Rabbi Isaac ben Asher HaLevi or Riva is the earliest known Tosafist, son-in-law of Eliakim ben Meshullam and pupil of Rashi. He flourished in Speyer during the 11th century.
He is cited under the name of "Tosafot Riva," in the Temim De'im, in the printed tosafot (Sotah 17b), and in the Tosafot Yeshanin (Yoma 15a). They are frequently quoted without the name of their author. Isaac ben Asher also wrote a commentary on the Pentateuch, which is no longer in existence. It is cited in the Minchat Yehudah, and Jacob Tam made use of it in his Sefer ha-Yashar (p. 282).
Famous quotes containing the words isaac and/or ben:
“My mother made me a scientist without ever intending to. Every other Jewish mother in Brooklyn would ask her child after school: So? Did you learn anything today? But not my mother. “Izzy,” she would say, “did you ask a good question today?” That difference—asking good questions—made me become a scientist.”
—Isidor Isaac Rabi (20th century)
“And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest!”
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859)