Samuel ben Ali
Shmuel ben Ali ha-Levi (Hebrew: שמואל בן עלי הלוי, also Samuel ben Ali ibn al-Dastur; died 1194) was the most noteworthy of the twelfth-century Babylonian scholars[1] and the only one of his era whose written works have survived in any significant number.[2]
Biography
Samuel served as head of the academy in Baghdad for nearly thirty years and was a recognized leader of neighboring countries as well.[3][4] He appointed judges throughout Iraq, Iran, and Syria,[5] and presided over many congregations throughout Asia. His Talmudic lectures were attended by thousands of pupils, each who had undergone a preparatory course in advance.[6] He was also well-versed in the field of astrology.[7] A description of Samuel and his grandeur is provided by Petachiah of Regensburg in his medieval diary.
Samuel had a strong personality and clashed with Maimonides on a variety of occasions.[8] Samuel wrote glosses to Maimonides’ works,[9] and the latter addressed them in a letter to his student, Joseph b. Judah.[10] Samuel criticized Maimonides’ position on resurrection and the world to come and had fiercely debated Maimonides’ student, Joseph b. Judah, on these issues as well.[11] Additionally, circles associated with Samuel were disseminating propaganda attacking Maimonides’ positions.[12]
Samuel’s daughter had become reputable, under the name of Bat ha-Levi, for her Talmudic expertise and public lectures to students who would remain outside and listen, while she remained indoors and unseen.[13]
A collection of Samuel’s letters were published in Tarbiz.[14]
References
- ^ "Samuel ben Ali | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ Rustow, Marina (2010-10-01). "Ibn al-Dastūr, Samuel ben ʿAlī". Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World.
- ^ Sklare, David Eric; Hophni, Samuel Ben (1996). Samuel Ben Ḥofni Gaon and His Cultural World: Texts and Studies. BRILL. p. 83. ISBN 978-90-04-10302-3.
- ^ Pethahiah, p. 9f; L. Greenhut (1905), 10.
- ^ Rustow, Marina (2010-10-01). "Ibn al-Dastūr, Samuel ben ʿAlī". Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World.
- ^ Graetz, Heinrich (2018-07-11). History of the Jews, Vol. 3 (of 6). Litres. ISBN 978-5-04-083193-7.
- ^ רבקה פלדחי ועמנואל אטקס, חינוך והיסטוריה - הקשרים תרבותיים ופוליטיים, עמוד 81, הוצאת מרכז זלמן שזר לתולדות ישראל, ירושלים, ה'תשנ"ט
- ^ Baumgarten, Albert I.; Assmann, Jan; Stroumsa, Gedaliahu A. G.; Stroumsa, Guy G. (1998). Self, Soul, and Body in Religious Experience. BRILL. p. 314. ISBN 978-90-04-10943-8.
- ^ "Samuel ben Ali | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ She'elot u-Teshuvot ha-Rambam, ed. by J. Blau, 3 (1961), 142 no. 464
- ^ Davidson, Herbert A. (2005). Moses Maimonides: The Man and His Works. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 520. ISBN 978-0-19-517321-5.
- ^ Kraemer, Joel L. (2008). Maimonides: The Life and World of One of Civilization's Greatest Minds. Doubleday. p. 413. ISBN 978-1-61523-163-8.
- ^ Parry, Aaron (2004-07-06). The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Talmud: Wisdom of the Ages About Law, Religion, Science, Mathematics, Philosophy, and More. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-4406-9617-6.
- ^ Assaf, S. (1930). "Letters of R. Samuel ben Eli and his Contemporaries (Contin.) / קובץ של אגרות ר' שמואל בן עלי ובני דורו (המשך)" [Letters of R. Samuel ben Eli and his Contemporaries (contin.)]. Tarbiẕ (in Hebrew). 1 (2): 43–84. JSTOR 23580522.
