Shailoth U’Teshuvoth [responsa]

<<AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT. >> Born in Meknes, R. Ya’akov ibn Zur (also referred to as Ya’abetz, 1673-1753) was part of the Beth Din of R. Yehudah ben Atar. After the latter’s death, R. Ya’akov was appointed Av Beth Din and Chief Rabbi of Fez. His responsa are collected in the work “Mishpat U’Tzedakah BeYa’akov”. USE FOR ANOTHER TIME: R. Yaakov ibn Tzur (also referred to as Yaabetz) (1673-1753) was born in Meknes. He studied under his father R. Reuven and later under R. Yehudah ben Atar.  At an early age he developed an outstanding scribal talent copying manuscripts. In fact, the book Minchath Yehudah by Rabbi Yehuda Ben Atar was printed from the copy he had prepared at the age of 15. He married the daughter of R. Yehuda Uziel. His personal life was difficult with the loss of sixteen children during his lifetime. Only one son, Raphael outlived his father. At age twenty he was appointed as the scribe of the Rabbinical Court of R. Yehudah ben Atar and eventually became a Dayan in this court. After R. Atar's demise, ibn Tzur became the Av Beth Din and Chief Rabbi of Fez. He served there for 31 years and afterwards for 11 years in Meknes. It should be noted that R. Chaim Ben Atar, the author of Or Hachaim published R. Yaakov Ibn Tzurs approbation to his Talmudic work Chafetz Hashem. This indicates the high esteem in which he was held. Many of his responsa were published posthumously by the Chief Rabbi of Egypt Raphael Aaron ben Shimon under the title "Mishpat U'Tzedakah B'Yaakov", Na Amon (Alexandria), 1894-1903.