Kad HaKemach by Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher: what it is and structure
Kad HaKemach (כד הקמח), “The Jar of Flour,” is a book of mussar by Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher that describes how to live a moral life. It consists of sixty chapters and deals with subjects such as faith in G-d and the commandments of Judaism.
Quick facts
| Title | Kad HaKemach (“The Jar of Flour”) |
| Author | Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher (1255–1340), of Zaragoza |
| Written | Between 1290 and 1340, in Zaragoza (dates from Sefaria) |
| Structure | Sixty chapters, arranged alphabetically by topic |
| First printing | Constantinople, 1515 |
| Genre | Jewish ethics (mussar) combined with philosophy |
Structure
The sixty chapters are arranged alphabetically according to the Hebrew word that gives each topic its title. The first ones that Sefaria lists are: faith, love, guests, mourning, trust, blessing, the synagogue, theft, arrogance, the convert, redemption, laws, submission and providence. The book thus deals with ethics, faith, prayer and Jewish law, and combines mussar with philosophy.
The title and its author
Rabbeinu Bachya was a disciple of the Rashba, a darshan (preacher) in Zaragoza, and also the author of a well-known Torah commentary: see his biography. He should not be confused with Bachya ibn Paquda, author of Chovot HaLevavot: see the guide to that work.
Printing
It was first printed in Constantinople in 1515.
Frequently asked questions
What does Kad HaKemach mean?
“The jar of flour.”
How is it organized?
In sixty chapters, in alphabetical order of the topics.
Is it the same as Rabbeinu Bachya’s Torah commentary?
No: they are two different works by the same author.
Sources
- Kad HaKemach, entry on Sefaria (description, dates, list of chapters)
- Biography of Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher on this site