Joseph ibn Migash: Encyclopedia II - Joseph ibn Migash - Biography

Joseph ibn Migash - Biography

Ibn Migash was born in Seville (some say Granada). He moved to Lucena at the age of 12 to study under the renowned Talmudist Isaac Alfasi. He studied under Alfasi at Lucena for fourteen years. Shortly before his death (1103), Alfasi ordained Ri Migash as a rabbi, and - passing over his own son - also appointed him, then 26, to be his successor as Rosh Yeshiva (seminary head). Ibn Migash held this position for 38 years.

It is clear that ibn Migash was a great scholar: Maimonides in the introduction to his Mishnah commentary says "the Talmudic learning of this man amazes every one who understands his words and the depth of his speculative spirit; so that it might almost be said of him that his equal has never existed." Judah ha-Levi eulogizes him in six poems which are full of his praise. Ri Migash's best known student is probably Maimon, the father and teacher of Maimonides. (Maimonides was only six years old at the time of Ri Migash's death and it is therefore unlikely that he was actually a teacher of Maimonides).

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Biography", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki