Rabbi Shimon ben Tzemach Duran - Rashbatz

15 Adar Yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon ben Tzemach Duran - Rashbatz (1361–1444), known as the Rashbatz (רשב"ץ), was an authority who studied philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and especially medicine, which he practiced for several years in Palma de Mallorca.

Yahrzeit – 15 Adar

Resting place – Algeria

Rabbi Shimon ben Tzemach was born in the Hebrew month of Adar in 1361. According to various sources, his birthplace was either Barcelona or the island of Majorca. He was a close relative of Rabbi Levi ben Gershon and a student of Ephraim Vidal and Yonah de Maestre, the rabbi of Zaragoza, whose daughter he married.

After the persecutions of 1391 in the Balearic Islands and Majorca, he fled Spain with his father and sister to Algeria, where, in addition to practicing medicine, he continued his studies during the early part of his stay.

In 1394, he and the Algerian rabbi Isaac bar Sheshet (Rivash) drew up the charter of the Jewish community of Algeria.

After Rivash retired, Duran became the rabbi of Algeria in 1407.

Since Duran had lost all his property during the massacre in Palma, he was compelled, against his will, to accept a salary from the community, having no other means of support.

He held this position until his death.

Duran's "Magen Avot" was a polemical work against Christians and Muslims, the fourth chapter of the second part of which was published separately as "Keshet u-Magen" ("Bow and Shield").

The Rashbatz passed away in the city of Algiers in 1444.  

May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!

(https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/743-Rabbi-Simeon-ben-Zemah-Duran)