Creator Bio
Ḥananel ben Ḥushiel
ca. 990–ca. 1053
Ḥananel (Elḥanan) ben Ḥushiel was a judge and leading rabbinic scholar in Qayrawān, in what is now Tunisia. Ḥananel was in contact with the leading figures of Iraqi Jewry, and the influence of the Babylonian geonim, particularly Hayya Ga’on (939–1038), can be seen throughout his writings. There is evidence that he was quite wealthy. Ḥananel wrote one of the earliest commentaries on the Babylonian Talmud, perhaps the first to be composed outside of Iraq. This work was influential and is still studied to this day. Several of Ḥananel’s responsa survive as well.
Content by Ḥananel ben Ḥushiel
Primary Source
Commentary: On the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Beẓah
If a festival occurred [on a Sabbath eve], one may not initially cook on the festival for Shabbat, etc. [m. Beẓah 2:1]
From where do we derive that one may prepare a cooked dish on a festival eve…
Primary Source
Responsum: On the Theft of Books
Question: May our master, the great rabbi, head of the court, head of the study house, may he be protected by heaven, teach us the law in the following case:
“Reuben” went to seek his livelihood…