Rabbi Avigdor HaKohen was the pupil of R.
Simha of Speyer (who flourished about 1220), but he knew also R.
Joel HaLevi of Bonn (who flourished about 1175). Avigdor lived in
Vienna, and from there administered the religious affairs of the Jewish population of Austria. Of his writings, we possess only a commentary on the
Pentateuch and the five
Megillot, which still exist in manuscript. From various sources, we know that he also wrote
Tosafot to the treatise
Ketuvot. The most prominent scholars of Germany often applied to him for advice on difficult ritualistic problems, theoretical or practical, and attached great importance to his decisions. He had also distinguished pupils, among whom was the eminent Rabbi
Meir of Rothenburg. == References ==