Biography
Judah was descended from an old family of kabbalists from the East that had settled in Germany. His grandfather Kalonymus was a scholar and parnas in Speyer (died 1126). His father Samuel, also called he-Ḥasid (= "the pious"), HaḲadosh, and HaNabi, was president of a bet ha-midrash in Speyer, and from him Judah, together with his brother Abraham, received his early instruction. Samuel died while Judah was still young. About 1195 the latter left his native place and settled in Regensburg (Ratisbon), on account of an "accident" – most probably persecution experienced by the Jews of Speyer generally.
He founded a yeshiva in Regensburg and secured many pupils. Among those who became famous were Eleazar of Worms, author of the Roḳeaḥ; Isaac ben Moses of Vienna, author of Or Zarua; and Baruch ben Samuel of Mainz, author of Sefer ha-Ḥokmah. Eleazar applies to his teacher in several passages terms expressive of the highest esteem, such as "father of wisdom".
Judah left one son, Moses Zaltman, author of a commentary on several parts of the Bible. It has been erroneously supposed that Judah had two other sons, Aaron and David.
Read more about this topic: Judah Ben Samuel Of Regensburg
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