Cf. Graetz, VI, p. 240, also Joseph Jacob's Angevin Jews, p. 111. R. Asher was one of a group of pious Rabbis known as Perushim—who might be styled Jewish monks. His father, Rabbenu Meshullam, died 1170.
He is referred to in Tosafoth Temurah, fol. 12a and b.
This eminent Talmudist, known as the Rabad, was son-in-law of the R. Abraham of Narbonne before referred to. See Graetz, VI, 243.
The Abbey of St. Aegidius was much resorted to in the Middle Ages. The Jews of Beaucaire, and the neighbourhood, enjoyed the patronage of Raymond V, Count of Toulouse, called by the Troubadour poets "the good Duke." See Graetz, VI, note I, p. 401. It is impossible to enlarge in these notes upon the several Jewish scholars referred to by Benjamin. An interesting article by Professor Israel Levi on the "Jews in Mediaeval France," and other articles, in the Jewish Encyclopaedia, also Gross, Gallia Judaica, might be consulted with advantage.
The BM. MS. calls R. Abba Mari dead, which statement, unless qualified, as in a few other instances, by the insertion of the word "since," would be unintelligible.