Joseph Kara

Joseph ben Simeon Kara was a northern French biblical exegete who wrote in Hebrew, often referring to French words. He was a nephew of Menaḥem ben Ḥelbo (ca. 1015–1085), with whom he studied. Kara spent some time with both Rashi and Rashbam and sometimes responded to Rashi’s writings. The name Kara means something like “scripturalist” or “biblical commentator.” Significantly more interested in peshat (plain meaning) exegesis than Rashi was, Kara was part of the general shift toward literal exegesis in eleventh- and twelfth-century northern Europe. He also composed piyyutim.