Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg

German Jewish mystic (1150–1217)

Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg was a prominent figure in German Jewish mysticism, active during the 12th and 13th centuries. Born around 1150, he played a key role in the development of the Ashkenazi Hasidim movement, a significant strand of Jewish mysticism in medieval Germany. As a leader of this movement, Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg gained recognition and respect among his peers for his spiritual guidance and teachings.

Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg is also known by his Hebrew epithets, Yehuda HeHasid or Judah the Pious, reflecting his revered status within the Jewish community. Throughout his life, he remained committed to the principles of the Ashkenazi Hasidim, shaping the movement's ideology and practices. Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg passed away in 1217, leaving behind a legacy as a pivotal figure in the history of Jewish mysticism in Germany. His contributions to the Ashkenazi Hasidim movement continue to be acknowledged and studied by scholars of Judaism to this day.