Ben-shem-tob, Ha-levi

Ben-Shem-Tob, Ha-Levi, a Jewish writer of Barcelona, was born about 1235, and died after 1300. He was a great authority and rabbi at Toledo. Being a good Talmudist he wrote some novellas on Talmudical treatises. He also wrote בֶּרֶק ה - בִּיַת, The Fixture of the House, a criticism on the תּוֹרִת ה - בִּיַת of Ben-Adrat, and the ס8 הִחַנּוּך, an exposition of the six hundred and thirteen precepts. It has, however, been questioned whether he is the author of the latter work. See Gratz, Gesch. 7:161 sq.; Rosin, Compendium der jud. Gesetzkunde aus dem XI V. Jarhdt. (Breslau, 1871); Neubauer, in Frankel-Gratz, Monatsschr. 1872. p. 179 sq., 184 sq.; Furst, Bibl. Jud 1, 24 sq.; Finn, Sepharadim, p. 300. (B. P.)