Metzudot Davidמצודות דוד
Tzfat · 1560
Commentary on the Pentateuch combining grammatical and halakhic interpretation, known for its conciseness and clarity.
Full text not yet available in our corpus.
רב
Radbaz
Radbaz
1479 CE–1573 CE · Acharonim · Spain (medieval)
Rabbi David ibn Zimra (1479–1573), known as the Radbaz from the acronym of his name, was one of the most prominent Sephardic halakhic authorities of the sixteenth century. Born in Spain and later active in Safed and Egypt, he served as chief rabbi of Cairo and was deeply engaged in the revival of Jewish life in Ottoman lands following the Spanish Expulsion of 1492. A prolific author of responsa (she'elot u-teshuvot), he addressed hundreds of halakhic questions from communities across the Mediterranean and Near East, earning respect for his erudition and practical wisdom. His collected responsa remain an authoritative source for Sephardic Jewish law and custom, and he was also known for his involvement in the attempt to revive rabbinic ordination (semicha) in Eretz Israel.
Did you know?
One sage across three continents — and a teacher of the young Arizal
The Radbaz was born in Spain, was expelled as a boy in 1492, and grew up in Safed. As an adult he served for some forty years as chief rabbi of Egypt in Cairo before returning to Safed in his old age — a single life that touched Europe, Africa, and Asia. Among the students of his Cairo yeshiva was the young Arizal, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria.
How we know
David ben Shlomo ibn Abi Zimra, the Radbaz (born Spain c.1479; died Safed 1573). Expelled in 1492 and raised in Safed; relocated to Cairo in 1517 and served as chief rabbi of Egypt for roughly four decades before settling in Safed. His Cairo yeshiva's students included the Arizal (1534–1572).
Life journeyclick any stop, or use ←/→Trace on the orchard map →
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Stop 1 of 61479Born
Spain (medieval)ספרדIberian Peninsula
What they did here
Born in Spain around 1479; expelled with all Spanish Jewry in 1492 at about age 13.
About Spain (medieval)
Medieval Iberian Peninsula; home to many Rishonim including Nahmanides, Ran, Rashba, and Yosef ibn Habib.
In Spain (medieval) at the same time
Yosef Taitazak, Shlomo Sirilio, Ketem Paz author, David HaReuveni
In the same place & time
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Sages whose lives overlapped with Radbaz’s in the same cities, drawn from their recorded journeys.
The world in their lifetime
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Thinkers, teachers, and rulers whose lives overlapped with Radbaz’s — a glimpse of the wider world they lived in. Drawn purely from recorded birth and death years.
Jewish world
- Rabbi Avraham Zacuto· 1452 CE–1515 CE
- R. Eliyahu Mizrachi· 1455 CE–1525 CE
- Rabbi Yaakov Pollak· 1460 CE–1541 CE
- Ovadia Sforno· 1475 CE–1549 CE
- Meir ben Ezekiel Ibn Gabbai· 1480 CE–1540 CE
- Rabbi Yitzchak Klober· 1480 CE–1538 CE
- Rabbi Meir Katzenellenbogen· 1482 CE–1565 CE
- R. Eliyahu Capsali· 1483 CE–1555 CE
- Rabbi Shalom Shachna of Lublin· 1490 CE–1558 CE
- Shlomo Molcho· 1500 CE–1532 CE
- Rabbi Shmuel di Medina· 1501 CE–1589 CE
- Rabbi Yosef ben Lev· 1503 CE–1580 CE
- Shlomo Luria (Yam Shel Shlomo)· 1510 CE–1573 CE
- Rabbi Yitzchak Adarbi· 1510 CE–1584 CE
- Rabbi Menachem Dovid Tiktin· 1510 CE–1598 CE
- Rabbi Yosef Katz· 1511 CE–1591 CE
- R. Moshe Almosnino· 1515 CE–1580 CE
- Rabbi Yehoshua Boaz· 1518 CE–1555 CE
- Rabbi Chaim ben Betzalel· 1520 CE–1588 CE
- Rabbi Shmuel Yehuda Katzenellenbogen· 1521 CE–1597 CE
- Judah Loew of Prague (Maharal)· 1525 CE–1609 CE
- Moses Isserles (Rema)· 1530 CE–1572 CE
- R. Mordechai Yoffe (Levush)· 1530 CE–1612 CE
- Isaac Luria (The Arizal)· 1534 CE–1572 CE
Christian world
Scientists
Islamic world
Hindu world
Luminaries & Explorers world
Rulers world
- Sayri Túpac· –1561 CE
- Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor)· 1500 CE–1558 CE
- Suleiman the Magnificent· 1494 CE–1566 CE
- Humayun· 1508 CE–1556 CE
- Cosijopii I (Don Juan Cortés Cosijopii)· 1502 CE–1563 CE
- Henry VIII· 1491 CE–1547 CE
- Titu Cusi Yupanqui· –1571 CE
- Sher Shah Suri· 1486 CE–1545 CE
- Jiajing Emperor· 1507 CE–1567 CE
- Huáscar· 1495 CE–1532 CE
- Cuauhtémoc· 1495 CE–1525 CE
- Manco Inca Yupanqui· –1544 CE
- Afonso I of Kongo· –1543 CE
- Babur· 1483 CE–1530 CE
Works(2)
Shut Radbazשו״ת רדב״ז
Fostat (Old Cairo) · 1550
Comprehensive responsa collection addressing halakhic questions across all areas of Jewish law, widely cited by subsequent authorities.
Full text not yet available in our corpus.