Solomon ben ha-Yatom

Solomon ben ha-Yatom was a southern Italian talmudist about whom very little is known. His works include Italian and Arabic words, characteristic of many works written in southern Italy, though some suggest he may have worked in the south of al-Andalus (Muslim Spain). The name ben ha-Yatom means “son of the orphan,” but it has also been credibly suggested that it is a Hebrew mistranslation of the Arabic name Ibn Haytham. Solomon’s commentary on the talmudic tractate Mo‘ed Katan contains a number of insights into Jewish life. Solomon was often concerned with prosopographic and literary questions. It is not clear what other works he may have written. Later Italian talmudists cited him as an authority.