Samuel de Medina - Biography

Rabbi Samuel ben Moses de Medina (abbreviated RaShDaM, Hebrew רשד"ם or Maharashdam), was a Talmudist and author; born 1505; died October 12, 1589, at Salonica. He was principal of the Talmudic college of that city, which produced a great number of prominent scholars during the 16th and 17th centuries. His teachers were the noted Talmudists Joseph Taitazak and Levi Ibn Chaviv, and among his schoolmates were Isaac Adarbi, Joseph ibn Leb, and Moses Almosnino. While on a mission to Constantinople he met the noted grammarian Menahem Lonzano, who studied under him for some time and who therefore speaks of him as his teacher (David Conforte, Kore ha-Dorot, ed. Cassel, p. 44a).

Among Samuel's many disciples who attained prominence were Abraham de Boton and Joseph ibn Ezra. He had a controversy with Joseph Karo and other rabbis at Safed, against whom he wrote a polemical letter (Ketav Tochachah; see Azulai, Shem haGedolim, s.v.). A grandson of his was Samuel Hayyun, author of Bene Shemuel, novellae and responsa (Salonica, 1613?).

Writings

Samuel's works include:

• Ben Shemuel, Mantua, 1622, thirty sermons on various subjects, published with a preface by his grandson Shemaiah
• Hiddushim (unpublished), novellae on some Talmudic tractates (Benjacob, Oẓar ha-Sefarim, p. 183)
• a collection of 956 responsa in four parts, of which the first two were published during the lifetime of the author (1578-87?) under the title Piske RaShDaM (Benjacob, l.c. p. 491; Conforte, l.c. p. 38a, Cassel's note; Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. No. 7056).

A complete edition of the last-named work was undertaken later by the author's son Moses, who added a preface (Salonica, 1594–97; new ed. ib. 1798).

Bibliography

• Moritz Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. No. 8909;
• Joseph Zedner, Cat. Hebr. Books Brit. Mus. s.v.