19 Elul · Yahrzeit
Rabbeinu Yaakov of Orleans - talmid of Rabbeinu Tam
Rabbeinu Yaakov HaKadosh of Orleans (killed in 1189) – a student of Rabbeinu Tam – died “Al Kiddush Hashem” – was killed during the coronation of Richard the Lionheart.
He was one of the most prominent authors of the Tosafot.
He was born in France and studied under Rabbeinu Tam. Together with his talmid-chaver (fellow student) Rabbi Yom-Tov bar Yitzchak, he moved to England and became a leading halachic authority there.
He wrote commentaries on most of the tractates of the Babylonian Talmud; the classic edition of Tosafot, printed alongside the main text of the Talmud, includes especially many passages from his commentaries on tractates Pesachim, Zevachim, and Menachot.
He also composed a commentary on the Five Books of the Torah, paying special attention to gematriyot — the numerical values of the words of the Torah.
The only surviving responsum of Rabbi Yaakov is cited in the book "Or Zarua" (2:308).
He was killed in London during a pogrom that broke out on the day of Richard the Lionheart's coronation — Rabbi Yaakov died sanctifying the Name of G-d.
May the merit of the tzadik protect his people!