**Rabbi Yosef** bar Meir HaLevi ibn Migash [(and sometimes he is called in the poskim Yidosef. Seder HaKabbalah)] student of the Alfasi and teacher of the Rambam [(and in Yuchsin it is written that he was not his teacher)]. The Raavad wrote that it was testified about him that even in the generation of Moshe such was not found: in the generation of Moshe it is written "Get you wise men and understanding" and it is written in response "and I took the heads of your tribes, wise men and known" but "understanding" was not found, and he was wise and understanding [(see Yuchsin in Seder HaKabbalah of the Rema)].

And he composed commentary on many tractates. And the Rambam in his introduction to Zeraim praised his merit greatly [(see year 4927)] and he passed away in the year 4900 [(Tzeda LaDerech). Yuchsin writes in Seder HaGeonim] that he was born on the first of Adar 4837 and his father Rabbi Meir [(and Rabbeinu Meir his son and Rabbi Meir his nephew were all great sages, Seder HaKabbalah chapter 56b)] was a sage and of beautiful appearance.

And Rabbi Yosef fled from the city of Granada because of King Baadan [(as mentioned in Yuchsin there)]. And he was serving in the service of the king ben Ukkva. And from the youth of Rabbi Yosef, Rabbi Yitzchak bar Baruch [(see year 4816)] recognized that he would become a great man, and he would strive to teach Rabbi Meir to teach him day and night, for he was Rabbi Meir. And Rabbi Yitzchak loved each other in their souls.

And when Rabbi Yitzchak ben Alfasi entered Sepharad and settled in Alisana, Rav Yosef went to him from the city of Seville while he was still a youth, about 12 years old, and stood before him for about 14 years. And he was like a son to Rabbi Yitzchak and he exalted him in wisdom and ordained him before his death. [(And Yuchsin in Seder HaKabbalah of the Rema writes that he was 18 years old when he stood before Rabbi Yitzchak Alfasi).] And after the death of Rav Yitzchak, Rabbi Yosef HaLevi sat on his throne from the end of 4862 until Iyar 4900, 38 years.

And in all of them his Torah was his profession, and his fame went forth from Sepharad to Egypt and all the lands. And in addition to his wisdom, his qualities testified about him that he was from the seed of Moshe Rabbeinu, for he was exceedingly humble, more than any man, and the Holy One Blessed Be He gave him breadth of heart and he would forgive transgression. [Seder HaKabbalah chapter 42 writes I saw in the laws of Festivals, chapter 8, and other places, that the Raavad author of the Criticisms sometimes disparages the words of ibn Migash.] And after the death of Rav Yosef HaLevi, the world was desolate of yeshivot of wisdom, even though Rabbi Meir his son and Rabbi Meir his nephew were his students and holders of his tradition and great sages, but because of the evil the righteous one was gathered, for after the death of Rabbi Yosef HaLevi there were years of wrath and destruction upon Israel and they went into exile from their places, some to death, some to the sword, some to famine, and some to captivity [(there in Yuchsin).

And Seder HaKabbalah chapter 44, page 72 writes] and the Jews fled to Toledo and Porto Bal. And there was there the minister Don Yechiya ben Don Yehuda ibn Yechiya the first [(see year 4866)] and he did much good for the exiles. [Yuchsin writes in Seder HaGeonim: behold 12 generations from the prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi until Rivaz, and five generations of Tannaim and seven of Amoraim - behold these are 22 generations until the end of the Amoraim.

And the rabbis of Savoraim five generations and eight generations of Geonim and six generations of Rabbinics. The generation of Rav Nissim and Rabbeinu Chananel and Rav Shmuel the Nagid, and the generation of the five rabbis whose names were all Rabbi Yitzchak, and the generation of Rabbi Yosef HaLevi and Rabbi Baruch bar Yitzchak - behold 14 generations from the sealing of the Talmud until the death of Rav Yosef HaLevi].