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Rabbenu Tam's name was יעקב בן מאיר. Why then is he known as Rabbenu Tam?

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I've heared that Rabbenu Tam made a gzeira that cancels the curse of "ו תם לריק כוחכם", hence he is called Tam.

Here is a source that states this.

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Very strange that he is nicknamed after the curse and not the refuah. – YDK May 22 '11 at 14:22
He canceled the curse, it's may be called type of refuah. – jutky May 22 '11 at 18:14
So it's a double play on words that the gezeirah of "Tam" was Tam? – YDK May 22 '11 at 20:50
It's not a play on words, you don't need the lat Tam. Just: "He canceled gzeira of Tam". – jutky May 23 '11 at 11:30
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So, if he would have stopped the curse of pestilence they would call him Rabbeinu Dever?? – YDK May 23 '11 at 14:21
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up vote 11 down vote

Ya'akov Avinu was known as an ish tam. Since they shared the first name Ya'akov (and possibly some personal character traits), one's appelation was applied to the other.

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Do you have a source for this? – Gershon Gold May 22 '11 at 3:38
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The ריב"ש linked makes it clear that at least his use of "תם" was an allusion to Ya'akov Avinu, albeit a good 150 years after ר"ת lived. – WAF May 22 '11 at 3:43

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