150 His initials read Ribash (1336-1408). He exercised rabbinical functions in several cities of Spain. After the persecutions of 1391, he went to Algiers, where he was appointed rabbi. He was well-informed in philosophy, but he owes his great reputation chiefly to his Talmudic knowledge, as is proved by his numerous Responsa.
151 Rashbaz, born in 1361 on Majorca, of a family originally from the Provence. At first he practiced medicine, but, reduced to poverty by the persecutions of 1391, he resigned himself, not without scruples, to accepting the emoluments of a rabbi. He died in 1444 at Algiers, where he had been the co-worker, then the successor, of Ribash. He is known chiefly for his commentaries and his Responsa. The passage in question is taken from these Responsa, No.394. See also Note 122.
152 See chap. II, p.31, and chap. IV, p.80.
153 See chap. II, pp.31-2.
154 The daughter of Solomon Luria married a brother of the famous Talmudist of Cracow, Moses Isserles (1530-1572) - I will add that the families of Treves, Pollak, Heller, and Katzenelienbogen also maintain that they are connected with Rashi. On the descendants of Rashi, see Epstein, <I>Mishpahat Lurie we-Kohen-Zedek,</I> In <I>Ha-Goren,</I> I, Appendix.
155 See chap. II, p.37.
156 This defective edition was replaced by a good critical
edition by David Rosin (Breslan, 1881)
157 L. Wogue, <I>Histoire de la Bible et de l'exegese
biblique,</I> p.319.
158 Abraham Geiger, born in 1810 at Frankfort, died at Berlin in 1874, one of the finest Jewish scholars of the nineteenth century. His prolific activity was exerted in all provinces of Jewish history and literature. Besides works upon the Talmud, the poets, the philosophers, and the exegetes of the middle ages, he wrote numerous articles in two journals, which he successively edited. Theologian and distinguished preacher, he promoted the reform of the Jewish cult in Germany.
159 Wolf Heidenheim (1757-1832), Talmudist, Hebrew scholar, and editor. He deserves the sobriquet of the Henri Estienne of Hebrew letters. The commentary in which he defends Rashi is entitled <I>Habanat ha-Mikra.</I> Only the beginning, up to Gen. xliii. 16, has appeared.