Mind and Soul
Jewish Thinking in Morocco

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Synthesis and Simplification in Rabbinical Thinking in North Africa according to Rabbi Isaac Alfasi

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Rabbi Isaac Alfasi
Kala Hamad, Algeria, 1013-1103

Rabbi Isaac Alfasi, known also as Harif, is the author of 'Sefer Hahalacot,' a synthesis of the Talmud. He was the first review the Talmud in its entirety in order to write a simplified and orderly summary.

Harif was born in the small village of Kala' Hamad in contemporary Algeria to Jacob Cohen. He studied in Kirouan with two leading Rabbis, Rabenu Nissim and Rabenu Hananel, among the last to study in Jewish centers of learning in Babylon.

Researchers who often emphasized the lack of information on North African Jewry tend to neglect that following the death of Rav Hay, the last of the Rabbis known as Geonim, Babylon declined as a center of learning while other Academies rose to prominence. Rabenu Nissim and Rabenu Hananel brought Babylonian learning traditions to Kirouan, turning it into an important center of learning in North Africa.

Harif moved to Fez as soon as he earned his rabbinical accreditation and served there as rabbi, judge and teacher for at least forty years. It was a time when the Talmud was known only by the learned and even so, it was too complex to follow. Simplified interpretations such as Rashi's came much later. Therefore, Harif undertook a comprehensive review of the Talmud to produce a simplified code following legal principles (Halacot). His work gained him reputation throughout the Jewish World then and remains relevant in our own days. Some also argue that Harif's work paved the way to Harambam's Code (Mishneh Torah).

Harif left Fez in difficult circumstances. It appears that he issued a judgment that favored a humble community member in a case against a community leader who abused his power as advisor to the king. As the said community leader rejected Harif's ruling and tried to harm him, the rabbi and judge escaped to Cordoba in Spain, spent a few months there, then assumed the function of chief rabbi of Lucena, where he established a new center of learning. Harif taught Baruc Albaliah, Yehuda Halevy and Yossef Ben Meir Migash in Lucena.

Harambam, among other leading rabbinic authorities, had great respect for Harif. Some equaled him to Rav Hay, the last of the Babylonian Geonim. Harambam instructed his students to study Harif's 'Sefer Hahalacot' and said about it that 'it equals the sum of all the contributions to the Talmud!'

Rabbi Isaac Alfasi
Kala Hamad, Algeria, 1013-1103

Rabbi Isaac Alfasi, known also as Harif, is the author of 'Sefer Hahalacot,' a synthesis of the Talmud. He was the first review the Talmud in its entirety in order to write a simplified and orderly summary.

Harif was born in the small village of Kala' Hamad in contemporary Algeria to Jacob Cohen. He studied in Kirouan with two leading Rabbis, Rabenu Nissim and Rabenu Hananel, among the last to study in Jewish centers of learning in Babylon.

Researchers who often emphasized the lack of information on North African Jewry tend to neglect that following the death of Rav Hay, the last of the Rabbis known as Geonim, Babylon declined as a center of learning while other Academies rose to prominence. Rabenu Nissim and Rabenu Hananel brought Babylonian learning traditions to Kirouan, turning it into an important center of learning in North Africa.

Harif moved to Fez as soon as he earned his rabbinical accreditation and served there as rabbi, judge and teacher for at least forty years. It was a time when the Talmud was known only by the learned and even so, it was too complex to follow. Simplified interpretations such as Rashi's came much later. Therefore, Harif undertook a comprehensive review of the Talmud to produce a simplified code following legal principles (Halacot). His work gained him reputation throughout the Jewish World then and remains relevant in our own days. Some also argue that Harif's work paved the way to Harambam's Code (Shoulcan Aruc).

Harif left Fez in difficult circumstances. It appears that he issued a judgment that favored a humble community member in a case against a community leader who abused his power as advisor to the king. As the said community leader rejected Harif's ruling and tried to harm him, the rabbi and judge escaped to Cordoba in Spain, spent a few months there, then assumed the function of chief rabbi of Lucena, where he established a new center of learning. Harif taught Baruc Albaliah, Yehuda Halevy and Yossef Ben Meir Migash in Lucena.

Harambam, among other leading rabbinic authorities, had great respect for Harif. Some equaled him to Rav Hay, the last of the Babylonian Geonim. Harambam instructed his students to study Harif's 'Sefer Hahalacot' and said about it that 'it equals the sum of all the contributions to the Talmud!'