Yehuda ben Barzillai

Rabbi Yehuda ben Barzillai lived in 11th-12th century Barcelona and was a respected legal scholar and author. The word HaNasi (the prince) was often attached to his name, indicating that his family traced its lineage back to the leaders of Babylonian Jewry, and even further, to the dynasty of David. His writings were considered authoritative, especially Sefer HaItim, which primarily contains laws of Shabbat and holidays and is quoted frequently by later authorities. His works are rooted in earlier scholarship, including geonic material, some of which is preserved only through ben Barzillai’s references.