JACOB BEN REUBEN IBN ẒUR:

By: Richard Gottheil, Isaac Broydé

Talmudist and rabbi of Fez; born in the latter part of the seventeenth century; died after 1750. That his reputation as a Talmudist stood high is apparent in the responsa ("Kerem Ḥemed," Leghorn, 1871) of Abraham Ankava, where he is quoted as an authority recognized by all Moroccan Jewish communities. Jacob was the author of the following works, still extant in manuscript: "Ḥiddushim u-Derushim," casuistic and homiletic notes ("Cat. Munich," MS. No. 261); "Leshon Limmudim," collection of epistles signed ( = J[acob] b[en] Ẓ[ur]; Steinschneider, "Cat. Berlin," MS. No. 54). Jacob was also a liturgical poet, and wrote many dirges on the destruction of the Temple which were incorporated in the "Ḳinot" for the 9th of Ab in use among the Moroccan Jews; and his name occurs in the approbations to various Talmudical works, the last of which is dated 1750.

G. I. Br.