person · P0230
Yaakov ben Yakar רבי יעקב בן יקר
Student of Rabbeinu Gershom at Mainz and Rashi's principal teacher — the man Rashi calls "mori hazaken" (my old master) and credits for his understanding of Scripture and Talmud alike. Head of the Worms/Mainz circle in the mid-11th century; of his own writings almost nothing survives, so he lives in the chain almost entirely through his student.
I. Who
- Hebrew
- רבי יעקב בן יקר
- Era
- rishonim
- Received the mesorah from
- Rabbeinu Gershom
- Transmitted the mesorah to
- Rashi
- Teachers
- Rabbeinu Gershom
- Students
- Rashi
II. When
- Traditional
- c. 4750–4824 AM
- Academic
- c. 990–1064 CE
- Lifespan (traditional)
- ≈74 years
- Precision
- approximate
III. Where
- Places
- Mainz, Worms
V. How do we know
| Claim | Evidence | Confidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| He studied under Rabbeinu Gershom Me'or HaGolah at Mainz — the standard attestation of the early Ashkenazic school lists — and taught there and at Worms. | tradition | ★★★★☆ | |
| Rashi cites him with unmatched reverence in his responsa and commentary attributions ("my old teacher"), attributing to him his readings in both Bible and Talmud; his humility became proverbial in Ashkenazic memory. | tradition | ★★★★☆ | |
| Died in 1064 CE.
Late chronicle date; no contemporary record.
|
tradition | ★★☆☆☆ |
|