118 Isaac ben Judah, his master <I>par excellence.</I> Concerning Rashi's teachers see chap. I, p.29; chap. II, pp.49 <I>et seq.</I>; chap. III, p.58, etc. 119 Dan. iii. 1. 120 David Ibn Abi Zimra (Radbaz), rabbi of Cairo, who died, it is said, at Safed in 1589 at the age of 110 years. He left an Important collection of Responsa. 121 Nathan ben Jehiel, of Rome, born about 1035, died In the first years of the twelfth century, author of the Aruk, a highly valued Talmudic dictionary, In which he explains the words of Talmudic and Midrasbic literature, as well as the Halakic and Haggadic passages presenting difficulties. The numerous quotations are no less valuable than the explanations. Concerning Alfasi, see Note 113. 122 Quoted from Bezalel Ashkenazl, who lived In Egypt (died in 1530). He compiled a Talmudic collection called <I>Shitta Mekubezet,</I> in which he gathered together extracts from French, Spanish, and other rabbis. Before him Isaac ben Sheshet (see Note 150) had said: "The greatest light that has come to us from France is Rashi. Without his commentary, the Talmud would be a closed book" (Responsa, No.394). 123 Menahem ben Zerah (about 1312-1385), son of a Jew expelled from France, wrote in Spain a Talmudic manual entitled <I>Zedah la-Derek.</I> 124 ConcernIng Rashi's correspondents see chap. II, pp.51-2, and chap. III, p.57. 125 See chap. I, p.20, and chap. III, p.56. 126 See chap. III, p.67. 127 And not, as has been supposed, that of Cavaillon, In the county Venaissin, where, possibly, there were not yet any Jews, and where, at all events, Rashi was not known, as was the case throughout the south of France, until after his death. 128 An application, according to the Talmud, of Eccl. ii. 14. 129 This resume is taken from Epstein on Shemaiah, in <I>Monatsschrift,</I> XLI, also that of <I>Sefer ha-Orah.</I> Concerning the Machirites, see chap. I, p.29, and chap. II, p.52; concerning Shemaiah, chap. XI, pp.186-7. The three communities are sometimes called by the initials of their names, "communities of Shum" <H>shum (Shin followed by gershayim Vav followed by gershayim Final_Mem)</H> In connection with the <I>Sefer ha-Pardes</I> must be mentioned the work bearing the title of <I>Likkute ha- Pardes</I> (Extracts from Paradise), a compilation edited in Italy by the disciples of Isaiah da Trani. 130 See chap. IV, p.84. 131 L. Wogue, <I>Histoire de la Bible et de l'exegese biblique,</I> pp.254-5. 131 See chap. IX, pp.171-2. 133 See p.162. 134 Rameru, or Ramerupt, situated six miles from Troyes on a tributary of the Aube. Of old it formed an entire county, proof of which is furnished by the ditches surrounding it and the ruins of a castellated stronghold. At the present day it is the chief city of the Departement de l'Aube.