Shmuel ben Ali ha-Levi (
Hebrew: שמואל בן עלי הלוי, also Samuel ben Ali ibn al-Dastur; died 1194) was the most noteworthy of the twelfth-century
Babylonian scholars[1] and the only one of his era whose written works have survived in any significant number.[2]
Biography
Samuel served as head of the academy in
Baghdad for nearly thirty years and was a recognized leader of neighboring countries as well.[3][4] He appointed judges throughout
Iraq,
Iran, and
Syria,[5] and presided over many congregations throughout
Asia. His
Talmudic lectures were attended by thousands of pupils, each who had undergone a preparatory course in advance.[6] He was also well-versed in the field of astrology.[7] A description of Samuel and his grandeur is provided by
Petachiah of Regensburg in his medieval diary.
Samuel had a strong personality and clashed with
Maimonides on a variety of occasions.[8] Samuel wrote glosses to Maimonides’ works,[9] and the latter addressed them in a letter to his student,
Joseph b. Judah.[10] Samuel criticized Maimonides’ position on
resurrection and the
world to come and had fiercely debated Maimonides’ student, Joseph b. Judah, on these issues as well.[11] Additionally, circles associated with Samuel were disseminating propaganda attacking Maimonides’ positions.[12]
Samuel’s daughter had become reputable, under the name of
Bat ha-Levi, for her Talmudic expertise and public lectures to students who would remain outside and listen, while she remained indoors and unseen.[13]
A collection of Samuel’s letters were published in Tarbiz.[14]
^Assaf, S. (1930). "Letters of R. Samuel ben Eli and his Contemporaries (Contin.) / קובץ של אגרות ר' שמואל בן עלי ובני דורו (המשך)" [Letters of R. Samuel ben Eli and his Contemporaries (contin.)]. Tarbiẕ (in Hebrew). 1 (2): 43–84.
JSTOR23580522.