121 Nathan ben Jehiel, of Rome, born about 1035, died In the
first years of the twelfth century, author of the Aruk, a
highly valued Talmudic dictionary, In which he explains the
words of Talmudic and Midrasbic literature, as well as the
Halakic and Haggadic passages presenting difficulties. The
numerous quotations are no less valuable than the
explanations. Concerning Alfasi, see Note 113.
122 Quoted from Bezalel Ashkenazl, who lived In Egypt (died in
1530). He compiled a Talmudic collection called <I>Shitta
Mekubezet,</I> in which he gathered together extracts from
French, Spanish, and other rabbis. Before him Isaac ben
Sheshet (see Note 150) had said: "The greatest light that has
come to us from France is Rashi. Without his commentary, the
Talmud would be a closed book" (Responsa, No.394).
123 Menahem ben Zerah (about 1312-1385), son of a Jew expelled from France, wrote in Spain a Talmudic manual entitled <I>Zedah la-Derek.</I>
124 ConcernIng Rashi's correspondents see chap. II, pp.51-2, and chap. III, p.57.
125 See chap. I, p.20, and chap. III, p.56.
126 See chap. III, p.67.
127 And not, as has been supposed, that of Cavaillon, In the county Venaissin, where, possibly, there were not yet any Jews, and where, at all events, Rashi was not known, as was the case throughout the south of France, until after his death.
128 An application, according to the Talmud, of Eccl. ii. 14.
129 This resume is taken from Epstein on Shemaiah, in <I>Monatsschrift,</I> XLI, also that of <I>Sefer ha-Orah.</I> Concerning the Machirites, see chap. I, p.29, and chap. II, p.52; concerning Shemaiah, chap. XI, pp.186-7. The three communities are sometimes called by the initials of their names, "communities of Shum" <H>shum (Shin followed by gershayim Vav followed by gershayim Final_Mem)</H>
In connection with the <I>Sefer ha-Pardes</I> must be
mentioned the work bearing the title of <I>Likkute ha-
Pardes</I> (Extracts from Paradise), a compilation edited in
Italy by the disciples of Isaiah da Trani.