Description

Very Good. Feldheim 1980. Hardcover. Jewish Historial Novel
Shemuel Hanagid. Asher Lehmann
Poet and prince, scholar and military commander, he was the leader of Spanish Jewry in the 11th century and the recognized Torah authority of his time. Born at the end of the 10th century into a family of eminence, he received an excellent education in the Written and Oral Torah, and grew into a major authority in halachah, acknowledged by the great geonic scholars of his time. His writings were to have a direct influence on such Talmudic scholars as R. Yitzchak Alfasi (Rif). With his outstanding general knowledge, he could successfully dispute the spokesmen of the Muslim faith; and few could equal his elegance in written Arabic. Reputedly, he wrote some reports for a steward of the vizier of Granada. So filled with admiration was the vizier at Shemuel’s style and flashes of wisdom, that he made the learned Jew part of his staff. In 1027 the Jewish people made him nagid —the head of all Spanish Jewry.