Simhah ben Samuel of Vitry
Encyclopedia
Simhah ben Samuel of Vitry, (died 1105), (Hebrew: שמחה בן שמואל מויטרי) was a French Talmudist of the 11th and 12th centuries, pupil of Rashi
, and the compiler of the Vitry Machzor.
and other authorities, both contemporary and earlier. The work is cited as early as the 12th century in R. Jacob Tam's Sefer ha-Yashar (No. 620) as having been compiled by Simchah; and the sources from which the compiler took his material – the Seder Rav Amram
, the Halakot Gedolot, and others—also are mentioned. R. Isaac the Elder
, a grandson of Simchah, also refers (responsum No. 835, in Mordekai, on M. Ḳ.) to the Vitry Machzor compiled by his grandfather. Various additions were afterward made to this machzor, a large proportion of which, designated by the letter ת (= "tosafot"), are by R. Isaac ben Dorbolo
(Durbal). The latter often appends his name to such additions; and in one place he says plainly: "These explanations were added by me, Isaac b. Dorbolo; but the following is from the Machzor of R. Simchah of Vitry himself". Other additions are by Abraham ben Nathan Yarhi, author of Ha-Manhig, and are designated by the letters אב"ן, his initials.
in his additions to Hurwitz's introduction to the Vitry Machzor (p. 172), is that in Reggio
. It contains the Vitry Machzor proper without any additions. A second manuscript, in the Bodleian Library
, Oxford (Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. No. 1100), is said to have marginal annotations by Eleazar ben Judah, author of the Sefer ha-Rokeach (Michael, Or ha-Chayim. No. 1214). The third manuscript is in the British Museum
(Cod. Add. Nos. 27,200 and 27,201), and contains still other additions; this manuscript served as basis for S. Hurwitz's edition of the Vitry Machzor published by the Meḳiẓe Nirdamim Society (Berlin, 1893). The edition is very faulty, as the editor used no critical judgment in his work; instead of the original treatises it contains some from the Sefer ha-Terumah of Baruch ben Isaac
and from the Eshkol of Ravad
.
im), which are distributed throughout the work. Besides these scattered poems the British Museum manuscript has (pp. 239-260) a collection of piyyutim which was published by Brody under the title Ḳonṭres ha-Piyyutim. (Berlin, 1894). In the published edition of this Machzor there is also a commentary on the Pesach Haggadah, which, however, does not agree with that by R. Simchah b. Samuel of Vitry printed at Vilna in 1886. The latter commentary, which agrees with the one cited by Abudraham as being found in the Vitry Machzor, was taken from a manuscript of that machzor—probably from the parchment copy owned by the Vilna Gaon
, although no particular manuscript is mentioned in the Vilna edition itself.
There is also in the published edition of the Vitry Machzor a commentary on the Pirke Avot. This commentary is found in the British Museum manuscript, but in neither of the others. It is really a commentary by Jacob ben Samson, the pupil of Rashi (concerning whom comp. Schechter, Einleitung zu Abot des R. Natan, p. ix.), amplified in the present Machzor. Many midrashic sayings, which are cited as such in the Vitry Machzor, have been preserved in that work alone. Thus the passage cited (p. 332) from the Midrash
Tehillim is no longer found in the present midrash of that name. Likewise there are found in the Vitry Machzor citations from the Jerusalem Talmud
which are lacking in the existing editions of the latter.
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...
, and the compiler of the Vitry Machzor.
The Vitry Machzor
The Vitry Machzor contains decisions and rules concerning religious practise, besides responsa by RashiRashi
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...
and other authorities, both contemporary and earlier. The work is cited as early as the 12th century in R. Jacob Tam's Sefer ha-Yashar (No. 620) as having been compiled by Simchah; and the sources from which the compiler took his material – the Seder Rav Amram
Amram Gaon
Amram Gaon was a famous Gaon or head of the Jewish Talmud Academy of Sura in the 9th century. He was the author of many Responsa, but his chief work was liturgical.He was the first to arrange a complete liturgy for the synagogue...
, the Halakot Gedolot, and others—also are mentioned. R. Isaac the Elder
Isaac ben Samuel
Isaac ben Samuel the Elder, also known as the Ri ha-Zaken, was a French tosafist and Biblical commentator. He flourished at Ramerupt and Dampierre, France in the twelfth century.- Biography :On his father's side Isaac was a grandson of R...
, a grandson of Simchah, also refers (responsum No. 835, in Mordekai, on M. Ḳ.) to the Vitry Machzor compiled by his grandfather. Various additions were afterward made to this machzor, a large proportion of which, designated by the letter ת (= "tosafot"), are by R. Isaac ben Dorbolo
Isaac ben Dorbolo
Isaac ben Dorbolo was a rabbi, about 1150.He traveled much, and knew Poland, Russia, Bohemia, France, and Germany from his own observations. Some time after 1140 he visited Rabbeinu Tam in Ramerupt....