Preceded by Solomon | Babylonian Gaon circa 1060-1194 | Succeeded by Zechariah ben Berakhel |
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- e
- Hanan of Iskiya
- Mari ben R. Dimi
- Rav Hana (Huna)
- Rav Rabbah (Rava, Ravah)
- Rav Bosai (Bostanai)
- Huna Mari ben Mar Joseph
- Hiyya of Meshan
- Rav Rabya (Moronai)
- Natronai ben Nehemiah
- Judah Gaon
- Joseph Gaon
- Samuel ben Mar Mari
- Natroi Kahana b. Emuna
- Abraham Kahana
- Dodai ben Nahman (Rav Dorai)
- Hananya ben Mesharsheya
- Malka ben Aha
- Rabba ben Dodai
- Rav Shinwai
- Haninai Kahana ben Abraham
- Haninai Kahana ben Abraham
- Huna ben ha-Levi ben Isaac
- Manasseh ben Joseph
- Isaiah ha-Levi ben Abba
- Joseph ben Shila
- Kahana ben Haninai Gaon
- Abumai Kahana ben Abraham
- Joseph ben Abba
- Abraham ben Sherira
- Joseph ben Mar Hiyya
- Isaac ben Hananiah
- Joseph ben Abba
- Paltoi ben Abaye
- Aha Kahana ben Mar Rav
- Menahem ben Joseph ben Hiyya
- Mattithiah ha-Kohen b. Ravrevay b. Hanina
- Abba ben Ammi
- Zemah ben Paltoi
- Hai ben David
- Kimoi ben Ahhai
- Mebasser Kahana ben Kimoi
- Kohen Tzedek Kahana ben Joseph
- Zemah ben Kafnai
- Hananiah ben Yehudai
- Aaron ibn Sargado
- Nehemiah ben Kohen Tzedek
- Sherira Gaon
- Hai Gaon
- Hezekiah Gaon
- Mar ben Huna
- Hanina (Hinenai)
- Rav Hunai (Huna)
- Rav Sheshna (Mesharsheya b. Tahlifa)
- Hanina of Nehar Pekkod (Hinenai)
- Hillai of Naresh
- Jacob of Nehar Pekod
- Rav Samuel
- Mari ha-Kohen of Nehar Pekod
- Achai Gaon
- Yehudai Gaon
- Ahhunai Kahana ben Papa
- Haninai Kahana ben Huna
- Mari ha-Levi ben Mesharsheya
- Bebai ha-Levi ben Abba of Nehar Pekod
- Hilai ben Mari
- Jacob ha-Kohen ben Mordecai
- Rav Abimai
- Zadok ben Ashi (Issac ben Jesse)
- Hilai ben Hananiah
- Kimoi ben Ashi
- Mesharsheya Kahana ben Jacob
- Kohen Tzedek ben Abimai
- Sar Shalom ben Boaz
- Natronai ben Hilai
- Amram Gaon
- Nahshon ben Zadok
- Zemah ben Hayyim
- Rav Malka
- Hai ben Nahshon
- Hilai ben Natronai ben Hilai
- Shalom ben Mishael
- Jacob ben Natronai
- Yom-Tob Kahana ben Jacob
- Saadia ben Joseph (Saadia Gaon)
- Joseph ben Jacob
- Zemah Tzedek ben Paltoi ben Issac
- Samuel ben Hofni
- Dosa ben Saadia
- Israel ha-Kohen ben Samuel ben Hofni
- Azariah ha-Kohen ben Israel
- Isaac ben Moses ben Sukkari
- Eli ha-Levi
- Solomon (Gaon)
- Samuel ben Ali
- Zechariah ben Berakhel
- Eleazer ben Hillel ben Fahd
- Daniel ben Eleazer ben Hibat Allah
- Hibat Allah ben Abil Rabi
- Isaac ben al-Awani ha-Cohen
- Isaac ben Israel Ibn al-Shuwaykh
- Ali ben Zechariah
- Samuel ben Daniel ha-Cohen
- Pinhas ben Jacob ha-Cohen
- Jehoshaphat ben Josiah
- Semah ben Josiah
- Aaron ben Moses ben Meir
- Isaac (Gaon)
- Aaron ben Meir
- Abraham ben Aaron
- Aaron ha-Cohen (Gaon)
- Joseph ben Ezrun ha-Cohen
- Ezrun
- Samuel ben Joseph ha-Cohen
- Jose ben Samuel ha-Cohen
- Shemaya Gaon
- Josiah ben Aaron
- Solomon ben Joseph ha-Cohen
- Solomon ben Judah (Gaon)
- Daniel ben Azariah
- Elijah ben Solomon ha-Cohen
- Abiathar ben Elijah ha-Cohen
- Solomon ben Elijah ha-Cohen
- Masliah ben Solomon ha-Cohen
- Moses ben Netanel ha-Levi
- Abraham ben Mazhir
- Netanel ben Moses ha-Levi
- Sar Shalom ben Moses ha-Levi
- Ezra ben Abraham
- Sar Shalom ben Abraham
- Sadoq
- Mar Isaac of Firuz Shabur
- Achai Gaon
- Simeon Kayyara