Simeon ben Zemah Duran
Encyclopedia
Simeon ben Zemah Duran (Hebrew: שמעון בן צמח דוראן), known as Rashbatz (רשב"ץ) or Tashbatz was a Rabbinical authority, student of philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and especially of medicine, which he practised for a number of years at Palma (de Majorca). A major 15th century posek
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....

, his published decisions in matters of halacha have been widely quoted in halachic literature for hundreds of years.

Biography

Simeon ben Zemah was born in the Hebrew month of Adar
Adar
Adar is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 29 days...

, 1361. Various accounts put his birthplace as either Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

, or the island of Majorca. He was a near relation but not a grandson of Levi ben Gershon. He was a student of Ephraim Vidal, and of Jonah de Maestre, rabbi in Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...

 or in Calatayud
Calatayud
Calatayud is a city and municipality in the province of Zaragoza in Aragón, Spain lying on the river Jalón, in the midst of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range. It is the second-largest city in the province after the capital, Zaragoza, and the largest town in Aragón other than the three provincial...

, whose daughter Bongoda he married.

After the persecution of 1391 (in the Balearic Isles) and Majorca he fled Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 with his father and sister for Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...

, where, in addition to practicing medicine, he continued his studies during the earlier part of his stay. In 1394 he and the Algerian rabbi Isaac ben Sheshet
Isaac ben Sheshet
Isaac ben Sheshet Perfet was a Spanish Talmudic authority, also known by his acronym, Rivash . He was born at Valencia and settled early in life at Barcelona, where he studied under Perez ha-Kohen, under Hasdai ben Judah, and especially under R...

  (known as Rivash) drafted statutes for the Jewish community of Algiers. After Sheshet's death, Duran was chosen as rabbi of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...

 in 1407. Unlike his predecessor, he refused on principle to accept any confirmation of his appointment by the regent. As Duran had lost all his property during the massacre at Palma, he was forced against his will to accept a salary from the community, not having other means of subsistence. He held this office until his death. His epitaph, written by himself, has been reprinted for the first time, from a manuscript, in Orient, Lit. v. 452. According to Joseph Sambari, Simon was much respected in court circles (Medieval Jew. Chron. i. 130). He was the father of the Rashbash
Solomon ben Simon Duran
Solomon ben Simon Duran , known as Rashbash, was a medieval rabbi with antagonistic views towards the Kabbalah, and the son and successor of Simon ben Zemah Duran....

.

Duran's Magen Avot was a polemic against Christians and Muslims, of which the fourth chapter of the second part was published separately as Keshet u-Magen (The Arrow and the Shield).

Works

Simon was a very active literary worker. He wrote commentaries on several tractates of the Mishnah
Mishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...

 and the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....

 and on Alfasi (Nos. 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, and 16 in the list of his works given below); he treated various religious dogmas as well as the synagogal rite of Algiers (Nos. 5, 8, 10, 16), while in his responsa he showed a profound acquaintance with the entire halakic literature. His theologico-philosophical scholarship, as well as his secular learning, is conspicuous in his elaborate work, Magen Abot, in which he also appears as a clever controversialist (No. 7). The same ability is evidenced in his writings against Hasdai Crescas
Hasdai Crescas
Hasdai ben Judah Crescas was a Jewish philosopher and a renowned halakhist...

, which afford him an opportunity to defend Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...

 (No. 2), in his commentary on the Pentateuch (No. 6), where he takes occasion to enter into polemics with Levi ben Gershon, and in that on the Book of Job
Book of Job
The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...

 (No. 1), especially the introduction. In his commentary on the Pirke Avot he shows a broad historical sense (No. 7, part iv.) and it is not improbable that the tradition which ascribes to him the historico-didactic poem Seder ha-Mishneh leha-Rambam (No. 9) is well founded.

Simon also wrote a considerable number of poems, both religious and secular (Nos. 9 [?], 15); commented on the Pesah Haggadah, the Hoshanot, the works of more ancient poets (Nos. 5 (c), 13, 14), and he was the author of numerous pamphlets. The following list of Duran's writings is arranged according to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, on the basis of a catalogue drawn up by the author himself (Responsa, vol. iii.):
  1. Oheb Mishpaṭ, commentary on the Book of Job
    Book of Job
    The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...

