 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(December 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
RabbiMoses ben Jacob of Coucy, also known asMoses Mikkotsi (Hebrew:משה בן יעקב מקוצי;Latin:Moses Kotsensis), was aFrenchTosafist and authority onHalakha (Jewish law). He is best known as the author of one of the earliestcodifications of Halakha, theSefer Mitzvot Gadol.
Moses of Coucy lived in the first half of the thirteenth century. His name suggests he was born or raised inCoucy in Northern France. He was a descendant of a family of distinguished scholars. He was the brother-in-law of TosafistShimshon of Sens andShimshon of Coucy (HaSar MiCoucy).[1]
He studied underJudah of Paris, andYehudah HaChasid. Following in the latter's footsteps he traveled through Provence and Spain to strengthen religiosity among the Jews and teaching them the way to serve God.
In 1240 he was one of the four rabbis who were required to defend theTalmud, in a publicdisputation in Paris, and it is likely that the need for a work like theSefer Mitzvot Gadol was driven by thedecrees against the Talmud which had been promulgated in France, and had led to the confiscation and burning of all Talmud manuscripts in 1242.
TheSefer Mitzvot Gadol (Hebrew:ספר מצוות גדול) (inEnglish:The Great Book ofCommandments; abbreviatedסמ"ג "SeMaG"), completed in 1247,[2] deals with the 365 negativecommandments and the 248 positive commandments, separately discussing each of them according to the Talmud and thedecisions of the Rabbis. "SeMaG" also contains much non-legal, moralistic teaching. References to the "SeMaG" are by section (positive or negative commandments) and a number for each commandment within its section.
Rabbi Moses' arrangement and presentation are heavily influenced byMaimonides' discussion of the commandments in theSefer Hamitzvot and by his codification of theHalakha in theMishneh Torah. However, unlike Maimonides, Rabbi Moses presents lengthy discussions of the different interpretations and legal opinions. He also makes extensive use of othercodes, and particularly of the commentaries ofRashi and theTosafot, usually favouring theseAshkenazitraditions over Maimonides.
He was also the author of Old Tosafot (תוספות ישנים) to Yoma and of some published in the collection "Sugyot HaShas" (Berlin, 1736).
Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Moses Ben Jacob of Coucy (SeMaG)".The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
 | This biographical article about a French rabbi is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
