Simeon ben Zemah Duran

Simeon ben Zemah Duran (born 1361, Majorca, Balearic Islands [now part of Spain]—died 1444, Algiers [Algeria]) was the first Spanish Jewish rabbi to be paid a regular salary by the community and author of an important commentary on Avot (“Fathers”), a popular ethical tractate in the Talmud, the rabbinical compendium of law, lore, and commentary. Before the 14th century, the rabbinical post had been almost invariably honorary; Duran set a precedent in accepting a salary....