JACOB BEN MOSES OF BAGNOLS

JACOB BEN MOSES OF BAGNOLS (second half of 14th century), Provençal theologian and halakhist. Jacob, who was the grandson of david b. samuel kokhavi and a student of Sen Boniac Nasi, lived in several towns of Provence, primarily in Salon and Carpentras, where he probably held the positions of judge and schoolmaster. He was the author of an untitled halakhic and philosophical work, written between 1357 and 1361, of which, apparently, there is only one manuscript extant (British Museum, Ms. Or. 2705). This work may be divided into three sections, each of which bears its own title: (1) "Pesakim," rules concerning that which is permitted and prohibited (issur ve-hetter); (2) "Ezrat Nashim," rules concerning marriage, ḥaliẓah , and divorce; (3) "Sod ha-Hashgaḥah,"which deals with several philosophical and religious problems, and pays special attention to prayers and their order. This section of the work was composed in 1357. Though more of a moralist than a philosopher, he refers to averroes , levi b. gershom , and certain philosophical doctrines drawn from contemporary authors, some of whom have not been identified. The presence in the work of several passages in which Jacob reproaches his contemporaries for abandoning the study of Talmud for that of philosophy would seem to indicate that he had a rather negative attitude to philosophy. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: A. Neubauer, in: REJ, 9 (1884), 51–58. (Colette Sirat)