Ra'avad
Avraham ben David of Posquieres (1125-1198) was a leading French Tosafist and one of the most influential halakhic authorities of the 12th century. He is best known for his critical glosses (Hassagot) on Maimonides' Mishneh Torah, which challenged numerous rulings and became essential to understanding medieval Jewish jurisprudence. His work bridged Franco-German Ashkenazi scholarship with emerging Sephardic methodology and had profound influence on subsequent halakhic literature.
Works & Contributions (9)
- Biur Halacha (cited in Biur Halacha 249:4:2)
- Commentary on Rambam Hilkhot Berakhot 6, cited in Aruch HaShulchan 181:4
- Authored Hassagot (critical glosses) on Maimonides' Mishneh Torah
- Hiddushei Raavad (Novel interpretations of Raavad)
Origin
Posquieres, Provence, France
1125–1198 CE (4885–4958)
Historical Context
Lineage
Teachers
Students
Decisional Profile
Opinions recorded by category
Topic Coverage
Each square represents a topic. Darker squares indicate more opinions recorded in that topic.
Shabbat
Daily Life
Prayer
Blessings
Tzitzit & Tefillin
Pesach
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Hanukkah
Purim
Holidays
Fasts & Mourning
Rulings (24)
Should the congregation bow at the beginning and/or end of Modim DeRabbanan?
The Talmudic statement that 'Raba bowed at the beginning and end of the thanksgiving [regarding Modi…
How many people can wash their hands from a single revi'it of water, and what are the conditions?
Each person always requires a full revi'it of water. Shiurei tahara merely removes the requirement t…
Is a blessing (berachah) recited over mayim achronim?
A blessing should be recited on mayim achronim when one ate food that causes genuine dirtiness (meat…
Is women's obligation in Birkat HaMazon from Torah or Rabbinical law?
Women's obligation is d'Oraita (Torah), and the safek has been resolved
What is the status of a woman who had doubt whether she recited Birkat HaMazon?
A woman who doubts whether she recited Birkat HaMazon is not obligated to recite it again
When a meal begun on one day extends into another day, which day should be mentioned in Birkat HaMazon?
If one prayed Evening Service (Maariv) before Birkat HaMazon, one should no longer mention Shabbat, …
May one recite a blessing (before or after eating) on a forbidden item?
One who ate a forbidden item must still recite a blessing before and after, because he derived enjoy…
How frequently must one recite the miracle-site blessing, and is there an obligation to recite it each time one sees the site?
Only the first-time blessing is obligatory; subsequent sightings within thirty days may be blessed v…
May a Jew hire a non-Jew on a multi-year retainer (shkhar shanah) for a specific ongoing task, allowing the non-Jew to work on Shabbat?
Hiring a non-Jew for a fixed period is forbidden, even for a specific task, because the Jew benefits…
When partners stipulated at the outset, and at the time of distribution the non-Jew volunteers to split equally (rather than taking more for Shabbat profits) — is this permitted?
Forbidden. Even where they stipulated from the outset, if at distribution they calculate and equaliz…
If one accepted a fast on Erev Shabbat, until when must one fast?
Even once the sun has set and one has already accepted Shabbat (without yet having prayed Maariv), t…
Is it prohibited to wear tefillin on Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot)?
Exempt from tefillin on Chol HaMoed; holds that Chol HaMoed labor is biblically prohibited and Chol …
May one cover an entire barrel with a cloth on Shabbat?
Covering any vessel (kli) is never an ohel prohibition. The Talmud's discussion about not covering t…
How are the four amot measured for purposes of carrying in the public domain on Shabbat?
The four amot are permitted only for one who went beyond the techum (Shabbat boundary) or is otherwi…
What is the minimum required amount of food for a valid shituf, and how is it measured for different food types (relish vs. non-relish, liquids)?
For liquids, a reviit is required per participant when there are many participants — the fixed two-r…