Isaac Ben-abba-mare

Isaac ben-Abba-Mare a Jewish exponent of the Talmud, was born at Bourg des St. Gilles, France, in 1139. His father was an officer under the government of the count of Toulouse, and afforded Isaac every opportunity for distinction, but he early devoted himself to the study of the Talmud under the celebrated Rabbi Tam of Rameru. When only seventeen years old he prepared a compendium of certain ritualistic laws of the Jews, in which he evinced thorough familiarity with the Talmud. He also wrote a commentary on one of the most difficult parts of the Talmud, and finally collected all his investigations on the Jewish traditions under the title of הָעַטּוּר (probably in 1179). It was incompletely published by Josef ben-Saruk (Ven. 1608; and since then, Warsaw, 1801). See Gratz, Gesch. l. Juden, 6:244; Furst, Biblioth. Judaica, 2, 137. (J. H.W.)