DURAN, SIMEON BEN TZEMAH (RASHBATZ)

(1361-1444)

   North African rabbinic scholar, philosopher and scientist. He was born in Majorca and worked as a physician and surgeon in Palma. After the massacre there in 1391 he settled in Algiers, where he served as chief rabbi. His writings include an encyclopaedic philosophical work, Magen Avot. His responsa deal with religious and legal problems as well as grammar, philology, exegesis, literary history, philosophy, kabbalah, mathematics and astronomy.