Yechiel of Paris

Yechiel ben Joseph of Paris or Jehiel of Paris, called Sire Vives in French (Judeo-French: ) and Vivus Meldensis ("Vives of Meaux") in Latin, was a major Talmudic scholar and Tosafist from northern France, father-in-law of Isaac ben Joseph of Corbeil. He was a disciple of Rabbi Judah Messer Leon, and succeeded him in 1225 as head of the Yeshiva of Paris, Berger wrote: "Whatever one thinks of the sincerity of the multiple Jesus theory, R. Yehiel found a way to neutralize some dangerous rabbinic statements, and yet the essential Ashkenazic evaluation of Jesus remains even in the text of this disputation." Yechiel's argument was followed by Nachmanides at the Disputation of Barcelona in 1263, but not by Profiat Duran at the Disputation of Tortosa in 1413–1414.

Although the disputants were believed by at least some to have successfully defended Judaism, a decree was passed for the public burning of all available manuscripts of the Talmud—and on Friday, June 17, 1244, 24 carriage loads of written works were set alight.

The arguments and the contents of the debate were published in Thorn in 1873 under the title Vikuaḥ Rabenu Yeḥiel mi Paris .

Disputed move to Acre According to some sources, Yechiel left to the land of Israel from France, either due to rising antisemitism or to reinstate ritual sacrifices. He arrived in Outremer around 1258 and settled in Acre, then ruled by the Crusader state of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, along with his son, Messire Delicieux and a large group of followers. He soon re-established the Great Academy of Paris (Midrash haGadol d'Paris) and is believed to have died there between 1265 and 1268. He was buried near Haifa, at Mount Carmel.

According to Simha Emanuel [he] however, he never emigrated and died in France, where a fragment of a funeral stone has been found bearing the inscription,

(translated: Our master Yehiel to the Paradise), which could be from Rabbi Yechiel.

Teachings He was a tosafist. His tosafot are quoted as authoritative by Peretz ben Elijah, in "Kol Bo", and in "Mordechai". He is frequently quoted also in the edited tosafot.