    , with a theologico-philosophical introduction, Venice, 1589; Amsterdam, 1724-1727 (in the Rabbinic Bible Ḳehillat Mosheh).
  2. Or ha-Ḥayyim, controversial treatise against Hasdai Crescas
    Hasdai Crescas
    Hasdai ben Judah Crescas was a Jewish philosopher and a renowned halakhist...

    ' Or Adonai.
  3. Zohar ha-Raḳia, commentary on Solomon ibn Gabirol's Azharot, Constantinople, 1515. (Jacob Hagis
    Jacob Hagis
    Jacob Hagiz was a Jewish Talmudist born of a Spanish family at Fez. Ḥagiz's teacher was David Karigal , 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...

     [Petil Tekelet] and Moses Pisante Ner Miẓwah have reedited this work, of which a shorter recension also exists.)
  4. Ḥiddushe ha-Rashbaẓ, novellæ on and elucidations of Niddah
    Niddah
    Niddah is a Hebrew term describing a woman during menstruation, or a woman who has menstruated and not yet completed the associated requirement of immersion in a mikveh ....

    , Rosh ha-Shanah
    Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)
    Rosh Hashanah is the name of a text of Jewish law originating in the Mishnah which formed the basis of tractates in both the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud of the same name. It is the eighth tractate of the order Moed...

    , Kinnim
    Kinnim
    Kinnim is a tractate in the Mishna and Talmud. The name means "nests", referring to the tractate's subject matter of errors in bird-offerings. The tractate is found in the order of Kodshim, as it details the laws relating to an aspect of Temple service...

    , Leghorn, 1744. (Ḥiddushim, novellæ to Ketubot
    Nashim
    Nashim is the third order of the Mishnah , containing the laws related to women and family life...

     and Gittin [Färth, 1779], is erroneously ascribed to Duran.)
  5. Yabin Shemu'ah:
    1. precepts for shehitah and bedikah
    2. Ma'amar Ḥameẓ, precepts concerning hamez and mazzah
    3. Afiḳomen, commentary on the Pesah Haggadah
    4. Tif'eret Yisrael, on the computations of the new moon ("moladot")
    5. Perush, commentary on the Mishnah Zebahim, ch. v. ("Ezehu Meḳoman"), and the Baraita de Rabbi Yishma'el (taken from the Sifra
      Sifra
      Sifra is the Halakic midrash to Leviticus. It is frequently quoted in the Talmud, and the study of it followed that of the Mishnah, as appears from Tanḥuma, quoted in Or Zarua, i. 7b. Like Leviticus itself, the midrash is occasionally called "Torat Kohanim" , and in two passages also "Sifra debe...

      ) subjoined thereto in the prayerbook (Leghorn, 1744). Part (c) appeared as Ma'amar Afiḳomen with the Haggadah (Rödelheim, 1822).
  6. Liwyat Ḥen, commentary on the Pentateuch; also two tracts against Hasdai Crescas
    Hasdai Crescas
    Hasdai ben Judah Crescas was a Jewish philosopher and a renowned halakhist...

     ("Anaḳim," "Ma'amar Ha-Yiḥud")
  7. Magen Abot, consisting of four parts with special titles:
    1. "Ḥeleḳ Eloah mi-Ma'al"
    2. "Ḥeleḳ Shosenu"
    3. "Ḥeleḳ Ya'aḳob"
    4. "Ḥeleḳ Adonai 'Ammo."
    5. A commentary on Abot, including a literary-historical introduction on the sequence of tradition, appeared under the title "Magen Abot," Leghorn, 1762; reedited by Y. Fischl, Leipsic, 1855. Under the same title appeared parts i.-iii., with the exception of one chapter in part ii. (ib. 1785). The missing chapter in this edition, being a polemic against Christianity
      Christianity
      Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

       and Islam
      Islam
      Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

      , was published under the title Ḳeshet u-Magen (ib. 1785-1790; reedited by Steinschneider, Berlin, 1881). Extracts from this chapter, "Setirat Emunat ha-Noẓrim," are contained in Milḥemet Ḥobah, Amsterdam, 1710. It is largely taken from Profiat Duran
      Profiat Duran
      Profiat Duran , also known as Efodi ; also known as Isaac ben Moses ha-Levi; was a physician, philosopher, grammarian, and controversialist in the 14th century. It is not known whether he was born at Perpignan, where he lived for some years, or in another Catalonian town...

