Rav Leibowitz
Note: This post has been incorporated into a pamphlet on the Early Rishonim. It can be purchased on Amazon by clicking here.
The Origin of the Torah Center in Ashkenaz[1]
Jews lived in Germany for
hundreds of years before the period of the Rishonim. However it is unclear when Germany started to
become a Torah center. It is known that
in the middle of the 9th century, members of the illustrious
Kolonlymus family left their base in Italy and settled in the Rhineland. This
certainly contributed to the upstart Torah center in the region. However, other sources indicate that some of
the most influential Talmudists in the Rhineland came directly from the Bavel
Yeshivos. Be that as it may, by the year
1000,
a major Torah center had emerged in Germany.[2]
The Torah center of Germany consisted of three primary cities
in the heart of the Rhineland: (1) Worms /ורמיזא (גרמיזא) , (2) Mainz ,
מיינץ (מגנצא) (3) Speyers /שפירא .
They were known by their roshei teivos: קהילות
שו"מ.
Rabbenu Gershom (d. 1028 or 1040)
The first major figure from Early Ashkenaz in the period
of the Rishonim was Rabbeinu Gershom. He
was known as “The light of the Exile” (Me-Or Hagolah). He was a Rosh Yeshiva in Mainz and is well
known for his communal enactments, which he strengthen via
a cherem. R. Gershom was very
prolific and authored works in many areas of Torah study.[3]
The German Yeshivos
Each of the above mentioned cities was home to a
significant yeshiva, as Torah scholars and scholarship flourished along the
Rhine River. The Torah scholars in Ashkenaz were known for
their deep piety, and are referred to as חסידים.[4] The
early Talmud commentaries that emerged from the German Yeshivos were
paraphrases of the Talmud with additional notes and insights, similar in this sense to the
early works from North Africa.
The Yeshivos and communities of Early Ashkenaz were all led by students of R. Gershom and his
contemporary, R. Eliezer haGadol.[5]
[1] Defining Ashkenaz - Ashkenaz in our context refers to Germany
and France. The main Jewish center in
the period before the Rishonim was based in the Rhineland of Germany. The “Rhineland” refers to a region in Western
Germany situated along the Rhine River. Once
the period of the Rishonim began, Torah centers began to emerge in Eastern
Germany and in France.
General Historical Background to the Jews in Germany
and France - During the period of the Taanaim, the Roman Empire ruled over
France (then known as Gaul), but was unable to subdue the various Germanic
tribes that ruled in Germany. Toward the
end of the period of the Amoraim, a confederation of tribes based in the
Rhineland united into the Frankish Kingdom.
During the following centuries the Franks were successful in conquering
territory that covered much of modern day France and Germany. At the height of their conquests, under the
leadership of Charlemagne, the Franks extended the borders of their empire and
ruled over much of Western Europe, including the territories of modern day
France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Northern Italy, and
significant parts of Austria and the Czech Republic.
Charlemagne was
crowned the first Emperor of the “Holy Roman Empire.” Upon his death, the empire was split into a
number of pieces. Throughout the period
of the Rishonim and beyond both Germany and France were under Christian
Rule. Germany was the central province
of the Holy Roman Empire, which lasted for one thousand years. The Jews in
Germany suffered greatly during the time of the Rishonim, as they were frequent
victims to merciless crusaders and Christian marauders. The Western region of Charlemagne’s Empire
was formed into the Kingdom of France, and throughout the period of the
Rishonim, France was ruled by the Kings of France. Although the Jews in France fared better than
their brethren in Germany, the Jews were expelled in 1882 only to be recalled
in 1198, expelled again in 1306 and recalled again in 1315, and then expelled
for good in 1394.
[2] The early history of
the Torah community in Germany is recounted by R. Shlomo Luria (Maharshal) in
his Teshuvos Maharshal, # 29. Note also
the following quote from Sefer Or Zarua (Teshuvos I:752), “The
Rabbis of Mainz, Worms, and Speyer were great scholars and holy individuals,
and from [those cities] Torah went out to all of Israel…”
[3] However, the so
called “Perush of R. Gershom” found in the margins of certain tractates was not actually written by him, but is from his
academy.
[4] This was a general
term for the early scholars of Germany. Hence
we find that the Rabbis in early Ashkenaz are called He-Chasid, like R.
Yitzchak He-Chasid or R. Yehoshua He-Chasid.
Similarly we find references to the “Chasidei Mainz” (Sefer Aruch, ערך אב א'). It was later, in the 12th century
that a specific movement emerged called the “Chasidei Ashkenaz.”
[5] R. Yaacov ben Yakar was Rosh
Yeshiva in Worms, R. Yitzchak haLevi was the Chief Rabbi of Worms, and R. Yitzchak b. Yehudah was Rosh
Yeshiva in Mainz.
No comments:
Post a Comment