Chapter XVII: The Age of Gebirol, Halevi, Rashi, and Maimonides

(1038-1204 C. E.)

1038(about). Chananel ben Chushiel and Nissim ben Jacob
Ibn-Shahin (1015-1055), Talmudists in Kairuan.

1045. =Solomon Ibn-Gebirol= (=Avicebron=, 1021-1070), poet
and philosopher, author of the “Kether Malkuth”
and the “Mekor Chayim.”

1050(about). _Bachya Ibn-Pakuda_, philosopher, writes the “Guide
to the Duties of the Heart.”

1055. _Abu Hussain Joseph Ibn-Nagrela_ (1031-1066),
minister to Badis of Granada, Nagid of the Jews,
and patron of Jewish learning.

1056. ISAAC BEN JACOB ALFASSI (1013-1103), Talmudist.

1066. Banishment of the Jews from Granada. _First
persecution of the Jews of Spain_ since its
conquest by the Mahometans.

1069. Isaac ben Baruch Ibn-Albalia (1035-1094), astronomer
to Al-Mutamed in Cordova, Nassi of the Jews,
Talmudist.

1070. =Rashi= (Solomon Yizchaki, 1040-1105), exegete and
Talmudist.

1078. Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) promulgates the
canonical _law against Jews’ holding offices in
Christendom_.

1095. Emperor Henry IV issues a decree against the
forcible baptism of Jews.

1096. THE FIRST CRUSADE: Suffering of the Jews of
Rouen, Treves, Speyer, Worms, Cologne, Ratisbon,
Prague, etc.

1099. The Jews of Jerusalem burnt in a synagogue by the
crusaders under Godfrey of Bouillon.

1100. Abraham ben Chiya Albargeloni (1065-1136),
astronomer.

1110. =Moses Ibn-Ezra= (1070-1139), liturgical and erotic
poet.

Joseph ben Meïr Ibn-Migash Halevi (1077-1141),
Talmudist.

1120. =Jehuda ben Samuel Halevi= (1086-1142), poet and
philosopher, author of the Zion songs and of the
Chozari.

1141. Jehuda Halevi leaves Spain for Palestine.

THE TOSSAFISTS: the family of Rashi, especially his
grandsons JACOB TAM (1100-1171), and Samuel ben
Meïr (Rashbam, 1100-1160).

1146. _Beginning of the Almohade persecution_ in northern
Africa and southern Spain. Jews flee, or pretend
to accept Islam.

1147. THE SECOND CRUSADE. Pope Eugenius III absolves
crusaders from the payment of interest on debts
owing to Jews.

The crusaders attack the Jews of the Rhine country,
South Germany, and France.

In consequence of their protection by Emperor Conrad
III, the Jews are considered =servi cameræ=.

1149. Jehuda Ibn-Ezra, of Toledo, Nassi, steward of the
palace under Alfonso VII Raimundez. He persecutes
the Karaites.

1150(about). ABRAHAM BEN MEÏR IBN-EZRA (1088-1167), poet,
exegete, philosopher.

1160(about). _Jacob Tam calls the first rabbinical synod._

_Abraham Ibn-Daud Halevi_ (1110-1180), philosopher
and historian.

The Exilarchate revived by Mahomet Almuktafi.
Solomon (Chasdaï) Exilarch.

1160(about). _David Alrui_ pretends to be divinely appointed to
lead the Jews of the Bagdad Caliphate to
Jerusalem.

1164(about). =Moses ben Maimun= (Rambam, Maimonides, 1135-1204),
philosopher, writes his “Letter of Consolation.”

1165. _Benjamin of Tudela_ begins his travels in the East.

Serachya Halevi Gerundi (1125-1186), Talmudist.

1168. _Maimonides finishes his Arabic commentary on the
Mishna._

1170(about). Meshullam ben Jacob, Provençal patron of Jewish
learning.

_Judah ben Saul Ibn-Tibbon_ (1120-1190), physician
and translator.

DAVID KIMCHI, grammarian and exegete.

_Abraham ben David_ of Posquières (Rabed II,
1125-1198), Talmudist, Maimonides’ opponent.

1170(about). Jonathan Cohen of Lünel, Talmudist.

Jacob ben Meshullam, first promoter of THE KABBALA.

1171. The Jews of Blois burnt ON THE CHARGE OF HAVING USED
HUMAN BLOOD IN THE PASSOVER. The =blood
accusation=, or charge of ritual murder, preferred
for the first time.

Death of Jacob Tam.

Isaac ben Samuel (Ri) of Dampierre, Tossafist.

1172. Persecution of the Jews of Yemen. Messianic
excitement.

1175(about). Petachya of Ratisbon, traveler.

Samuel ben Ali Halevi, Gaon of Bagdad, opponent of
Maimonides.

1177. _Maimonides rabbi of Cairo._

1179. The Third Lateran Council passes decrees protecting
the religious liberty of the Jews.

1180. Maimonides finishes his MISHNE TORAH, or YAD
HA-CHAZAKA.

1181. _Philip II Augustus of France banishes the Jews from
his hereditary province._

1187. Saladin _permits Jews to enter Jerusalem_.

1189. _Attack on the Jews of London_ at Richard I’s
coronation. The excitement spreads to Lynn,
Norwich, Stamford, York, and Bury St. Edmund’s.

1190(about). Maimonides issues the “=Guide of the Perplexed=,”
dedicating it to Joseph Ibn-Aknin.

Abraham Ibn-Alfachar (1160-1223), diplomat under
Alfonso VIII of Castile.

Ephraim ben Jacob of Bonn (1132-1200), liturgical
poet and author of a martyrology.

Massacre of the Jews of Germany from the Rhine to
Vienna under Emperor Henry VI.

_Samuel Ibn-Tibbon_ (1160-1239), translator.

1190(about). Süsskind of Trimberg, Jewish minnesinger.

Judah Sir Leon ben Isaac, the Pious (1166-1224),
Tossafist, author of the “_Book of the Pious_.”

Samson ben Abraham of Sens, Tossafist.

Isaac the Younger (Rizba), Tossafist; Jacob of
Orleans, Tossafist.

1197. _Hillali_, the oldest Hebrew copy of the Bible in
Spain, taken by the Almohades.

_Sheshet Benveniste_ (1131-1210), philosopher,
physician, Talmudist, diplomat, and poet.

1198. The Jews of France forbidden to move from province
to province.

1204. DEATH OF MAIMONIDES.