Simeon bar Isaac
Rabbi Simeon bar Isaac bar Avon of Mainz (also known as Rabbi Shimon ben Yitzchak, Rabbi Simeon the Great, (Hebrew: שמעון בן יצחק; c. 950 - c. 1020) was a rabbi, Kabbalist, scholar, and poet. He was a contemporary of Rabbi Gershom Me’or HaGolah. He is often referred to as “the Great” due to his vast knowledge in all areas of Torah.
Life
Rabbi Simeon the Great hailed from one of the prominent Ashkenazi families. He was the grandson of Rabbi Avun the Great and studied under Rabbi Meshullam bar Kalonymus. In the book “Or Zarua,” it is mentioned that Rabbi Meshullam directed a legal matter to him, but Rabbi Simeon, due to his young age, declined to decide on it. He was likely a humble individual. His piyyutim (liturgical poems) often emphasize the virtue of humility.
In the memorial register of the Mainz community, it is noted that “Rabbi Simeon bar Isaac toiled for the communities and illuminated the eyes of the exiles with his piyyutim.”[1]
According to folk legend, his son Elchanan was abducted at a young age and raised in a monastery. Later, he became Pope Andreas. Upon discovering his true identity, he abandoned Christianity and was eventually martyred by the Crusaders.[2] However, this legend lacks clear sources,[3] and the chronology does not align – the First Crusade occurred over seventy years after Rabbi Simeon's passing.[4]
Among his students were Rabbi Yakar, the father of Rabbi Yaakov ben Yakar, and Rabbi Eliezer the Great, son of Yitzchak.
Rabbi Yechiel Heilprin cites an old book that Rabbi Simeon passed away three days before the decrees of 1096 (Takkanot Tittnach).
Piyyutim
Rabbi Simeon laid the foundation for Ashkenazi piyyutim and was one of the few Ashkenazi poets who wrote extensively. Many of his piyyutim are included in the Ashkenazi prayer cycle, such as “Kedushataot” for Rosh Hashanah, Shavuot, and Shevi’i shel Pesach. Additionally, he composed numerous selichot (penitential prayers), some of which are recited during the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance. His piyyutim were influenced by Ashkenazi mystical traditions.
For the High Holy Days, he authored “Melech Amon Ma’arach,” and the “Karov” section of the “Ametz Koach” piyyut, both recited during the second day of Rosh Hashanah. The “Karov” section includes the refrain “Shemo mi’Yisrael” (His name is from Israel).
References
Sources
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Simeon b. Isaac b. Abun". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
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- Isaac Alfasi (Rif)
- Chananel ben Chushiel
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- Zechariah Aghmati
- Nissim ben Jacob
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- Shemariah ben Elhanan
- Maimonides
- Judah Halevi
- Abraham ibn Ezra
- Yom Tov Asevilli (Ritva)
- Joseph ibn Migash (Ri Migash)
- Meir Abulafia (Ramah)
- Bahya ibn Paquda
- Bahya ben Asher
- David Abudirham
- Joseph Albo
- Isaac ben Moses Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)
- Rabbenu Yerucham
- Shem Tov ben Abraham ibn Gaon (Migdal Oz)
- Meir ben Solomon Abi-Sahula
- Isaac ibn Ghiyyat
- Maimon ben Joseph
- Isaac Aboab I
- Abraham ibn Daud
- Moses ibn Ezra
- Jonah ibn Janah
- Abraham Saba
