Asher Ben-jechiel

Asher Ben-Jechiel, called Magister Asher, a Jewish writer, was born at Rothenburg toward the end of the 13th century, and died in 1327. He was considered one of the most learned of the Spanish Jews, and taught with high repute at Toledo; but he did not escape the persecuting spirit of the time, and was driven from Toledo. He published chiefly

(1.) various commentaries or special tracts of the Talmud (printed at different times and places, especially Prague, 1725, and Leghorn, Berlin, Amst. etc. later);

(2.) a general collection of decisions relating to the entire Talmud, entitled פִּסקֵי הֲלָכוֹת (usually contained in extended editions of the Talmud), more commonly denominated, from him, הָאָשֵׁרִי, the Asheri, abstracts. of which, under the title of קצוּר פִּסקֵי הָראשׁ (Constantinople, 1520, fol. and later), פִּסקֵי תוֹספוֹת, etc have been made;

(3.) שׁאֵלוֹת, etc. questions and answers on Jewish ceremonies- (Venice, 1552, fol. and since);

(4.) הִנהָגָה, moral precepts or institutes (Ven. 1579, 4to, and often since).- Bartolocci, Bibl. Magn. Rabbin. i, 493; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generate, iii, 437; Furst, Bib. Jud. i; 57 sq.