ISAAC BEN JOSEPH OF CORBEIL (also known as ="the man with the nose"):

French ritualist; flourished in the second half of the thirteenth century. He was the son-in-law of R. Jehiel ben Joseph of Paris, whose school he attended, and the pupil of the "Great Men of Evreux," notably of Samuel, whom he calls "the Prince" () of Evreux. Isaac's conspicuous piety drew toward him many disciples, the best known of whom were Perez ben Elijah of Corbeil, Baruch Ḥayyim ben Menahem of Niort, and his fellow citizen Joseph ben Abraham. He was induced by his pupils to publish in 1277 an abridgment of Moses ben Jacob of Coucy's "Sefer Miẓwot Gadol" (called "Semag" from its initials ), under the title "'Ammude ha- Golah" or "Sefer Miẓwot Ḳaṭan" (generally called "Semaḳ" from the initials ). This work was most favorably received by the communities of France and Germany, and has often been edited and annotated. Isaac also published "Liḳḳuṭim" (collectanea), and several small compilations containing his ritual decisions. The "Kol Bo" (No. 128) contains a long fragment of a Talmudic work of R. Isaac, with this superscription: .

Bibliography:
  • Carmoly, Biographics des lsraélites de France, p. 45;
  • Rev. Et. Juives, iv. 213, vi. 168;
  • Gross, Gallia Judaica, pp. 563-565.
L. G. S. K.
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