BROOKLYN WEATHER

Living Legacy: The Remah, Rabi Moshe Isserlis, zy”a

Living Legacy: The Remah, Rabi Moshe Isserlis, zy”a

 Although Lag Ba’Omer is dominated by the hillula of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai, anyone with connection to prewar life in Krakow, and in many other towns around Galicia, would immediately associate this awesome day with another great figure in the lore of Am Yisroel; the Remah, whose Torah continues to illuminate our way close to 500 years after his passing, and whose tziyun in the old Jewish cemetery in Krakow they would visit every Lag Ba’omer.

 He was born in the Kazmierz neighborhood of Krakow (where the Jewish community of the city was located for hundreds of years) in the year 1530. His father was Rav Yisroel, and his mother Malka hailed from the Luria family. From a young age, he exhibited a thirst for Torah, and so his father sent him to learn in the yeshiva of Rabi Shalom Shachna of Lublin—from whom he received semicha at the age of thirteen!

 He became Av Beis Din of Krakow, and then he founded a yeshiva. In this capacity of Rosh Yeshiva, his yedi’as haTorah became legendary throughout Poland and beyond. He corresponded extensively in Torah with the Maharshal, Rabi Shlomo Luria, author of Yam Shel Shlomo, who was also his relative.

  Then he began writing his Torah. He would go on to write numerous monumental works, elucidating the Torah of the Rosh, and the Beis Yosef—and his pesakim continue to serve as the guide in halacha for Ashkenazi Jews to this very day. In many instances, he ruled differently than the Beis Yosef, and in the Shulchan Aruch, we see his commentaries interspersed—and this is what we follow in halacha.

 The Remah left this world on Lag Ba’Omer 1572, and since that time his presence has continued to be felt in the city. 

 In the gallery below we witness the great pilgrimage of Polish Jews to the Tziyun on Lag Ba’omer.

 The Remah Shul, in the center of Kazmiersz, continues to be active to this day. It attracts numerous visitors as well—as well as the holy tziyun that stands in the cemetery up the street, where people come to daven and cry, just as Jews have done for close to 500 years.

 

Living Legacy is a glimpse into the lives of the great tzaddikim of yore whose legacy continues to inspire. It is a special project of BoroPark24.com. Comments and suggestions may be emailed to [email protected]

Photo credit Wikipedia


Limited COVID Vaccine Appts Available at Sunday's Drive; Signup Now to Reserve Yours
  • May 1 2021
  • |
  • 7:17 PM

Governor Cuomo Rolls Back Occupancy Restrictions for Dining and other Establishments
  • Apr 30 2021
  • |
  • 8:38 AM

Be in the know

receive BoroPark24’s news & updates on whatsapp

 Start Now