Yom Tov of Falaise explained

Rabbi Yom Tov of Falaise, also called Rabbi Yom Tov ben Rabbi Yehuda, was one of the 11th-century Baalei Tosafot in France.^{[1] [2]}

Family

His father was Judah ben Nathan (Rivan), who was Rashi's son-in-law, making him Rashi's grandson. He had a brother named Rabbi Eliezer.^[3]

His children were Rabbi Yehuda ben Yom Tov, the father-in-law of Rabbi Isaac ben Samuel (R'I the Elder), and Rabbi Yosef. His grandson was Rabbi Judah Messer Leon, and Bila, the youngest daughter of Rabbi Yosef ben Yom Tov, who married her uncle Rabbi Eliezer ben Rabbi Judah ben Yom Tov.

Mentions

Rabbi Yom Tov is mentioned several times in Tosafot.^[4] He is also mentioned three times in Sefer haYashar^[5]

There is a Rabbi Yom Tov ben Judah mentioned in Tosafot and by Isaac ben Moses of Vienna in Ohr Zarua. Jacob Nahum Epstein^[6] and others identify him as Rabbi Yom Tov of Falaise who is mentioned by Mordechai ben Hillel in Shabbat. According to Ephraim Urbach, Rabbi Yom Tov moved to Paris.^[7]

Rabbeinu Tam described him as, "My teacher and my dear friend, my teacher, Rabbi Yom Tov, I am not worthy that you sent to me, but this is your student's opinion..."

Notes and References

1. Urbach E in Baalei Tosafot p. 104 writes that Falaise was his city. However, see Seder Hadorot who shows that he is also referred to as "Rabbi Yom Tov of Plancy" (Tosafot on Zevahim 73a), "Rabbi Yom Tov of Palano" (Tosafot on Menahot 22b) and "Rabbi Yom Tov of Palancy" (Tosafot on Menachot 27b)
2. Web site: Falaise - The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia -. StudyLight.org.
3. https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1262&pgnum=40 Responsa of the French and Lutir Sages
4. See, for example, Nazir 37a s.v. vehu hadin
5. Siman 655, 766 and 775
6. Epstein J. N. "Commentary of Rivan and Commentaries of Worms" Tarbiz 4, 5693, p. 12, footnote 8
7. Urbach E. The Tosaphists, Mosad Bialik, 5714. pp. 120-122. However, he refers to the Ohr Zarua siman 476 and there it refers to his son, Rabbi Judah ben Yom Tov who was in Paris