiff Library of Jewish Classics. Translated by Zangwill, Israel. Philadelphia: JPS. p. 247. ISBN0-8276-0060-7. LCCN 73-2210.
Bibliography
Nissim ben Jacob ibn Shahin, tr. William M. Brinner, An Elegant Composition concerning Relief after Adversity: Yale 1977 (Yale Judaica Series vol 20)
External links
Nissim ben Jacob ben Nissim ibn Shahin, jewishencyclopedia.com
nissim, jacob, confused, with, nissim, gerona, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, boo. Not to be confused with Nissim of Gerona This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Nissim ben Jacob news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Nissim ben Jacob Hebrew ניסים בן יעקב also known as Rav Nissim Gaon or in Hebrew רבנו נסים lit Nissim our teacher 990 1062 was a rabbi best known today for his Talmudic commentary ha Mafteach by which title he is also known Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 Literary portrayals 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksBiography EditRav Nissim studied at the Kairouan yeshiva initially under his father Jacob ben Nissim Rav Yaakov Gaon who had studied under Hai Gaon and then under Chushiel who succeeded as head of the Yeshiva Nissim himself later became head of the yeshiva in this capacity he is closely associated with Chananel son of Chushiel His most famous student is probably Isaac Alfasi the Rif Rav Nissim maintained an active correspondence with Hai Gaon and with Shmuel Hanaggid whose son Joseph married Nissim s only daughter 1049 CE 1 xix ChushielJacob ben NissimNissimIsaac Alfasi Teachers StudentsWorks EditThe commentary Sefer mafteaḥ le manʻ ulei ha talmud Hebrew The book of the key to unlocking the Talmud often simply ha Mafteach The Key linked here is essentially a Talmudic cross reference In it Rav Nissim identifies the sources for Mishnaic quotes identifying obscure allusions to other places in Talmudic literature He quotes from the Tosefta Mekhilta Sifre Sifra and from the Jerusalem Talmud the explanations of which he sometimes prefers to those of the Babylonian Talmud Nissim did not confine himself to quoting references he also discusses these in connection with the text this work is thus also a commentary The work was written on several tractates and is printed in many editions on the page itself Nissim also wrote other works some of which have been lost but which are quoted by later sages Siddur Tefillah a siddur prayerbook A commentary on the Torah now lost A Sefer ha Mitzvot on the commandments now lost Hilkhot Lulav a polemic against the Karaites now lost Megillat Setarim a collection of notes concerning halakhic decisions explanations and midrashim primarily a note book for the author s private use and published by his pupils probably not until after his death A collection of tales Sefer Ma asiyyot ha Hakhamim wehu Ḥibbur Yafeh meha Yeshu ah about sixty tales based upon the Mishnah Baraita the two Talmuds and the midrashic writings and written at the request of Nissim s father in law Dunash on the loss of his son This is translated into English as An Elegant Compilation concerning Relief after Adversity Bibliography below Literary portrayals EditR Nissim appears as a character in A Delightful Compendium of Consolation A Fabulous Tale of Romance Adventure and Faith in the Medieval Mediterranean a novel by Burton Visotzky The novel expands on the few known biographical facts including the marriage of his daughter Its title A Delightful Compendium derives from Ḥibbur Yafeh See also EditHistory of the Jews in Kairouan History of the Jews in TunisiaReferences Edit Davidson Israel 1924 Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol Schiff Library of Jewish Classics Translated by Zangwill Israel Philadelphia JPS p 247 ISBN 0 8276 0060 7 LCCN 73 2210 Bibliography EditNissim ben Jacob ibn Shahin tr William M Brinner An Elegant Composition concerning Relief after Adversity Yale 1977 Yale Judaica Series vol 20 External links EditNissim ben Jacob ben Nissim ibn Shahin jewishencyclopedia com Nissim ben Jacob jewishhistory org Sefer ha Mafteah Prof Eliezer Segal R Nissim ben Yaakov z l torah orgDocumentation create purge Rosh YeshivaPreceded byChushiel ben Elchanan Rosh Yeshiva of Kairouan With Chananel ben Chushiel Succeeded byNone Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nissim ben Jacob amp oldid 1146932875, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
