Simeon Shezuri

Simeon Shezuri (Hebrew: שמעון שזורי‎), or R. Simeon of Shezur, was a Jewish Tanna sage of the fourth generation.

Rabbinical eras
Tomb of Simeon Shezuri, Sajur, Israel

Biography

His surname Shezuri is either a variant of the Hebrew word Shezirah (שזירה), and thus stands for his livelihood: spinning fibers,[1] or for the village he resided at: Shezor[2] (probably in the vicinity of Sajur).

He was a pupil of R. Tarfon, and in one of the disputes over demai, he cites the ruling R. Tarfon had given him when an event occurred to him.[3]

The Talmud did not record anything on his personal life, except for one reference [4] where, according to a version noted by Abraham Zacuto,[5] Solomon Luria,[6] as well as in Dikdukei Soferim, it is said that his family were "House proprietors in the Upper Galilee", until they went bankrupt as a Heavenly punishment over their heedlessness on "Dinei mamon" (Halakhic property rights), by herding their sheep on other people's territory, and by giving rulings on "Dinei mamon" in the presence of only one judge.

A tomb site attributed to Simeon Shezuri is located in Sajur. The written tradition concerning this tomb site began in early 13th century, noted by Menachem ben Peretz of Hebron who visited the area in 1215.

Teachings

His work is frequently recorded in the Mishnah[7] [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] and Talmud.

The amoraim were divided regarding the status of his halachic rulings. Some believed that "wherever R. Simeon Shezuri stated his view, the halakha is in accordance with it"[16][17] According to some views this is the case only when his opinion is recorded in the Mishnah, and according to other views, even when his opinion is cited in the baraita.

Other amoraim, such as R. Jonathan,[17] ruled that his views are in accordance with the halakha only in two instances: writing a divorce document for the dangerously ill,[9] and terumat hamaaser on produce that belong to an "am ha'aretz" - a "Demai tithe".[7] This was the approach accepted by the Rishonim.[18] Nonetheless, R. Shabbatai ha-Kohen showed that there are additional cases where the Rishonim ruled according to Simeon Shezuri, yet not in all instances.[19]

References
  1. Maimonides' Introduction to his commentary on the Mishnah
  2. Sefer Yuchasin, by Abraham Zacuto. See also Kaftor Vaperach ch. 44, by Ishtori Haparchi.
  3. Tosefta, Demai 5:24 (in Hebrew); Babylonian Talmud. מנחות לא א  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  4. Babylonian Talmud, Bava Kamma 80a
  5. Zacuto. ספר יוחסין (in Hebrew). Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  6. Luria. חכמת שלמה (in Hebrew). p. 802. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  7. Demai 4:1. משנה דמאי ד א  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  8. Shevi'it 2:8. משנה שביעית ב ח  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  9. Gittin 6:5. משנה גיטין ו ה  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  10. Hullin 4:5. משנה חולין ד ה  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  11. Keritot 4:3. משנה כריתות ד ג  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  12. Kelim 18:1. משנה כלים יח א  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  13. Tohorot 3:2. משנה טהרות ג ב  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  14. Tevul Yom 4:5. משנה טבול יום ד ה  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  15.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "SIMEON SHEZURI". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
    Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography:
  16. Babylonian Talmud. מנחות ל ב  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  17. Babylonian Talmud. חולין עה ב  (in Hebrew) – via Wikisource.
  18. Asher ben Jehiel and Isaac Alfasi on Gittin
  19. Shabbatai ha-Kohen, Yoreh De'ah 7
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