Menachem HaMeiri

Rabbi Menachem Meiri (1249-c.1310) was a famous Talmudist and Halakhist.

Early life

Menachem Meiri was born in Provence, France in 1249. He was the student of Rabbi Reuven the son of Chaim of Narbonne, France.

Beit HaBechirah

His commentary, the Beit HaBechirah (The chosen building), is one of the most monumental works written on the Talmud. This work is less a commentary and more of a digest of all of the comments in the Talmud, arranged in a manner similar to the Talmud - presenting first the mishnah and then laying out the discussions that are raised concerning it. This commentary cites many of the major Rishonim, referring to them not by name but rather by distinguished titles.

His commentary was largely unknown for centuries until being republished in modern times. Thus, it has had much less influence on subsequent halachic development than would have been expected given its stature. Some modern poskim even refuse to take its arguments into consideration, on the grounds that a work so long unknown has ceased to be part of the process of halachic development. This is despite the respect they nevertheless have for the commentary and for its author.

Meiri's commentary is noted for its position on the status of Christianity and Christians in Jewish law. [1]

Other works

He also wrote several minor works, including a commentary to Avot whose introduction includes a recording of the chain of tradition from Moshe through the Tana'im.