Moshe Provençal

Moshe ben Avraham Provençal (1503 - 1576) was an Italian posek and Hebrew grammarian. Before Provençal's birth, his family left their home in Provence in the aftermath of its incorporation into France and the subsequent persecution of the local Jewish population. Provençal was born in Casale Monferrato in north-west Italy. In 1535, he composed a poetic guide to the rules of Hebrew grammar entitled B'shem Kadmon, which was later published in Venice in 1597.[1] By 1550, he was Chief Rabbi of Mantua, Italy.[2]

During the infamous Tamari-Venturozzo divorce scandal of 1564, the Italian rabbinate was split over the validity of Samuel Venturozzo's bill of divorce. The halakhic debate quickly descended into a fierce and raging legal feud which eventually came to include halakhic giants from Safed and Thessaloniki. Provençal spearheaded the rabbinic group arguing that Venturozzo's bill of divorce was invalid.[3] In 1566, Provençal published a pamphlet making his case and arguing that the opposing rabbis did not follow proper judicial protocol.[4] By 1574, the debate was resolved, and the Italian rabbinate was reconciled. Provençal died on July 30, 1576.[5]

Provençal's responsa, known as She'elot u'Teshuvot Rabbeinu Moshe Provençal (first printed: 2 vols., Jerusalem, 1989–98), have often been studied and quoted by later rabbinical authorities.

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Name	Provencal, Moshe
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Date of birth	1503
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Date of death	1576
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