Maimun Najar was a

rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...

at Constantine, Algeria, in the first half of the 15th century.

Life and work

Like his contemporaries and countrymen

Isaac ben Sheshet Isaac ben Sheshet Perfet (or Barfat) (1326–1408) ( he, יצחק בן ששת) was a Spanish Talmudic authority, also known by his acronym, Rivash (). He was born at Valencia and settled early in life at Barcelona, where he studied at the scho ...

and Simon ben Ẓemaḥ Duran, he left

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

in consequence of the persecutions and fled (1395) to Algeria. In his responsa ''Tashbaẓ'' (part i., No. 86, Amsterdam, 1738) Duran calls Najar "Maimun ben David", but

David Conforte David Conforte (c. 1618 – c. 1685) () was a Hebrew literary historian born in Salonica, author of the literary chronicle known by the title ''Ḳore ha-Dorot.'' Biography Conforte came of a family of scholars. His early instructors were rabbis ...

, in ''Ḳore ha-Dorot,'' p. 26b, designates him as "Maimun ben Saadia." Najar's correspondence with Duran on religious questions is found in ''Tashbaẓ'' (part i., Nos. 94-96, 131-134, 154-157; part ii., Nos. 4, 68-73, 86, 89, 135, 164-168).

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

* Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim, i. 88, No. 39, Warsaw, 1876; *

Julius Fürst Julius Fürst (; 12 May 1805, Żerków, South Prussia – 9 February 1873, Leipzig), born Joseph Alsari, was a Jewish German orientalist and the son of noted maggid, teacher, and Hebrew grammarian Jacob Alsari. Fürst was a distinguished scho ...

, Bibl. Jud. iii. 12.

External links

Jewish Encyclopedia article on NAJARA
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Najar, Maimun Year of birth missing Year of death missing Spanish refugees Jewish refugees Medieval Majorcan Jews 15th-century Algerian rabbis People from Constantine, Algeria