Creator Bio
David Ibn Abi Zimra
1479–1573
Born in Spain, after the 1492 Spanish Expulsion, David Ibn Abi Zimra (Radbaz) moved to Safed, and later to Fez. Beginning in 1517, Ibn Abi Zimra served as the chief rabbinic authority of Egypt in Cairo for forty years. A wealthy international trader, Ibn Abi Zimra was also a respected legal authority; he is primarily known for his vast corpus of responsa. At 90, he resigned his position and moved to Jerusalem, but soon settled in Safed, where he remained until his death.
Entries in the Posen Library by This Creator
Primary Source
Responsum: On Communal Leadership
Question: The holy community of Rhodes (may their Rock protect and sustain them) agreed and accepted upon themselves, under the threat of very severe penalties, that no member of Israel—not Sargons n…
Primary Source
Responsum: On a Dispute over a Shipment of Wax
Question: The following incident occurred in Rhodes: Reuben purchased 530 okes of wax from Simeon via a third party. Reuben did not take this wax into his possession; rather, as soon as he bought it…
Primary Source
Responsum: On a Dispute over a Vineyard
Question: From Rhodes. When the Lord expanded the borders [see Deuteronomy 19:8] of the dispersion of the diaspora and granted us a remnant and remainder in the kingdom of Turkey, He treated us with…
Primary Source
Responsum: On Coffee
Question: I will inform you regarding my opinion on the fruit called al bun, and about kahve [coffee], which is the broth brewed from the husks of that fruit, and which is drunk by non-Jews, whether…
Primary Source
Responsum: On the Status of Gaza
Question 30: From Gaza: may our master teach us whether the inhabitants of Gaza are obligated to separate terumot and tithes, as there are a few people who own land. In general, the question is…