A View from 14th Century Toledo: Rabbi Asher, a German Émigré, Transforms the Legal Culture in Castile
In this study, I explore the way in which a German émigré rose to the status of a cultural hero in Castile, Spain, and how his work of law became one of the three “pillars” of Jewish law. A survey of the Jewish legal landscape in medieval Spain during the fourteenth century reveals a shift in the st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/11/1351 |
| _version_ | 1797457906327617536 |
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| author | Judah D. Galinsky |
| author_facet | Judah D. Galinsky |
| author_sort | Judah D. Galinsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, I explore the way in which a German émigré rose to the status of a cultural hero in Castile, Spain, and how his work of law became one of the three “pillars” of Jewish law. A survey of the Jewish legal landscape in medieval Spain during the fourteenth century reveals a shift in the status of one of the centers of Talmudic and legal (<i>halakha</i>) studies there as compared with the previous century. The fortune of the center in Toledo changed dramatically, and this change is traceable to the impact of one German émigré, Rabbi Asher ben Jehiel. Many scholars have examined Asher’s life and work. However, none have seriously analyzed the change he brought to the legal culture in Castile or examined the mechanism of how this occurred. This study describes Asher’s impact and attempts to expose the processes that brought about this transformation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:29:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7ad4df3916324d139e9e3caa21f6ac9f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:29:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-7ad4df3916324d139e9e3caa21f6ac9f2023-11-24T15:03:38ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-10-011411135110.3390/rel14111351A View from 14th Century Toledo: Rabbi Asher, a German Émigré, Transforms the Legal Culture in CastileJudah D. Galinsky0Talmud Department, Faculty of Jewish Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelIn this study, I explore the way in which a German émigré rose to the status of a cultural hero in Castile, Spain, and how his work of law became one of the three “pillars” of Jewish law. A survey of the Jewish legal landscape in medieval Spain during the fourteenth century reveals a shift in the status of one of the centers of Talmudic and legal (<i>halakha</i>) studies there as compared with the previous century. The fortune of the center in Toledo changed dramatically, and this change is traceable to the impact of one German émigré, Rabbi Asher ben Jehiel. Many scholars have examined Asher’s life and work. However, none have seriously analyzed the change he brought to the legal culture in Castile or examined the mechanism of how this occurred. This study describes Asher’s impact and attempts to expose the processes that brought about this transformation.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/11/1351Jewish lawToledomedieval SpainJoseph KaroMaimonidesfourteenth century |
| spellingShingle | Judah D. Galinsky A View from 14th Century Toledo: Rabbi Asher, a German Émigré, Transforms the Legal Culture in Castile Religions Jewish law Toledo medieval Spain Joseph Karo Maimonides fourteenth century |
| title | A View from 14th Century Toledo: Rabbi Asher, a German Émigré, Transforms the Legal Culture in Castile |
| title_full | A View from 14th Century Toledo: Rabbi Asher, a German Émigré, Transforms the Legal Culture in Castile |
| title_fullStr | A View from 14th Century Toledo: Rabbi Asher, a German Émigré, Transforms the Legal Culture in Castile |
| title_full_unstemmed | A View from 14th Century Toledo: Rabbi Asher, a German Émigré, Transforms the Legal Culture in Castile |
| title_short | A View from 14th Century Toledo: Rabbi Asher, a German Émigré, Transforms the Legal Culture in Castile |
| title_sort | view from 14th century toledo rabbi asher a german emigre transforms the legal culture in castile |
| topic | Jewish law Toledo medieval Spain Joseph Karo Maimonides fourteenth century |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/11/1351 |
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