Isaac Alfasi

Rabbi Itshak Ben Yaakov Alfassi (1013 - 1103), also called Isaac Hakohen , or more commonly Rif (רי " ף, Acronym of R front I tshak Al' F' ESA), was a medieval rabbi , décisonnaire halakhic, originating in Fès, with the Morocco

Its large-work, the Sefer ha-halachot (ספרההלכות) is regarded as the first major work of halakhic literature. Its code, compilation of the Talmud of Babylon, is one of the " Three Pillars of Halakha" on which the Arbaa Tourim (the " base; Four Colonnes") and the Choulhan Aroukh.

Biography

Rabbi Itshak Alfassi was born in Kalat ibn Hamad, village close to Fes to the Morocco in 1013. It receives with Kairouan, Tunisia the lesson of Nissim Ben Jacob and Hananel Ben Hushiel ( Rabbenou Hananel ), the greatest rabbinical authorities of the time. It was, so to speak, sponsored by the Jewish community of Fes, which also provided for the needs for its family while it worked on the Sefer ha-halachot . A Yeshiva was also founded in its honor, and attracted many students of all Morocco. In 1088, it is denounced by two informers with the government for an unspecified count of indictment. It is constrained to emigrate towards the Spain, where it takes the head of the yeshiva of Lucène in 1089. It will have among its more brilliant pupils Rav Juda Halevi.

Rav Hai Gaon is deceased whereas Rif was 25 years old. One generally considers that it makes the transition between the time from the Gueonim and that from the Rishonim, some regarding it itself as Gaon.

Works

The Sefer ha-halachot extracts all the legal decisions contained in the talmudic treated Moed , Nashim and Nezikin like Berakhot and Houlin . Rif retranscribes the halakhic conclusions of them without the related deliberations there, and by excluding the matter Aggadique.

This work was exceeded in importance only by the comment of Rachi, to which it is former. It returned the Gemara to the general public, and it is not astonishing that it was called Talmud Katan (" small Talmud"); one also knows it under the name of the " haRif Hilchot ". Rav Nissim Gerondi (the RaN ) established a detailed comment of it, included in the majority of the current editions. " Rif and RaN" belong to the daily programme of study of the yeshivot.

External bonds

Alfasi, jewishvirtuallibrary.org
Alfasi jewishgates.com
Alfasi, jewishencyclopedia.com

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