יעקב בן יקר

Rav Yaakov ben Yakar (c. 4750/990–4824/1064) was among the first and greatest of the rishonim of Ashkenaz, a rav and posek of Mainz (Magenza). He learned under Rabbeinu Gershom and was best known as a rebbi of Rashi, who called him Mori HaZaken — “my teacher the elder” — and when Rashi writes simply “my teacher” without a name, it is to Rav Yaakov that he refers.

Much of what Rashi brings in his commentaries he heard by mouth from Rav Yaakov, who taught Chumash in Magenza and appears to have written commentaries on parts of the Talmud before Rashi, though these have not reached us. Rashi praised his humility, describing how he set himself lowest of all and would not take for himself the honor that was his due. Beside Rashi, Rav Eliakim ben Meshullam HaLevi and Rav Shlomo ben Shimshon were among his talmidim. He was buried in Magenza, where his matzeivah was later found built into an old city wall and set up anew in the Jewish cemetery.