Editing Asher ben Jehiel (section)

==Biography==
The Rosh was probably born in [[Cologne]], [[Holy Roman Empire]],<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb12351146t|title = ʼAšer Ben Yeḥîʼel}}</ref> and died in [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]]. His family was prominent for learning and piety, his father Yechiel was a Talmudist, and one of his ancestors was Rabbi [[Eliezer ben Nathan]] (the ''RaABaN''). Asher had eight sons, the most prominent of whom were [[Jacob ben Asher|Jacob]] (author of the ''[[Arba'ah Turim]]'') and [[Judah ben Asher|Judah]].

In 1286, King [[Rudolf I of Germany|Rudolf I]] had instituted a new persecution of the Jews, and the great teacher of the Rosh, Rabbi [[Meir of Rothenburg]], left Germany but was captured and imprisoned. The Rosh raised a ransom for his release, but Rabbi Meir refused it, for fear of encouraging the imprisonment of other rabbis. Thereafter the Rosh assumed Rabbi Meir's position in Worms. He was, however, forced to emigrate (in all likelihood, a victim of blackmail by the government, aimed at acquiring his fortune). After leaving Germany, he first settled in southern [[France]], and then in [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]], [[Spain]], where he became [[rabbi]] on the recommendation of [[Solomon ben Aderet|Rabbi Solomon ben Abraham Aderet]] (''RaShBA''). Rabbenu Asher's son Judah testified to the fact that he died in poverty. Rabbeinu Asher died in Toledo on 9 [[Cheshvan]] 5088 (1327 CE). His known surviving children were said to have been killed in the ensuing persecutions that affected Spain in 1392.<ref>Gedaliah ibn Jechia the Spaniard, ''Shalshelet Ha-Kabbalah'', Jerusalem 1962, p. 268 (Hebrew)</ref>

Rabbenu Asher possessed "methodical and systematic" Talmudic knowledge, and was distinguished for his ability to analyze and thereby clarify long [[gemara|Talmudic discussions]]. The Rosh was known for his independent legal reasoning: "We must not be guided in our decisions by the admiration of great men, and in the event of a [[halakha|law]] not being clearly stated in the Talmud, we are not bound to accept it, even if it be based on the works of the [[Geonim]]."  (For instance, the Rosh ruled that the [[siddur|liturgy]] of the Geonim was not subject to the Talmudic rule against change in the [[prayer]]s.)

Rabbenu Asher was opposed to the study of secular knowledge, especially [[philosophy]]. He held that philosophy is based on [[Critical theory|critical]] research, whereas religion is based on [[Oral law#Oral law in Judaism|tradition]] and the two are thus "incapable of harmonization". He said that "none that go unto her may return"—in fact, he thanked [[God]] for having saved him from its influence, and boasted of possessing no knowledge outside the [[Torah]]. He attempted to issue a decree against the study of non-Jewish learning. One effect of this attitude was to limit his influence on [[Secular#Secularity as relative worldliness|secular]] Spanish Jewry. At the same time, within rabbinic circles, "he transplanted the strict and narrow Talmudic spirit from Germany to [[Spain]]", and this, in some measure, turned Spanish Jews from secular research to the study of the Talmud.