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Answer:
Rabbeinu Tam (12th cent) is one of the better known Tosafists, and a
grandson of Rashi. His real name was Rabbi Yaakov ben Meir. Yaakov
(Jacob) was called in Genesis an "ish tam", a whole/perfect man.
In halachic rulings, the Tosafists usually defended Ashkenazi norms,
trying to find its basis in the Talmudic texts. Rabbeinu Tam was an
exception. Two rulings of his are better known, they serve as an
illustration. In both, Rabbeinu Tam disagrees with the opinion of his
grandfather.
The first was on placement of the mezuzah. Rashi ruled that proper
placement is that the parchment be placed vertically. Rabbeinu Tam
sided with a horizontal placement. Today, Ashkenazim try to fulfil
both opinions by hanging the mezuzah on an angle. Sepharadim follow
the opinion attributed to Rashi, which is also born out by the
majority of archeological findings. (But they do so because it's the
opinion of Maimonides and the Shulchan Aruch.)
The better known one was about the proper order of chapters that are
placed in tefillin. We follow the opinion of Rashi. However, many
Chassidim also wear "Rabbeinu Tam tefillin" (as they are commonly
called) afterwards to fulfil his opinion. Some Sephardic kabbalists do
as well; while a rare few wear both forms simultaneously!
His style of Talmud study was more typical of the Tosafists. They
tried to understand the Talmud holistically, typically asking how one
discussion ought to be understood given a discussion in another part
of the Talmud.
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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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