Moses ha-Darshan
Encyclopedia
Moshe haDarshan (Hebrew: משה הדרשן) was chief of the yeshiva
of Narbonne
, and perhaps the founder of Jewish
exegetical
studies in France
. Along with Rashi
, his writings are often cited as the first extant writings in Zarphatic, the Judæo-French language.
According to a manuscript in the possession of the Alliance Israélite Universelle containing those parts of Abraham Zacuto
's Sefer Yuḥasin that are omitted in Samuel Shullam
's edition, Moses was descended from a Narbonne family distinguished for its erudition, his great-grandfather, Abun, his grandfather, Moses ben Abun, and his father, Jacob ben Moses ben Abun (called "ha-Navi"), all having been presidents of the Narbonne yeshivah. Moses himself held this position, and after his death it was occupied by his brother Levi.
he was the most prominent representative of midrashic-symbolic Bible exegesis (derash) in the 11th century. His work on the Bible
, probably sometimes called Yesod, and known only by quotations found mostly in Rashi
's commentaries, contained extracts from earlier haggadic works as well as midrashic explanations of his own. Often the latter were not in harmony with the spirit of the rabbinical Midrash and even contained Christian theological conceptions.
Probably the non-preservation of the work was due to an excess of the foreign element in its composition, causing it to be regarded with disfavor. Moreover, as has recently been ascertained by A. Epstein, it was not a systematically arranged work, but merely a collection of notes made by Moses. For this reason, apparently, it did not have a fixed title, and therefore it is quoted under various names by different authors.
The Midrash Bereshit Rabbah Major or Bereshit Rabbah Rabbati, known through quotations by Raymund Martin in his Pugio Fidei, has many haggadot and haggadic ideas which recall very strongly Moses ha-Darshan's teachings; it is claimed by Zunz
that the midrash was actually the work of Moses. A. Epstein, however, is of the opinion that the final compiler of the midrash, certainly not Moses ha-Darshan, took from the Yesod whatever he considered appropriate for his purpose, especially from Moses' midrashic interpretation of the Genesis creation myth.
In a similar way the Yesod influenced the Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah and the Midrash Tadshe
, which latter, in a haggadic-symbolic manner, endeavors to show the parallelism between the world, mankind, and the Tabernacle
. Concerning the Midrash Tadshe, Epstein goes so far as to assume that Moses ha-Darshan was its author. Moses ha-Darshan explained some obscure expressions in certain piyyuṭim). He is credited also with a midrash on the Ten Commandments
and with a "widdui."
was a son of Judah ha-Darshan. It is certain that Nathan ben Jehiel was a pupil of Moses, whose explanations of Talmudical words and passages he cites. Both Abraham Zacuto
(Sefer Yuḥasin) and the above-mentioned manuscript of the Alliance Israélite Universelle ascribe to Moses three more pupils: Moses Anaw, Moses ben Joseph ben Merwan Levi, and Abraham ben Isaac (author of the Sefer ha-Eshkol). A. Epstein credits Moses with another pupil, a certain R. Shemaiah, who is quoted sometimes in Bereshit Rabbah Rabbati and in Numbers Rabbah
as explaining sayings of Moses ha-Darshan's. He also suggests (l.c.) the identity of this Shemaiah with Shemaiah of Soissons
, author of a midrash on Parashat Terumah, whose cosmological conceptions seem to have been influenced by Moses ha-Darshan.
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
of Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and perhaps the founder of Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
exegetical
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
studies in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Along with Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
, his writings are often cited as the first extant writings in Zarphatic, the Judæo-French language.
According to a manuscript in the possession of the Alliance Israélite Universelle containing those parts of Abraham Zacuto
Abraham Zacuto
Abraham Zacuto was a Sephardi Jewish astronomer, astrologer, mathematician and historian who served as Royal Astronomer in the 15th century to King John II of Portugal. The crater Zagut on the Moon is named after him....
's Sefer Yuḥasin that are omitted in Samuel Shullam
Samuel Shullam
Samuel Shullam was a Jewish physician and historian who flourished in the second half of the 16th century. He was of Spanish descent, and after an adventurous life went to Constantinople, where he was supported by Kiera , who stood high in favor at the court of the sultan...
's edition, Moses was descended from a Narbonne family distinguished for its erudition, his great-grandfather, Abun, his grandfather, Moses ben Abun, and his father, Jacob ben Moses ben Abun (called "ha-Navi"), all having been presidents of the Narbonne yeshivah. Moses himself held this position, and after his death it was occupied by his brother Levi.
As Haggadist
Though Moses ha-Darshan was considered a rabbinical authority, he owes his reputation principally to the fact that together with Tobiah ben EliezerTobiah ben Eliezer
Tobiah ben Eliezer was a Talmudist and poet of the 11th century, author of the Leḳaḥ Ṭob or Pesiḳta Zuṭarta, a midrashic commentary on the Pentateuch and the Five Megillot. Zunz Tobiah ben Eliezer (Hebrew: טוביה בר אליעזר) was a Talmudist and poet of the 11th century, author of the Leḳaḥ Ṭob or...
he was the most prominent representative of midrashic-symbolic Bible exegesis (derash) in the 11th century. His work on the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, probably sometimes called Yesod, and known only by quotations found mostly in Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
's commentaries, contained extracts from earlier haggadic works as well as midrashic explanations of his own. Often the latter were not in harmony with the spirit of the rabbinical Midrash and even contained Christian theological conceptions.