(Durbal). The latter often appends his name to such additions; and in one place he says plainly: "These explanations were added by me, Isaac b. Dorbolo; but the following is from the Machzor of R. Simchah of Vitry himself". Other additions are by Abraham ben Nathan Yarhi, author of Ha-Manhig, and are designated by the letters אב"ן, his initials.
Extant manuscripts of the Machzor
Three manuscripts of the Vitry Machzor are extant, the oldest of which, according to Abraham BerlinerAbraham Berliner
Abraham Berliner was a German theologian and historian, born in Obersitzko, province of Posen, Prussia. He received his first education under his father, who was teacher in Obersitzko...
in his additions to Hurwitz's introduction to the Vitry Machzor (p. 172), is that in Reggio
Reggio
Reggio is the name of two Italian towns:* Reggio Calabria, in the South, also called Reggio di Calabria or, in ancient times, Pallantion, Rhegion, Febea, Regium, Rhegium Julium, Risa, Rivah...
. It contains the Vitry Machzor proper without any additions. A second manuscript, in the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, Oxford (Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. No. 1100), is said to have marginal annotations by Eleazar ben Judah, author of the Sefer ha-Rokeach (Michael, Or ha-Chayim. No. 1214). The third manuscript is in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
(Cod. Add. Nos. 27,200 and 27,201), and contains still other additions; this manuscript served as basis for S. Hurwitz's edition of the Vitry Machzor published by the Meḳiẓe Nirdamim Society (Berlin, 1893). The edition is very faulty, as the editor used no critical judgment in his work; instead of the original treatises it contains some from the Sefer ha-Terumah of Baruch ben Isaac
Baruch ben Isaac
Baruch ben Isaac was a Tosafist and codifier who was born at Worms, but lived at Regensburg; he is sometimes called after the one and sometimes after the other city....
and from the Eshkol of Ravad
Abraham ben David
Rabbeinu Abraham ben David was a Provençal rabbi, a great commentator on the Talmud, Sefer Halachot of Rabbi Yitzhak Alfasi and Mishne Torah of Maimonides, and is regarded as a father of Kabbalah and one of the key and important links in the chain of Jewish mystics...
.
Additions to the Machzor proper
The Vitry Machzor contains many prayers and liturgical poems (piyyutPiyyut
A piyyut or piyut is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services. Piyyutim have been written since Temple times...
im), which are distributed throughout the work. Besides these scattered poems the British Museum manuscript has (pp. 239-260) a collection of piyyutim which was published by Brody under the title Ḳonṭres ha-Piyyutim. (Berlin, 1894). In the published edition of this Machzor there is also a commentary on the Pesach Haggadah, which, however, does not agree with that by R. Simchah b. Samuel of Vitry printed at Vilna in 1886. The latter commentary, which agrees with the one cited by Abudraham as being found in the Vitry Machzor, was taken from a manuscript of that machzor—probably from the parchment copy owned by the Vilna Gaon
Vilna Gaon
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna and simply by his Hebrew acronym Gra or Elijah Ben Solomon, , was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries...
, although no particular manuscript is mentioned in the Vilna edition itself.
There is also in the published edition of the Vitry Machzor a commentary on the Pirke Avot. This commentary is found in the British Museum manuscript, but in neither of the others. It is really a commentary by Jacob ben Samson, the pupil of Rashi (concerning whom comp. Schechter, Einleitung zu Abot des R. Natan, p. ix.), amplified in the present Machzor. Many midrashic sayings, which are cited as such in the Vitry Machzor, have been preserved in that work alone. Thus the passage cited (p. 332) from the Midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
Tehillim is no longer found in the present midrash of that name. Likewise there are found in the Vitry Machzor citations from the Jerusalem Talmud
Jerusalem Talmud
The Jerusalem Talmud, talmud meaning "instruction", "learning", , is a collection of Rabbinic notes on the 2nd-century Mishnah which was compiled in the Land of Israel during the 4th-5th century. The voluminous text is also known as the Palestinian Talmud or Talmud de-Eretz Yisrael...
which are lacking in the existing editions of the latter.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- S. Hurwitz, Einleitung und Register zum Machzor Vitry, with additions by A. Berliner, Berlin, 1896-1897;
- A. Epstein, in Monatsschrift, 1897, pp. 306-307;
- idem, in R. E. J. 1897, pp. 308-313;
- Michael, Or ha-Ḥayyim, No. 1214.
External links
- Ernst Daniel Goldschmidt (1972), Machzor Vitry, Encyclopedia Judaica; via Jewish Virtual LibraryJewish Virtual LibraryJewish Virtual Library is an online encyclopedia published by the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise . Established in 1993, it is a comprehensive website covering Israel, the Jewish people, and Jewish culture.-History:...