Questions tagged [authorship]

Questions pertaining to authorship.

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7 votes
3 answers
671 views

Sefer Torah Lishma **not** from the Ben Ish Hai?

Yabia Omer vol. 9 Orah Haim sim. 96: גם ראיתי בקובץ "משנת חכמים", (תשרי תש"ס), במאמר מאת הרה"ג עזריאל מנצור (עמוד לה) שכתב, ששאל על זה מאת הרה"ג יעקב מוצפי זצ"ל, ואמר לו, שספר "תורה לשמה" אינו לרבי ...
6 votes
3 answers
519 views

How do I know if a midrash is accepted?

I have found many different types of midrashic works. Some are, as far as I can tell, accepted as being authoritative. Meaning they were written (compiled?) by the sages in roughly the Talmudic era. ...
14 votes
7 answers
1k views

Did the Men of the Great Assembly Canonize Tanach?

Many Jewish websites, (Aish, Jewish History, Ou), state that the the Men of the Great Assembly finalized the contents of Tanach in the early Second Temple Period. No source is brought to support this ...
16 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is there a place for the documentary-hypothesis in observant Judaism?

The documentary-hypothesis implies that Moses wasn't the writer of the Torah verbatim, but he could have transmitted it before it was written down. Evidence in the text shows several sources and that ...
8 votes
2 answers
586 views

Who wrote the Piskei Tosfos?

After the section of Gemara in most sefarim, before the Rosh there is a section of the Piskei Tosfos. Who authored this work?
4 votes
0 answers
75 views

Ran comments on Gemara Masechet Shabbath

I did learn several comments of Rishonim on a Suggia in Masechet Shabbath and read a footnote (from Harav Moshe Hershler) on the Ramban (Edition Hamachon Hatalmud Haisraeli). He refers to a comment by ...
2 votes
1 answer
248 views

Has anyone posed a theory as to who authored Targum Pseudo-Yonasan?

This answer and this one bring several commentaries who hold that Targum Yonasan was not written by Yonasan ben Uziel. Are there any other people mentioned who may have authored the work? To clarify: ...
5 votes
0 answers
161 views

Who is the author of "How to Get Deeper into Torah Without Falling Off the Deep End"?

In a short pamphlet (which became quite famous) called "How to Get Deeper into Torah Without Falling Off the Deep End" -- first published in 1994 by Laser Pages Publishing -- the author, who ...
-1 votes
1 answer
177 views

What time period do the concepts from Zohar date back to? Is it actually 2nd Temple Period?

I believe I heard HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz (but please don't quote me on this) say at some point that it's been shown that the concepts from Zohar date back to the 2nd temple period. I am not sure ...
3 votes
0 answers
98 views

How did Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan write so many books? [closed]

Aryeh Kaplan wrote some 50+ books in the span of a decade or so. Obviously he was remarkably talented at writing, but I'm just curious how exactly was this possible. He's often quoted as saying in the ...
4 votes
2 answers
182 views

The importance of every word in Nach

When we learn the Torah, we work off the assumption that as the Torah is directly from Hashem, every word and even letter is there for a reason, and a lot of commentary and even Halacha is based on ...
0 votes
0 answers
83 views

What is the justification for deception, by opinions that view the Zohar is a 13th century work (not Tannaic), but still valid and holy?

I really do not wish to repeat any of the general discussions about Zohar authorship in any of the questions that discuss that. What I would like to know is the following very specific point: Given ...
3 votes
1 answer
326 views

Who wrote Rashi on Chronicles I & II, Nehemiah, Ruth, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes?

The Wikipedia page on Rashi says as follows: Rashi wrote commentaries on all the books of Tanakh except Chronicles I & II, Nehemiah, Ruth, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. Scholars believe that ...
2 votes
1 answer
237 views

Implication for Lag Ba'Omer if Shimon bar Yochai wasn't the author of the Zohar

There are a number of posts relating to the questionable authorship of the Zohar ('traditionally' attributed to Shimon bar Yochai, see this wiki for examples, and references at the end). Some say that ...
0 votes
0 answers
78 views

How can Psalm 132 reference David and imply that it was written by Solomon?

The gemora in Bava Basra 14b lists 10 people that co-authored Tehillim with David דוד כתב ספר תהלים ע"י עשרה זקנים ע"י אדם הראשון על ידי מלכי צדק ועל ידי אברהם וע"י משה ועל ידי הימן וע&...
3 votes
1 answer
196 views

Mefaresh on Nedarim - author [duplicate]

I have potential heard that the mefresh on nedarim is not Rashi. If so, who is the author? Is there a clear source that it is not Rashi?
27 votes
6 answers
3k views

The Origins of the Zohar - Why is it accepted as being true?