Probably the non-preservation of the work was due to an excess of the foreign element in its composition, causing it to be regarded with disfavor. Moreover, as has recently been ascertained by A. Epstein, it was not a systematically arranged work, but merely a collection of notes made by Moses. For this reason, apparently, it did not have a fixed title, and therefore it is quoted under various names by different authors.
The Midrash Bereshit Rabbah Major or Bereshit Rabbah Rabbati, known through quotations by Raymund Martin in his Pugio Fidei, has many haggadot and haggadic ideas which recall very strongly Moses ha-Darshan's teachings; it is claimed by Zunz
Zunz
Zunz, Zuntz is a Yiddish surname: , Belgian pharmacologist* Leopold Zunz , German Reform rabbi* Gerhard Jack Zunz , British civil engineer- Zuntz :* Nathan Zuntz , German physiologist...
that the midrash was actually the work of Moses. A. Epstein, however, is of the opinion that the final compiler of the midrash, certainly not Moses ha-Darshan, took from the Yesod whatever he considered appropriate for his purpose, especially from Moses' midrashic interpretation of the Genesis creation myth.
In a similar way the Yesod influenced the Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah and the Midrash Tadshe
Midrash Tadshe
Midrash Tadshe is a small midrash which begins with an interpretation of Gen. i. 11:The name of the author occurs twice , and the midrash closes with the words "'ad kan me-dibre R. Pineḥas ben Ya'ir." No other authors are named...
, which latter, in a haggadic-symbolic manner, endeavors to show the parallelism between the world, mankind, and the Tabernacle
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
. Concerning the Midrash Tadshe, Epstein goes so far as to assume that Moses ha-Darshan was its author. Moses ha-Darshan explained some obscure expressions in certain piyyuṭim). He is credited also with a midrash on the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
and with a "widdui."
His pupils
Moses' son was Judah ha-Darshan ben Moses, probably the Joseph he-Ḥasid mentioned in Samuel ben Jacob ibn Jama's additions to the Aruk of Nathan ben JehielNathan ben Jehiel
Nathan ben Jehiel of Rome was a Jewish Italian lexicographer. He was born in Rome not later than 1035 to one of the most notable Roman families of Jewish scholars. Owing to an error propagated by Azulai, he has been regarded as a scion of the house of De Pomis...
was a son of Judah ha-Darshan. It is certain that Nathan ben Jehiel was a pupil of Moses, whose explanations of Talmudical words and passages he cites. Both Abraham Zacuto
Abraham Zacuto
Abraham Zacuto was a Sephardi Jewish astronomer, astrologer, mathematician and historian who served as Royal Astronomer in the 15th century to King John II of Portugal. The crater Zagut on the Moon is named after him....
(Sefer Yuḥasin) and the above-mentioned manuscript of the Alliance Israélite Universelle ascribe to Moses three more pupils: Moses Anaw, Moses ben Joseph ben Merwan Levi, and Abraham ben Isaac (author of the Sefer ha-Eshkol). A. Epstein credits Moses with another pupil, a certain R. Shemaiah, who is quoted sometimes in Bereshit Rabbah Rabbati and in Numbers Rabbah
Numbers Rabbah
Numbers Rabbah is a religious text holy to classical Judaism. It is a midrash comprising a collection of ancient rabbinical homiletic interpretations of the book of Numbers ....
as explaining sayings of Moses ha-Darshan's. He also suggests (l.c.) the identity of this Shemaiah with Shemaiah of Soissons
Shemaiah of Soissons
Shemaiah of Soissons was a Jewish scholar of the 12th century, a pupil of Rashi. He was the author of the following works:*Sodot or Midrash, notes on the construction of the Tabernacle as described in Ex. xxv.-xxvi. It was edited on the basis of the Munich manuscript by Berliner in Monatsschrift,...
, author of a midrash on Parashat Terumah, whose cosmological conceptions seem to have been influenced by Moses ha-Darshan.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- A. Epstein, Moses ha-Darshan aus Narbonne, Vienna, 1891;
- Henri Gross, Gallia Judaica, pp. 214, 410;
- M. L. Eisenstadt, in Ha-MeliẓHa-MelizHa-Meliẓ was the first Hebrew newspaper in Russia. It was founded by Alexander Zederbaum, in Odessa, in 1860, as a weekly, and was transferred to St. Petersburg in 1871....
, xxxi. 196; - W. Bacher, in Winter and Wünsche, Die Jüdische Litteratur, ii. 270, 335;
- A. Geiger, Parschandatha, p. 11, Leipsic, 1855.
External links
- Jewish Encyclopedia article on Moses ha-Darshan, by Wilhelm BacherWilhelm BacherWilhelm Bacher was a Jewish Hungarian scholar, rabbi, Orientalist and linguist, born in Liptó-Szent-Miklós, Hungary to the Hebrew writer Simon Bacher. Wilhelm was himself an incredibly prolific writer, authoring or co-authoring approximately 750 works in an unfortunately short life...
and Max Schloessinger.