AIRE:

By: Moïse Schwab

A fortified town on the river Adour, in southern France. There is no certainty that a Jewish community ever existed here; but about the middle of the thirteenth century a Hebrew poet composed a eulogy on his native town which, from its Hebrew spelling (), would seem to have been Aire. This poet was Isaac ben Abraham ha-Gorni. The appellation Ha-Gorni ("he of the threshing-floor") is derived from the modern name of Aire, which signifies a barn or threshing-floor; and by a play on words, the poet applies this name to his native place. He mentions several of his fellowtowns men: one Samuel, whom he describes as "prophet," and Aaron, a learned Talmudist, besides a number of private individuals.

M. S.