Isaac Ben Chechet

The Rabbi Isaac Ben Chechet (or Ben Sheshet) Perfet (1326-1408) (Hebrew יצחקברששת ) was a Rishon famous Séfarade for its authority as regards Talmud and of Jewish Loi. It is also known also under the acronym of Ribach or Rivach (ריב " ש).

Biography

Isaac Ben Chechet is born with Valence and quickly settles with Barcelona, where he studies under the direction of Perez ha-Kohen, of Hasdaï Ben Judah, and specifically under that of Nissim Gerondi (RaN) for which he had all his life greatest admiration.

Although its scholarship and its competences quickly were worth a world reputation to him, it agreed to occupy a station of Rabbin only at age the 50 years, when it was not in the incapacity to continue his activities of tradesman thanks to whom it had provided for his needs until there. It was indeed sent in prison following a false witness with six other Jewish personalities of Barcelona, among which his/her younger brother Judah Ben Chechet and his Master Nissim Ben Reuben. After its payment it agreed to become rabbi of Saragossa. However, to the consequences of died of his/her brother and that of his brother-in-law the dissensions within its community were added caused by the Dayan. It then accepted the direction of a less important rabbinate, that of Calatayud; but whereas it was about to leave Saragossa, notable community beseeched it to remain. Peace did not return therefore and Ben Chechet settled in Valence, where it directed a talmudic school.

Isaac Ben Chechet had to exile in 1391 at the time of persecutions which aimed at the Jews of Spain, initially with Miliana, then with Algiers where it was accepted with all the honors. Nevertheless, another Spanish refugee who had settled in Algiers before him and aspired to becoming chief of the community saw in him a rival and started to torment it. To give him the means necessary to fight against this man, Saul ha-Kohen Astruc persuaded the government to engage Isaac like rabbi of Algiers. However, that caused him the hostility of a character of higher scale, the Rachbatz, which disadvised the government acting as this direction.
En spite of these quarrels, Isaac Ben Chechet was venerated by the Juifs Algerian, and of the pilgrimages was carried out on its tomb to the birthday of its death until the departure of the Jews of Algeria. Its tomb stone was restored by the community of Algiers in 1862. It carries a reduced made up by Abba Mari ibn Caspi, and the following inscription: “This monument was restored by the Israélite community of Algiers in the honor of the Rabbi Isaac bar Chichet; born in Spain, deceased in Algiers on August 11th 1408. ” The relevance of this date is however questioned by certain historians who say that he died at least a year afterwards.

Its work

Rivach mainly known for its 417 responsa, is often quoted by Joseph Caro, Jacob Berab and others. In addition to its halakhic value, its work brings many historical information on the living conditions of the Jews to, like on itself, although it is not possible to assign an chronological order to them, the original order of the responsa having been deteriorated by the editors.
Dans its responsa, it is shown very strict in its halakhic decisions, but opened with the profane knowledge, although it disapproved the study of the philosophy aristotelician, whose postulates of the eternity of the matter and the absence of divine providence are in contradiction with the Jewish tradition.
Ses responsa shows a deep knowledge of the philosophical writings of its time: in one of them (No 118), it exposes the differences between the opinions of Levi Ben Gershom and of Abraham Ben David de Posquières about the Free-referee, before giving its position on the sujet.
Il was on the other hand a solved adversary of the Kabbale: its Master says that Rivach never evoked the Séfirot, and itself quotes a philosopher who reproaches the cabalists for accepting the “Ten (Sefirot)” like the Christians believe in the Three (No.159).
Ses responsa was initially published under the title of Cheelot or Techouvot (questions and answers) with Constantinople in 1546-47. A new edition was published under the name of Cheelot-or-Techouvot ha-Ribach ha-Hadachot by David Frenkl in Muncas.

In addition to its responsa, it composed of the comments on Talmud disappeared, but mentioned today in its responsa (No 106). Its comments on the Ketoubot are quoted by Betzalel Ashkénazi in the Shittah Meqoubbetzet .
Le Hida pays moreover to have had under the eyes a manuscript containing a comment of the Pentateuque written by Rivach.

Sources

The bibliography given by the Jewish Encyclopedia

Consolidates, Ḳore ha-Dorot, p. 26a;
Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim, I. 100;
Rossi, Dizionario, p. 291;
Zunz, Zeitschrift, p. 132;
Grätz, Gesch. viii. 34;
Schorr, in He-Ḥaluẓ, I. 28;
Steinschneider. Cat. Bodl. coll 1155;
Heinrich Jaulus, in Monatsschrift, 1875, p. 320;
Atlas, in ha-Kerem, I. 1-26;
Bloch, in R.E.J. viii. 288;
Kaufmann, in Monatsschrift, 1882, p. 86; 1883, p. 190;
Fuenn, Keneset Yisrael, s.v

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