I've read arguments and counter arguments for the origins of the Zohar and I'm perplexed. I personally accept the truths in kabbalah and chassidut, but I didn't realize how the Zohar sort of just "...
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

Did R' Moshe de Leon write the Zohar

Although "traditionally" ascribed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai zt"l, the Zohar has been beset with controversy about its authorship since it was discovered and published by R' Moshe de Leon. Notably ...
7 votes
4 answers
428 views

What sources did Moshe Rabbeinu use to write the Torah?

I was asked this question the other day by someone and didn't know how to answer him. How did Moshe Rabbeinu know the stories of Adam Harishon and Chava? What about Avraham Avinu, Yitzchak Avinu and ...
3 votes
1 answer
147 views

Who wrote the מתרגם?

At the end of the Gemara masechtas in Shas there is a פירוש called מתרגם. This פירוש translates the French words brought in Rashi into German and sometimes adds more information to such words. The ...
10 votes
1 answer
397 views

Who authored the 13 Ani Maamin's?

The Rambam in his Hakdama to his Pirush on Perek Chelek in Mesechtas Sanhedrin mentions the points of belief a Jew must have. To the best of my knowledge these are the basis of the well-known ...
1 vote
1 answer
208 views

Which ספר מנורת המאור Sefer Menoras Hamaor came first?

Which ספר מנורת המאור Sefer Menoras Hamaor came first? Between the two sefarim called ספר מנורת המאור Sefer Menoras Hamaor - One written by Rav Yisrael ben Yoseph Alnakaweh, and one written by Rav ...
6 votes
2 answers
405 views

Who composed THIS melody for Shoshanat Ya'akov?

For my latest lesson video on Jewish Music Toronto, I did the song Shoshanat Ya'akov. I'm really happy with how the video came out, especially because I got to reference the Mi Yodeya community a ...
1 vote
1 answer
89 views

Who is the commentary on Sefer Orech Apayim?

On the bottom of the sefer there is a commentary by the name "V'Yosef Avraham". Does anyone know who wrote this? See picture below from HebrewBooks.org
1 vote
1 answer
114 views

Who authored the Targum on Kohelet?

Who authored the Targum on Kohelet? I was unable to find an answer online.
5 votes
1 answer
311 views

When was book of Shmuel written?

The Gmara says : שמואל כתב ספרו והכתיב (שמואל א כח, ג) ושמואל מת דאסקיה גד החוזה ונתן הנביא (Baba Batra 15:1), that is Shmuel, Gad and Nathan wrote the book of Shmuel. However, in Shmuel 1 27:6 it ...
1 vote
0 answers
168 views

How do I find "Frum" Authors and their Novels on Amazon Kindle?

I am a big reader. Was only able to find around 30 novels in Amazon Kindle through searching by these 3 authors: Ruth Benjamin, Chaim Walder, & Ruthie Pearlman. Where do I get a full list of "...
2 votes
1 answer
287 views

Who made this claim about the author of Sefer Habahir?

Asking for someone else: "I remember a quote of some medieval or later rabbi disputing the claim that Rabbi Nechunya [ben Hakanah] wrote the Sefer HaBahir, saying something like god forbid that a ...
2 votes
2 answers
226 views

Who is the author of "תוספות "אילמלי on כתובות ל״ג עמ׳ ב׳?

תוספות on כתובות ל״ג עמ׳ ב׳‎ ("אילמלי") explains that the גמרא assumes that חנניה,‎ מישאל,‎ & עזריה were not forced to actually worship idolatry, but merely to bow down to a ...
1 vote
0 answers
139 views

Ibn Ezra and R. Joseph Bonfils And different opinions on Judaism [closed]

Can I agree with them that some passages were not written by Moses and that in some parts there were updates to the type text in Gen 14:14 that is considered a sin in Judaism? I can agree with rabbis ...
1 vote
0 answers
85 views

Oft-Repeated Rabbi and East to West Distance Story, what's the source?

There are countless references to this story, often in the context of teshuvah: There once was a rabbi who said to his students: “we are as far from where God wants us to be as East is from West”? And ...
0 votes
1 answer
38 views

Who is the “Ahavas Avos”?

I have a Sefer on Pirkei Avos that has a commentary from the Ahavas Avos. I can’t seem to find who wrote this fantastic commentary, however. Some helpful additions: the top of the Sefer says “Breslov” ...
3 votes
2 answers
202 views

Author of the song Yom Simcha L'Yisrael

Who is the author of the Simchas Torah song Yom Simcha l'Yisrael?
6 votes
1 answer
305 views

According to the opinions that Iyov did not live in the days of Moshe, who wrote his Sefer?

