David Ben Solomon Ibn Zimra, also known as the Radbaz, was a Sephardic Talmud scholar, Kabbalist and longtime chief rabbi of Egypt.
Born in Spain about 1479, he died in Safed (Tzfat), in the land of Israel, in 1589.
At age 13, the Radbaz moved to Safed with his family, following their expulsion from Spain. Later settling in Cairo, he was a member of that city’s beit din, or rabbinic court, becoming Egypt’s chief rabbi in 1517, a position he held for 40 years.
Isaac Luria, considered the father of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), studied at the Radbaz’s Cairo yeshiva.
Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.
Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.
The Radbaz was believed to be prominent in both the social and political life of Egypt, thanks to his wealth and intelligence. During his rabbinate he introduced many reforms in the everyday life of Egyptian Jews, ending the community’s use of Seleucidan-era counting as a way of measuring the years.
At age 90, the Radbaz resigned the chief rabbinate, gave away most of his money to the poor, including poor scholars, and moved to Safed, where he became an active member of Joseph Caro’s beit din. He died at 110.
The Radbaz’ works include:”Kelale ha-Gemara” (Rules of the Gemara), a methodology of the Talmud; ,”Or Ḳadmon” (Pristine Light), a Kabbalistic work; “Magen David” (Shield of David), a mystical explanation of the Hebrew alphabet; liturgy for Yom Kippur; and a commentary on the Shulcḥan Aruch. According to Rabbi Louis Jacobs’ The Jewish Religion, he is best known for his collection of responsa.
Adapted from The Jewish Encyclopedia.
Torah
Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses.
Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.
Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.
Sephardic
Pronounced: seh-FAR-dik, Origin: Hebrew, describing Jews descending from the Jews of Spain.
Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.
Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.
Talmud
Pronounced: TALL-mud, Origin: Hebrew, the set of teachings and commentaries on the Torah that form the basis for Jewish law. Comprised of the Mishnah and the Gemara, it contains the opinions of thousands of rabbis from different periods in Jewish history.
Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.
Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.
Kabbalist, Kabbalistic
Pronounced: KAH-buh-list, kah-buh-LIST-ic, Origin: Hebrew, a Jewish mystic, or something that is related to Kabbalah.
Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.
Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.
Kabbalah
Pronounced: kah-bah-LAH, sometimes kuh-BAHL-uh, Origin: Hebrew, Jewish mysticism.
Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.
Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.