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- Shlomo ibn Aderet (Rashba)
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- Zerachiah ha-Levi of Girona (Baal HaMaor)
- Hasdai Crescas
- Aharon HaLevi (Ra'ah)
- Isaac ben Sheshet (Rivash)
- Simeon ben Zemah Duran (Tashbatz)
- Vidal of Tolosa (Maggid Mishneh)
- Joseph ibn Habib (Nimmukei Yosef)
- Azriel of Gerona
- Moshe Chalava
- Judah ben Yakar
- Judah ben Barzillai
- Hachmei Provence
- Abraham ben David (Raavad)
- Gersonides (Ralbag)
- David Kimhi (Radak)
- Abba Mari
- Isaac ben Abba Mari (HaIttur)
- Abraham ben Nathan (HaManhig)
- David ben Levi of Narbonne (HaMichtam)
- Moses ben Joseph (Rambi)
- Abraham ben Isaac of Narbonne (Raavad II, HaEshkol)
- Levi ben Abraham ben Hayyim
- Moshe ha-Darshan
- Meshullam ben Jacob
- Asher ben Meshullam
- Abraham of Montpellier
- Joseph Caspi
- Isaac the Blind
- Samuel ibn Tibbon
- Isaac of Narbonne
- Aaron ben Jacob ha-Kohen
- Jonathan of Lunel
- Rabbi Abin ha-Gadol
- Rashi
- List of Tosafists
- Rabbeinu Tam
- Rashbam
- Solomon ben Meir
- Samson ben Joseph of Falaise
- Yom Tov of Falaise
- Eliezer ben Samuel (Yereim)
- Isaac ben Samuel (Ri HaZaken)
- Moses ben Jacob of Coucy (Semag)
- Judah ben Nathan (Rivan)
- Bechor Shor
- Abraham ben Joseph of Orleans
- Elijah of Paris
- Judah ben Yom Tov
- Haim ben Hananel HaCohen
- Yechiel of Paris
- Rivam
- Peretz ben Elijah
- Eliezer of Toul
- Chaim Paltiel
- Jacob of Orléans
- Samson of Chinon
- Jacob of Chinon
- Eliezer of Touques
- Isaac ben Abraham of Dampierre
- Elhanan ben Isaac of Dampierre
- Baruch ben Isaac
- Samson ben Abraham of Sens
- Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi
- Meir ben Samuel
- Moses of Évreux
- Samuel of Évreux
- Samuel ben Solomon of Falaise
- Judah ben Isaac Messer Leon
- Joseph ben Samuel Bonfils
- Menahem ben Helbo
- Simeon Kara
- Shemaiah of Soissons
- Elijah ben Menahem HaZaken
- Ephraim ben Samson
- Meshullam ben Kalonymus
- Gershom ben Judah (Rabbeinu Gershom)
- Simeon bar Isaac of Mainz
- Asher ben Jehiel (Rosh)
- Jacob ben Asher (Baal HaTurim)
- Mordechai ben Hillel (Mordechai)
- Meir of Rothenburg (Maharam MeRotenberg)
- Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin (Maharil)
- Eliezer ben Nathan (Ra'aven)
- Eliezer ben Joel HaLevi (Raavyah)
- Eleazar of Worms (Rokeach)
- Meir HaKohen (Hagahot Maimuniot)
- Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg (Yehudah haHasid)
- Yaakov ben Yakar
- Isaac ben Mordecai of Regensburg
- Ephraim ben Isaac of Regensburg
- Samson ben Eliezer
- Eliezer ben Isaac ha-Gadol
- Judah ben Kalonymus
- Yehuda HaKohen ben Meir
- Meir ben Baruch Halevi
- Israel Bruna
- Israel of Bamberg
- Ephraim of Bonn
- Judah ben Asher
- Joel ben Isaac ha-Levi
- Jacob ben Judah Landau
- Samuel ben Natronai
- Alexander Suslin
- Jacob Weil
- Isaac ben Asher ha-Levi
- Simha of Speyer
- Isaac Asir HaTikvah
- Israel Isserlein (Terumat HaDeshen)
- Isaac of Vienna (Or Zarua)
- Avigdor Cohen of Vienna
- Isaac Tyrnau
- Nathan ben Jehiel (the Aruch)
- Isaiah di Trani (Rid)
- Isaiah di Trani the Younger (Riaz)
- Obadiah of Bertinoro
- Menahem Recanati
- Zedekiah Anaw (Shibbolei HaLeket)
- Benjamin Anaw
- Judah Anav
- Moses ben Meir of Ferrara
- Eliezer ben Samuel of Verona
- Hillel ben Samuel
- Joseph Colon Trabotto
- Isaac ben Melchizedek
- Judah Messer Leon