Isaac ben Sheshet

Isaac ben Sheshet Perfet, known by his acronym Rivash (Hebrew: יצחק בן ששת), was a prominent Spanish Talmudic authority who lived from 1326 to 1408. Born in Valencia, Spain, he later moved to Barcelona, where he studied under Nissim of Gerona. Despite his young age, he gained a worldwide reputation as a halakhic authority. Initially, he earned his livelihood through commerce for about fifty years before being compelled to accept a rabbinate. He experienced significant hardship, including imprisonment in Barcelona on false accusations, along with other community leaders. After his acquittal, he accepted the rabbinate of Zaragoza, but further difficulties arose, including the deaths of his brother Judah and his son-in-law, and community disputes. These led him to accept a less prominent rabbinate in Calatayud, and later he settled in Valencia, where he led a Talmudical school. He eventually moved to Algiers, where he was initially welcomed. However, he faced opposition from a Spanish refugee who saw him as a rival and later from Simeon ben Zemah Duran, who disagreed with government intervention in rabbinic affairs. Despite these challenges, Isaac ben Sheshet was deeply respected by the Algerian Jewish community, and his tomb became a site of pilgrimage. He died in 1408, with his tombstone later restored in 1862. His most significant contribution is his collection of 518 responsa, which are highly valued for their halakhic insights and historical information about 14th-century Jewish life. Although strict in his decisions, he was not narrow-minded and demonstrated a strong understanding of contemporary philosophical writings. He notably disapproved of Aristotle's philosophy due to its perceived conflict with divine providence and was a vocal opponent of Kabbalah.