      's Kelimmat ha-Goyim (Monatsschrift, iv. 179).
  8. Minhagim, ritual observances, presumably treating of the rites in Algiers.
  9. Seder ha-Mishneh leha-Rambam, didactic poem, ascribed to Duran in MS. Poc. 74 (Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. No. 1971).
  10. Perush ha-Ketubbah weha-Geṭ, on marriage contracts and divorces, Constantinople, c. 1516-1548.
  11. Perush Hilkot Berakot le-Harif, commentary on Alfasi's Berakot.
  12. Perush Masseket 'Eduyyot, commentary on Eduyyot.
  13. Perush 'al ha-Hosha'not, published with the Hoshanot according to the Spanish rite, Ferrara, 1553. (A short extract from the Perush is contained in the Spanish prayer-book of 1571.)
  14. Perush Ḳeẓat Piyyuṭim, of which several pieces are inserted in the Algiers Mahzor
    Mahzor
    The mahzor is the prayer book used by Jews on the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Many Jews also make use of specialized mahzorim on the three "pilgrimage festivals" of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot...

    , Leghorn, 1772. (The commentary on the introduction, "[Baruk] Asher Ishshesh," may also be found in B. Goldberg's Ḥefes Maṭmonim, pp. 85 et seq., Berlin, 1845.)
  15. Ḳunṭras Teḥinnot u-Pizmonim, religious and secular poems. (The elegy (ḳinah
    Biblical poetry
    The ancient Hebrews perceived that there were poetical portions in their sacred texts, as shown by their entitling as songs or chants such passages as Exodus 15:1-19 and Numbers 21:17-20; and a song or chant is, according to the primary meaning of the term, poetry.- Rhyme :It is often stated that...

    ) on the destruction of Jerusalem, "Eksof le-Sapper," was published in Profiat Duran
    Profiat Duran
    Profiat Duran , also known as Efodi ; also known as Isaac ben Moses ha-Levi; was a physician, philosopher, grammarian, and controversialist in the 14th century. It is not known whether he was born at Perpignan, where he lived for some years, or in another Catalonian town...

    's Iggeret Al-Tehi, Constantinople, c. 1577; that on the persecutions in Spain in the second edition of Magen Abot, Leipsic, 1855. A larger collection was edited by I. Morali in part i. of his Ẓofnat Pa'aneaḥ, Berlin, 1897.)
  16. Remaze Pisḳe Niddah (distinct from No. 4).
  17. Taḳḳun ha-Ḥazzanim, of which the title only is known.
  18. Taḳḳanot ha-Rashbaẓ, inserted in part ii. of the responsa, (19), and in Judah Ayyash's responsa, entitled Bet Yehudah, Leghorn, 1746.
  19. Tashbaẓ, 802 responsa in three parts, Amsterdam, 1738–1739; title ed., ib. 1741.

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

  • H. Jaulus, R. Simeon b. Zemach Duran, in Monatsschrift, xxiii. 241 et seq.;
  • A. Fränkel, Allg. Zeit. des Jud. xxiv. 417, 501;
  • Michael, Or ha-Ḥayyim, p. 601;
  • Moritz Steinschneider
    Moritz Steinschneider
    Moritz Steinschneider was a Bohemian bibliographer and Orientalist. He received his early instruction in Hebrew from his father, Jacob Steinschneider , who was not only an expert Talmudist, but was also well versed in secular science...

    , Cat. Bodl. No. 7199;
  • Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi
    Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi
    Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi was an Italian Christian Hebraist. He studied in Ivrea and Turin. In October 1769, he was appointed professor of Oriental languages at the University of Parma, where he spent the rest of his life...

    -C. H. Hamberger, Historisches Wörterbuch der Jüdischen Schriftsteller, pp. 92 et seq.;
  • Joseph Zedner
    Joseph Zedner
    Joseph Zedner was a German Jewish bibliographer and librarian.After completing his education, he acted as teacher in the Jewish school in Strelitz , where the lexicographer Daniel Sanders was his pupil. In 1832 he became a tutor in the family of the book-seller A...

    , Cat. Hebr. Books Brit. Mus. pp. 703 et seq.;
  • 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...

    , Literaturgesch. pp. 521 et seq.;
  • Heinrich Grätz, Gesch. 3d ed., viii. 100;
  • Brody, in Isr. Monatsschr. 1897, No. 7;
  • I. Morali, Ẓofnat Pa'aneaḥ, i., Berlin, 1897;
  • Kaufmann, in Monatsschrift, xli. 660
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