Rabbi Juda ben Simon Ashkenazi

Juda Simon Ashkenazi, died 1745 Konigsbergen, (Eisenstein 1924, p. 31)., occupation: rabbi, member of rabbinical court of Tykocin, Poland, published halachical work 'Be'er Heiteiv' on the jewish codex'Shulchan Aruch'

The years of birth of Yehuda's children indicate, that his wife was born after 1689 (=1739-50) and before 1720 (=1735-15). Thus, Yehuda was probably born after 1689. Yehuda was judge (dayan) in the rabbinical court of Tykocin, Poland, where his two known sons were born in the 1730s. Apparently, he visited Amsterdam, where he heard the Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam, Aryeh Leib, speak (Goldrat 1972, p. 39).Only three volumes of his Ba'er Heitev, a commentary on Joseph Caro'sShulkhan Arukh, were published in Amsterdam: Yoreh Deah in 1736, EvenHa'ezer in 1739 and Orach Chayim in 1742. It may seem odd, that Rabbi Yehuda Ashkenazi decided to call his commentary Ba'er Heitev, becauseRabbi Isaiah ben Abraham had already called his commentary by the same name. However, Rabbi Isaiah only wrote one volume, on Orach Chayim. Thus, Rabbi Yehuda intended to continue Rabbi Isaiah's work.Apparently, Rabbi Yehuda's commentary was such a success, that he was asked to write his own commentary on Orach Chayim. In his own commentary, he refers to the previous commentary as to "the Ba'erHeitev before me". Probably, his death in 1745 prevented him from completing the fourth volume. The fourth volume, on Khoshen Mishpat,was written by his brother-in-law rabbi Mozes Frankfort (Goldrat 1972,p. 31). Later editions of the Shulkhan Arukh generally contain Ashkenazi's commentaries to Orach Chayim and Even Ha'ezer only., son of Simon Sofer and N.N. to: N.N.