View source for Yom Tov of Seville

{{Short description|13th-14th century Talmudist}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Yom Tov ben Avraham Assevilli <br/>{{Script/Hebrew|ריטב"א}}
|image = 
|image_size = 200px
|caption = 
|birth_date = {{circa}} 1260
|birth_place = [[Seville]], Spain
|death_date = {{circa}} 1314
|death_place = 
|known_for = Commentaries on [[Talmud]]
|children = 
}}

'''Yom Tov ben Abraham of Seville''' ({{circa}} 1260 – 1320; also Asevilli, Assevilli, Ashbili) commonly known by the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] [[Hebrew acronyms|acronym]] '''Ritva''', ({{langx|he|ריטב"א}} '''R'''abbi '''Y'''om '''T'''ov '''b'''en '''A'''vraham) was a medieval rabbi and [[rosh yeshiva]] of the Yeshiva of Seville, known for his commentaries on the [[Talmud]].
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==Biography==
Asevilli was born in the city of [[Seville]], [[Spain]] around 1260. His name, ''Asevilli'' is itself a [[Toponymic surname|topographic surname]] that identifies him as being from Seville.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/15119-yom-tob-ben-abraham-ishbili|title=YOM-ṬOB BEN ABRAHAM ISHBILI - JewishEncyclopedia.com|website=www.jewishencyclopedia.com|access-date=2019-05-26}}</ref>

He was the student of [[Solomon ibn Adret]] and [[Aharon HaLevi|Aaron ha-Levy]]. His works suggest that he spent some time studying in France. He spent most of his life in [[Zaragoza]]. He died between 1314 and 1328.<ref name="Medieval Jewish Civ">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Roth |first1=Norman |encyclopedia=Medieval Jewish Civilization: An Encyclopedia |title=Ishīlī, Yom Ṭov |date=2003 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=9780415937122 |pages=369–70}}</ref>

He was the rabbi and head of the Yeshiva of Seville in Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rabbi Yom Tov ibn Asevilli (“Ritva”) |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/rabbi-yom-tov-ibn-asevilli-ldquo-ritva-rdquo |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref>

==Writings==

His commentary on the [[Talmud]] was collected and published as a novellae entitled ''Chiddushei Ha-Ritva''. It is one of the most frequently referred-to Talmudic commentators today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ou.org/judaism-101/bios/leaders-in-the-diaspora/ritva-rabbi-yom-tov-ibn-asevilli|title=Ritva (Rabbi Yom Tov ibn Asevilli)|website=Orthodox Union|language=en|access-date=2019-05-26}}</ref> Assevilli wrote two versions of his commentary, first an extended one and then a concise one. In general only the concise version survives.

Controversially attributed works include:

* [[Berakhot (tractate)|Berakhot]]: Some thought it to be the work of Assevilli's father or [[Bezalel Ashkenazi]], however it is now assumed to be the genuine work of Assevilli himself.<ref>חידושי הריטב"א מוה"ק על ברכות, הקדמה</ref>
* [[Shabbat]]: [[Nissim of Gerona]]'s commentary was misattributed to Assevilli by the Saloniki printers, but the genuine commentary is widely available.<ref>חידושי הריטב"א מוה"ק על שבת , הקדמה</ref>
* [[Nedarim (Talmud)|Nedarim]]: Very controversial. See the introduction to the [[Mossad Harav Kook|MhRK]] edition.
* [[Gittin]]: The traditionally printed commentary is now known to be the work of [[Crescas Vidal]], with few detractors. A second commentary in manuscript has been printed by MhRK; they conclude it is genuine but some scholars disagree.<ref>חידושי הריטב"א מוה"ק על גיטין , הקדמה. See also the introduction to [[Hullin]].</ref>
* [[Kiddushin (Talmud)|Kiddushin]]: Two separate commentaries have been attributed to Assevilli, but they are both suspicious and (at minimum) include large amounts of foreign material.<ref>חידושי הריטב"א מוה"ק על קידושין , הקדמה</ref>
* [[Bava Metzia]]: Two separate commentaries have been attributed to Assevilli. Both are extremely controversial, but both may be genuine.<ref>חידושי הריטב"א מוה"ק על בבא מציעה , הקדמה. See also the introduction to [[Eruvin (Talmud)|Eruvin]].</ref>
* [[Shevu'ot]]: Two separate commentaries have been attributed to Assevilli, one of which is traditionally printed. Apparently only the printed one is authentic, but the original [[Livorno]] printers heavily corrupted the text to correspond to Talmudic printings.<ref>חידושי הריטב"א מוה"ק על שבועות , הקדמה</ref>
* [[Niddah (Talmud)|Niddah]]: Authentic through the seventh pereq, after which the printed text is the commentary of [[Asher ben Jehiel]].<ref>חידושי הריטב"א מוה"ק על נידה , הקדמה</ref>

He also wrote commentaries on the writings of [[Isaac Alfasi]] and certain works of [[Nahmanides]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etz-hayim.com/commentators/commentator.php?id=yom-tov-ben-abraham-asevilli|title=Jewish Commentators — their Lives and Works|access-date=2011-11-29|work=Etz-hayim.com}}</ref>

==References==
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==External links==
*[https://www.ou.org/judaism-101/bios/leaders-in-the-diaspora/ritva-rabbi-yom-tov-ibn-asevilli/ “Ritva,” Rabbi Yom Tov ibn Asevilli]
* {{cite web |url=http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=72&ClipID=1134 |title=Purim- Are Newly Married Men, A Tzandak, Mohel and Father of Birt Milah Exempt From Fasting On Taanit Esther |access-date=2011-11-29 |work=Dailyhalacha.com}}

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{{Rabbinical eras timeline|1260|1314|Yom_Tov_Asevilli}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yom Tov Asevilli}}
[[Category:Clergy from Seville]]
[[Category:13th-century Castilian rabbis]]
[[Category:1260s births]]
[[Category:1330s deaths]]
[[Category:Authors of works on the Talmud]]
[[Category:Hebrew-language writers]]
[[Category:14th-century Castilian rabbis]]
[[Category:Authors of books on Jewish law]]

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