Rabbi Shimon ben Tsemah Duran , also known as the “RASHBETS” was born in 1361 in Majorca, Spain. In his youth he studied with the famous Rabbi Efraim Vidal, the head of the Yeshiba of Majorca. Besides his profound studies in Tora, and following the classic educational method of Spanish Jews, he acquired a thorough knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and particularly medicine. In Majorca, Rabbi Duran practiced as a physician and a surgeon in the city of Palma.
The Jewish community of Majorca was prosperous, and before the massacres of 1391 the Jewish community there consisted of more than 1,000 families. In 1391 the anti-Jewish riots sweeping Spain also reached Majorca. In the city of Palma the riots broke out on July 10. The mob broke down the gates of the Jewish quarter (known in Spanish as the “Call” =Qahal) and massacred scores of Jews, pillaging, and stealing their possessions. Many Jews were forced to accept baptism in order to save their lives. Other Jews were tortured to death for not accepting baptism, among them Rabbi Duran’s old teacher, Rabbi Vidal. Those who “converted” were subjects to the scrutiny of the Inquisition who persecuted them. If a “converso” was found practicing Judaism (“judaizando”) he will be burned alive. The descendants of Majorcan conversos kept Judaism in secret for centuries. Until the close of the 15th century, 346 trials of the Inquisition were held in Majorca and 257 “conversos” (popularly known as “marranos”) were condemn to death by fire. By 1771 the Inquisition had sent a total of 594 “conversos” to the stake. The Majorcan “conversos” are known by a specific name “chuetas” (see here).
Back to rabbi Duran, in September 1391 he escaped to Algiers, in North Africa. In Algiers Rabbi Shimon was unable to earn his livelihood from his medical profession, since the native population resorted to “healers” rather than to professional doctors. Reluctantly, he was forced to accept a salaried office of rabbi. Rabbi Shimon Duran joined the Bet Din of the famous rabbi Isaac bar Sheshet, (RIBASH). These two Rabbis and later on Rabbi Duran’s son, Rabbi Shimon Duran (RASHBASH) established the foundation for the “Sephardic” customs and traditions of Algerian and most North African Jews. After the death of rabbi Isaac bar Sheshat (1408) Rabbi Duran was appointed as the Rabbi of Algiers. His Halakhic decisions were a guide to later posqim who frequently quote them, including rabbi Yosef caro in the Bet Yosef/Shulhan ‘arukh.
BOOKS
Rabbi Shimon Duran wrote 14 books.
His most famous work is undoubtedly the responsa known as TASHBETS, a collection of 802 Halakhic questions an answers.
His other books are less known. So, they deserve perhaps more attention.
Rabbi Duran wrote many books on the area of ideas and beliefs. He wrote a monumental book called Magen Abot, “In defense of our fathers”. This book comprises four tractates, which sometimes were published as independent works.
In the first tractate, חלק א׳ ממעל, Rabbi Duran deals with subjects related to theology. God’s existence, unity, incorporeality, etc. This tractate was written mainly against the backdrop of the philosophical Aristotelian thinking prevalent in his days, akin to what today would be considered “secular thinking”.
In the second tractate חלק שוסינו he explains the concept of Tora Min HaShamayim, i.e., the divine origin of our Tora, prophecy, the oral Tora, etc.
The third tractate, חלק יעקב, is mainly about the Jewish beliefs of the immortality of the soul and resurrection.
In these three tractates he systemically follows and defends the 13 principles of faith established by Maimonides. Also, within these books, Rabbi Duran wrote a long chapter where he critically compares Judaism with Christianity and Islam. He clarified that he wrote this chapter to give ammunition to the Jews who were constantly persecuted by missioners, from both religions, trying to convince them to leave their faith. This book, which is not only apologetic but highly critical of those faiths, was censured for centuries and was published as an independent booklet in Livorno, Italy, 1785 under the name “Qeshet uMagen”(bow andarrows, to attack, a shield, to defend)
The fourth part of Magen Abot is a comnatery on Pirqe Abot, and it mainly deals with Jewish ethics.
Since we are in the days of the Omer, and it is customary to study Pirqe Abot in the coming days I will be writing mainly about this Mishna. Ihis year, BH, I will base my commentaries on Magen Abot, the book written on the subject by Rabbi Duran.
I will be using a new edition of this book which was graciously sent to me by the author, rabbi Eliyahu Zini, from Haifa, who published this new edition in 2014 ( see here ).
To download the book Qeshet uMagen click here
