Samuel ben Samson

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Samuel ben Samson (also Samuel ben Shimshon) was a rabbi who lived in France and made a pilgrimage to Palestine in 1210, visiting a number of villages and cities there, including Jerusalem. [1] Amongst his companions were Jonathan ben David ha-Cohen, and it is likely that ben Samson served as Rabbi Jonathan's secretary. [1] Two other rabbis were travelling with Samuel ben Samson and Rabbi Jonathan and the four travelled as far east as Mosul. [2] According to George Sarton, some 300 English and French Jews who were inspired by ben Samson's account went to Palestine to settle there in 1211. [2]

The first mention of Safed in Jewish history comes from ben Samson's 13th century writings, where he mentions the existence of a Jewish community of at least fifty members there. [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 Janin, 2002, p. 113.
  2. 1 2 Sarton, 1931, p. 514.
  3. Schechter, 2003, p. 206.

Bibliography