Bava Basra 15a-b lists a number of opinions as to when Iyov lived: R' Levi bar Chama: In the days of Moshe Rava: In the days of the Meraglim Unnamed student of R' Shmuel bar Nachmani: Iyov never ...
10 votes
1 answer
294 views

Who authored the three hagahos in Rosh HaShanah?

In Rosh HaShanah 11b, at the top of the page in the standard Vilna style printings, is a marginal gloss introduced with the word הג״ה. There is another, introduced with the same word, on the right-...
6 votes
1 answer
342 views

Rashi Script in Aruch Hashulchan

In my edition of the Aruch Hashulchan, there is often a paragraph that has Rashi script written inside brackets (see pic). What is the Rashi script? Is it the mechaber or someone/something else? I ...
3 votes
3 answers
559 views

Who wrote the Zohar Haddash?

According to orthodox rabbinical authorities, who wrote the Zohar Hadash?
5 votes
1 answer
355 views

How authentic is the Rambam's ascension to the Temple Mount?

Proponents of ascending the Temple Mount usually quote a letter attributed to Maimonides, regarding his alleged ascension. The letter is as follows: בליל אחד בשבת בארבעה ימים לחודש אייר נכנסתי לים, ...
2 votes
1 answer
84 views

Maamar Mordechai in Mishna Berurah

Who is the author of the Maamar Mordechai quoted often in the Mishna Berurah. There are quite a number of sefarim on HebrewBooks with that title and the old prints make it hard to scan through them to ...
6 votes
1 answer
209 views

Who wrote the Haggada?

Who wrote our haggada? Was is a tanna, amora or reishon? I've heard different rumors from different people. Some say Rashi compiled it. Some say it was a tanna while others say it was an amora.
1 vote
1 answer
94 views

Who was the author of the Sefer Matamim?

The Sefer Matamim is written by Rav Yitzchak Lipetz of Shedlitz. His work provides fascinating reasons for various customs throughout the Jewish calendar, and is occasionally quoted in various sources....
2 votes
1 answer
96 views

Doros Rishonim on Shmuel writing tanach

I was hoping someone could point me in a more precise direction as to where the work Doros Rishonim (by Rav Yitzchak Issacc HaLevi) speaks about the opinion of some Bible scholars that Shmuel wrote/...
6 votes
2 answers
522 views

Who wrote Deuteronomy?

I know this has been covered by many commentators in the past, and here also, but I am still looking for a clear resolution of the ambiguities. Who wrote the Book of Deuteronomy? Does Tradition ...
-4 votes
1 answer
1k views

What evidence shows that Moses wrote the Torah?

I asked this in hermeneutics. Typical atheists think that Torah is written/compiled on Babylonian exile. Christians and Jews believe that Torah was written by Moses or someone shortly after him, ...
2 votes
1 answer
91 views

Who wrote the introduction to the Pesach Sacrifice printed on Pesachim 57b [duplicate]

There is an introduction to the Pesach Sacrifice that takes up the majority of Pesachim 57b. An excerpt is reproduced below. סדר והלכות קרבן פסח ראשון בקצרה מצות עשה לשחוט קרבן פסח בי"ד בניסן ...
6 votes
1 answer
143 views

"Biur Sheimot Kodesh ve-Chol leha-Rambam" Authentic?

I just came across a work called ביאור שמות קדש וחול which is attributed to the Rambam--see, e.g., here. Is this an authentic work of the Rambam? What is known about it? I found the work on ...
13 votes
3 answers
948 views

Why does the authorship of the Zohar matter?

I've seen and heard a lot of controversy about the authorship of the Zohar, but it isn't quite clear to me that it matters. The nearest theory I can come up with is that if the Zohar is by Rashbi, ...
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

Did Rashbi Write the Zohar?

In my experience, many religious Jews think that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai wrote the book we have today called the Zohar. The Zohar is a Jewish work of mysticism that was published in the 13th century. ...
7 votes
1 answer
239 views

Where can I find the Chasam Sofer's poems?

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the Chasam Sofer wrote several poems. Where can I find them? I've been unable to do so.
6 votes
1 answer
743 views

Source for Chasam Sofer quote about Zohar

What is the source for the Chasam Sofer having said (regarding the Zohar), "If we could sift the book and keep only what R’ Shimon Bar Yochai wrote, it would be a very very thin book. You would only ...