Rabbeinu Gershom was one of the first great leaders of the Jews
of France and Germany. It is believed that he was born in Metz,
Lorraine (now in northeastern France). However, he lived in
Mainz, Germany. It is not clear precisely when or why he moved
to Mainz. However, according to what appears to be a reliable
tradition, he may have gone to Mainz to join his friend Rabbi
Shimon b. Yitzchak (Simeon son of Isaac), who is also known as
Rabbi Shimon HaGadol (Simeon the Great). In Mainz, Rabbi Gershom
studied under Rabbi Yehudah (Judah) b. Meir Leontin.| After the
death of Rabbi Leontin, Rabbi Gershom became the head of the
yeshiva (Talmudic academy) of Mainz. His fame grew and he
attracted students from throughout Europe. At this time the
Jewish communities of Western Europe, outside of Spain, were
still fairly young. Rabbi Gershom and his students formed the
beginning of what would be a great flowering of Torah study in
the regions of France and Germany.The great French sage Rabbi
Shlomo Yitzchaki (c. 1040-1105