Moses ben Menahem Graf, M'Prague

R. Moses b. Menahem Graf (also known as Moses Praeger; (1650–1700/1710), kabbalist born in Prague. After the conflagration in the Prague ghetto (1689), Moses moved to Nikolsburg (Mikulov), where he studied under the kabbalist R. Eliezer Mendel b. Mordecai(Eliezer Mendel Benet). He was given lodging and support by David ben Abraham Oppenheim (1664 - 1736 ), who, like Samson Wertheimer of Vienna, encouraged the publication of his writings.

Leaving Nikolsburg, Moses attempted to settle in various European cities, reaching Fuerth in 1696 and Dessau in 1698. It is not certain whether he died there or whether he returned to Prague in his later years.

Moses' published works include: Zera Kodesh, a kabbalistic work with an appendix describing the exorcism of a dibbuk in Nikolsburg (Fuerth, 1696); a second edition, without the dibbuk story, was published by Simeon b. David Abiob of Hebron, together with his Bat Melekh (Venice, 1712; reprinted Munkacz, 1893). Source

Nikolsburg

Moses b. Joseph Austerlitz, a scholar and promoter of Jewish learning; lived in Vienna, but when the Jews were expelled from that city and from Lower Austria (1669), he removed to Nikolsburg, Moravia. His house was the resort of scholars, especially after the fire of Prague in 1689. Thus he helped to support the cabalist Moses ben Menahem Graf, author of Wa-Yaḳhel Mosheh (And Moses Gathered); Judah b. Nisim, author of Bet Yehudah (The House of Judah); and Isaac Zoref, author of M'ozene Ẓedeḳ (Just Scales), all of whom speak highly of him.

Bibliography: Kaufmann, Die Letzte Vertreibung der Juden aus Wien, Vienna, 1889; Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. col. 772; Hock, Die Familien Prag's, ed. D. Kaufmann, Presburg, 1892. Austerlitz Family

Publications

Moses' published works include: Zera Kodesh and Va-Yakhel Moshe, a kabbalistic discussion of various portions of the Zohar and of the Adam de-Azilut, with a special commentary on the latter concept entitled Masveh Moshe, introduced and annotated by Samuel b. Solomon Kohen, cantor in Brody (Dessau, 1699). Source 1 , Source 2       

• The Seventeenth Century Hebrew Books Read Summary
• Hebrew Books
• Hebrew Books
• Moses ben Menahem Graf Seforim First published 1698 contemporary of David ben Abraham Oppenheim 1664 - 1736
• Moses Praeger aka Moses ben Menahem Graf Seforim

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==FAMILY==

Seeking to find suggestions for family connections----possibly the Praeger (Porges) family? ie.

• Moses ben Israel Praeger (Porges) 1650
• Rabbi Moses ben Israel Porges Geni