Yahrtzeit of the Maharsha

[Spectator]

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134540

by Hillel Fendel

(IsraelNN.com) Today, on the 5th of Kislev 378 years ago, the author of one of the most widely-studied Talmudic commentaries – known as the Maharsha – passed away in eastern Europe.

Rabbi Eliezer Shmuel HaLevi Idelis wrote a commentary on both the Halakhic [Jewish legal] and Aggadic [homiletical] portions of the Babylonian Talmud. The commentaries appear in the same work, indicating the synthesis and integration of the two types of Torah study. They appear in different size type fonts, however.

Most of the commentary is based on the words of the Tosafists, but often deals with the Talmud itself and Rashi as well. It is printed in the back of nearly all editions of the Talmud, such that it is easily and frequently consulted.

Rabbi Eliezer Shmuel was born in Cracow in 1555 – his mother was a relative of the Maharal of Prague - and was recognized as a child prodigy.  He established a large yeshiva in Posen, supported by his mother-in-law Edel, whose name he took in recognition of her help. When she passed away, he became Rabbi and Yeshiva Head in the Lublin area, and later headed a yeshiva in Ostrog in the western Ukraine, where he died and was buried.

The Maharsha was known for his acts of kindness and open home, and helped promulgate the edict forbidding the purchase of rabbinical positions.

He passed away on the 5th of Kislev in the Jewish year 5392 (1631).