person · P0227

Yosef ibn Migash רבי יוסף אבן מיגאש

Head of the academy of Lucena after the Rif, whom he served as close student for fourteen years from the age of twelve. Teacher of R' Maimon the Dayan; the Rambam — born three years before Ibn Migash died — reveres him as "my teacher" through his father, and follows his analytic method throughout the Mishneh Torah.

I. Who

Hebrew
רבי יוסף אבן מיגאש
Also known as
Ri Migash, Joseph ibn Migash
Era
rishonim
Received the mesorah from
The Rif
Transmitted the mesorah to
Rabbi Maimon (the Dayan)
Teachers
The Rif
Students
Rabbi Maimon (the Dayan)

II. When

Traditional
4837–4901 AM
Academic
1077–1141 CE
Lifespan (traditional)
≈64 years
Precision
approximate

III. Where

Places
Lucena

V. How do we know

ClaimEvidenceConfidenceSources
He came to Lucena at twelve and studied under the Rif for fourteen years, and the Rif ordained him as his successor in preference to his own son — the classical account, from Abraham ibn Daud's Sefer HaKabbalah onward. tradition ★★★★☆
His responsa and Talmud novellae (those that survive) mark the transition to the Spanish analytic style; the Rambam praises the depth of his learning in extravagant terms in the introduction to his Mishnah commentary. tradition ★★★☆☆
Born at Seville in 1077 CE, son of Meir ibn Migash; sent to Lucena as a youth to study under the Rif. tradition ★★★☆☆
  • Sefer HaKabbalah (Abraham ibn Daud), ch. 7
Studied under the Rif for fourteen years, succeeded him as head of the Lucena academy at age twenty-six (1103 CE), and led it for thirty-eight years until his death in 1141 CE.
The 14 / 26 / 38 figures are Ibn Daud's and are internally consistent; they are chronicle numbers, not documentary.
tradition ★★★☆☆
  • Sefer HaKabbalah (Abraham ibn Daud), ch. 7