MAT, MOSES BEN ABRAHAM:

By: Solomon Schechter, Bernhard Friedberg

Galician rabbi; born at Przemysl about 1550; died at Opatow 1606. After having studied Talmud and rabbinics under his uncle R. Ẓebi and Solomon Luria, he became rabbi of Beldza, where he had a large number of pupils. He retired from this rabbinate and lived privately for a time at Vladimir. He was then called to the rabbinate of Przemysl, and, in 1597, to that of Luboml. Toward the end of his life Mat became the chief of the community of Opatow and district rabbi of Cracow.

Mat was the author of the following works: "Taryag Miẓwot" (Cracow, 1581), a versification of the 613 commandments; "Maṭṭeh Mosheh" (ib. 1590-91), a treatise on the practical ritual laws; "Ho'il Mosheh" (Prague, 1611), a simple and homiletic commentary on the Pentateuch, in which he occasionally explains the commentary of Rashi. Some responsa of his are to be found in the responsa collections of his rabbinical contemporaries.

S. S. B. Fr.