Jacob ben Asher

Who was Jacob ben Asher?

Jacob ben Asher, also known as Ba'al ha-Turim as well as Rabbi Yaakov ben Raash, was probably born in the Holy Roman Empire at Cologne about 1269 and probably died at Toledo, then in the Kingdom of Castile, about 1343.

Jacob was an influential Medieval rabbinic authority. He is often referred to as the Baal ha-Turim', after his main work in halakha, the Arba'ah Turim. The work was divided into 4 sections, each called a "tur," alluding to the rows of jewels on the High Priest's breastplate. He was the third son of the Rabbi Asher ben Jehiel, a Rabbi of the Holy Roman Empire who moved to Castile. Besides his father, who was his principal teacher, Jacob quotes very often in the Turim his elder brother Jehiel; once his brother Judah, and once his uncle Rabbi Chaim. According to many, Jacob moved to Castile with his father and was not born there.

Some say Jacob succeeded his father as the rabbi of the Jewish community of Toledo, while others say his brother Judah ben Asher did. His brothers were also rabbis of different communities in Iberia.