Meir ben Isaac of Trinquetaille

views updated

MEIR BEN ISAAC OF TRINQUETAILLE

MEIR BEN ISAAC OF TRINQUETAILLE (12th century), Provençal scholar. Knowledge of Meir is largely derived from Menahem b. Solomon *Meiri's introduction to his commentary on Avot. Born in Carcassonne, the young Meir b. Isaac was brought by his father to Posquières to study under *Abraham b. David, and after many years Meir became his pupil-colleague. Meir's retort to his teacher, when the latter attempted to force his opinion upon him in a halakhic matter, has become well known: "Do not make light of my honor. For if you are unique among teachers, I am unique among pupils." From Posquières Meir apparently went to Trinquetaille, near Arles. In Meir's comprehensive work (Sefer ha-Ezer), written in defense of the halakhot of Isaac *Alfasi against the hassagot of *Zerahiah b. Isaac ha-Levi (the author of Ha-Ma'or), the influence of Meir's great teacher who wrote a similar book is clearly recognizable. Although the book has not been preserved, it is quoted by the rishonim – among them *Manoah b. Jacob (who also mentions Meir's Ḥibbur ha-Mukẓeh) and *Estori ha-Parḥi, Meir's great-grandson. Menahem b. Solomon Meiri also claims family connection with him. Meir's son, nathan of trinquetaille, was a well-known scholar and a disciple of the eminent tosafist *Isaac b. Abraham. He later became the teacher of *Naḥmanides, Samuel b. Isaac ha-*Sardi, and Meir b. Simeon ha-Meili. Naḥmanides, Sardi, and Estori ha-Parḥi in particular, quote Nathan frequently. From their quotations it is clear that Nathan wrote a comprehensive work on civil law which was divided into she'arim ("gates") as well as a commentary on the Torah. Nathan's commentary on tractate Shevu'ot is always mentioned.

bibliography:

Gross, Gal Jud, 246f.; idem, in: mgwj, 27 (1878), 378ff.; I. Twersky, Rabad of Posquieres (1962), 245f.

[Israel Moses Ta-Shma]

More From encyclopedia.com