Berechiah de Nicole facts for kids
Berechiah de Nicole, also known as Benedict fil Mosse, was an important Jewish scholar who lived in England during the 1200s. He was a "Tosafist," which means he was a rabbi who wrote special notes and explanations on the Talmud, a central text in Judaism. He lived in the city of Lincoln.
Who Was Berechiah de Nicole?
Berechiah de Nicole was born in the early 1200s. He came from a well-known family of scholars called the Hagin family. His father was Rabbi Moses ben Yom-Tov of London, who was also a respected scholar.
Life in Lincoln
Berechiah became the chief rabbi of Lincoln. In those days, Lincoln was sometimes called "Nicole" in Norman-French. People believe he might have lived in a famous old building in Lincoln known today as the Jew's House. This house was later owned by a woman named Belaset of Wallington, who was thought to be Berechiah's daughter.
In 1255, a difficult event happened in Lincoln. Many Jewish people from England gathered there. During this time, the body of a young boy named Hugh was found. Sadly, all the Jewish people in Lincoln were arrested and sent to London because of false accusations. Berechiah de Nicole was one of them. However, he was released earlier than the others, on January 7, 1256.
His Influence as a Scholar
We don't know much about what happened to Berechiah after his release. But we do know that he was highly respected for his knowledge of Jewish law and traditions. His decisions on religious matters were often quoted by other scholars of his time. This shows that he was considered a great authority in his field.
