(known by the acronym Radbaz; 1479-1573). Halakhic scholar and kabbalist. Born in Spain, Ibn Zimra reached Safed as a boy of 13, arriving with the first victims of the 1492 expulsion, and later moved to Jerusalem. From 1512 he spent 40 years in Egypt, at first in Alexandria and then in Cairo. He joined the rabbinical court of the last nagid, Isaac Sholal, and later served as chief rabbi of Egypt. Ibn Zimra settled disputes and brought about important changes in the community; theses included his attempt to reintroduce the silent congregational reading of the Amidah, which had been abolished by Maimonides. In 1552, he returned to Jerusalem. Being taxed heavily by the local governor and otherwise dissatisfied, however, he moved to Safed and served as Dayyan (rabbinic judge) there for the remainder of his life.
Ibn Zimra was considered the leading rabbi of his day, questions being addressed to him by scholars in Safed, Jerusalem, and Salonika, as well as by distant communities in Africa and Italy. He wrote over 3,000 Responsa; those dealing with polygamy, the emancipation of slaves, and the status of black Jews in India reflect contemporary Jewish life in Oriental lands. As a posek (decisor), Ibn Zimra was lenient in his interpretation of the Halakhah. Though a kabbalist, he always upheld the supremacy of halakhah when it ran counter to mystical teachings. He would not allow his own pupils to study philosophy, but defended personalities such as Ibn Gabirol and Maimonides who had done so. Isaac Luria (the "Ari") was one of his pupils.
Many of Ibn Zimra's Responsa have been published as Teshuvot ha-Radbaz (1852). His other works include a commentary on part of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah; a kabbalistic commentary on the Song of Songs; a work on talmudic methodology; an exposition of the 613
