Rabbi Yisrael Isserlin - The Terumas Hadeshen

Rabbi Israel Isserlin ben Petahiah (1390-1460) was a Talmudist, and Halakhist, best known for his Terumat HaDeshen, which served as one source for HaMapah, the component of the Shulkhan Arukh by Moses Isserles.

Biography

Rabbi Isserlin was born in Regensburg, Germany in 1390. He was forced to flee first to Italy and ultimately to Austria, where he settled in Wiener Neustadt and in Maribor, Slovenia. Among his teachers was Yaakov Moelin (the Maharil). He was Rosh yeshiva there, and his fame attracted many students. His learning emphasised the study of the Rishonim. He is frequently cited by his student, the Mahari Bruna as well as by Moses Isserles. He died in 1460.

Works

Terumat HaDeshen is written as 354 responsa. Note that Rabbi Shabbatai ha-Kohen comments in his famous commentary on Shulchan Aruch, the Shach, on Yoreh De'ah 196:20, that there is a tradition that Rabbi Isserlin was not answering questions posed to him in the Terumat HaDeshen, rather he actually wrote the questions and answers himself. Therefore, Shach concludes, in contrast with other responsa, the parameters of the questions posed in the Terumat HaDeshen are themselves binding when alluded to in the answer.

The work is named for the practice in the Temple in Jerusalem of removing a part of the previous day's ashes from the furnace - 354 is the numerical value of Deshen (Hebrew: דשן). Terumat HaDeshen serves as an important source of the practices of the Ashkenazi Jews. The work was therefore used by Moses Isserles as one basis for HaMapah - the component of the Shulkhan Arukh which specifies divergences between Sephardi and Ashkenazi practice.

Rabbi Isserlin also wrote Pesakim u-kethahim (267 decisions) largely on points of the marriage law.

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ISSERLEIN (ISSERLIN), ISRAEL BEN PETHAHIAH ASHKENAZI:

The foremost Talmudic authority of Germany in the first half of the fifteenth century; born in the last decade of the fourteenth century, probably at Ratisbon; died at Neustadt, near Vienna, 1460. Isserlein belonged to an old family of scholars: his great-grandfather on his father's side was Israel of Krems, author of the "Haggahot Asheri"; and his maternal uncle was the martyr Aaron Blumlein. The latter was Isserlein's principal teacher, Isserlein, after his father's death at Ratisbon, having accompanied his mother to Neustadt, where Aaron Blumlein conducted a yeshivah.

Isserlein also studied with a certain Nathan, who is likewise known as an eminent Talmudist. In consequence of the persecution of the Jews at Neustadt, of which his mother and uncle were victims (March 12, 1421), Isserlein seems to have left Austria and gone to Italy; later he settled at Marburg, Styria, wherefore he is often called "Israel of Marburg." After a lengthy sojourn in that city he returned (before 1445) to Neustadt, where he remained until his death.

His Activity at Neustadt.

Neustadt owed its reputation of being the foremost seat of Jewish scholarship in Austria in no small degree to Isserlein's activity. Hundreds of eager students went there in order to sit at the feet of the great rabbi; and his opinions on difficult or doubtful questions of religious or civil law were sought far and wide. His chief service as a teacher of the Talmud and of rabbinical literature was his endeavor to revive the study of the original sources. In the century preceding him Talmudic lore in Germany had declined to such an extent that even the so called scholars gave their attention almost exclusively to the codices of the Law, neglecting the study of the Talmud and of the old authorities. Isserlein's efforts brought him into frequent conflict with the older rabbis. Thus he took the part of two young Talmudists who desired to open a school in Neustadt but were opposed by Meisterlein the representative of the old school, because he did not favor the study of the Rishonim, whose teachings, he said, had only a theoretic value.

Isserlein cared little for the opinions of the later codifiers, or even for the authority of the Ṭurim, as against the decisions of the Geonim. He was exceedingly modest, however, and, although recognized as a great Talmudist, would not allow himself to be addressed as "Morenu" when called to the reading of the Torah. He was also remarkably obliging: although subject to the gout and troubled with an affection of the eyes, he insisted, even when sick, on dictating responsa to the many questions addressed to him.

His Works.

The following two works by Isserlein have been printed:

(1) "Terumat ha-Deshen" (Venice, 1519), consisting of 354 (a number corresponding to the numerical value of and to the days of the lunar year) decisions in the form of responsa on synagogal, ritual, and legal subjects; and

(2) "Pesaḳim u-Ketabim," containing 267 responsa, of which nearly one-third deal with the various rules regarding the marriage laws. The first work was edited by Isserlein himself; the material for the second was collected and edited after his death by one of his pupils. Many of his responsa are found also in the responsa collections of MaHaRiSh, Israel Bruna, and Jacob Weil; and others are still in manuscript.

The manuscript of his supercommentary to Rashi's commentary on the Pentateuch is still extant, while his "She'arim," on things permitted and those prohibited, which Moses Isserles used, has been preserved in fragments only; extracts from it are included in the Basel edition of the "Sha'are Dura" (1547). A "Seder ha-Geṭ" by Isserlein, which is mentioned by some authorities, is perhaps the basis of the form of divorce given in Moses Minz's responsum No. 123. Three of Isserlein's liturgic pieces show him to have been a man of much talent, but not a poet.

Isserlein's responsa were highly important for the religious life of the German-Polish Jews. What Joseph Caro neglected in the Shulḥan 'Aruk, Moses Isserles supplied in his notes; and Isserles often cites opinions of Isserlein's to which Caro had paid little attention. Even Solomon Luria, who as a rule was very independent in his views, considered Isserlein's opinions as authoritative. He said: "Do not deviate from his words; for he was great and eminent" ("Yamshel Shelomoh" to Giṭ. iv. 24).

As a Legal Authority.

It is difficult to characterize Isserlein's standpoint in his many decisions, which cover almost the entire religious and social life. He was, on the whole, inclined to a rigorous interpretation of the Law, excepting in the case of an 'Agunah; he always endeavored to facilitate the woman's remarriage. His severe views were due chiefly to his own asceticism; for, being himself accustomed to self-denial, he saw no special hardship in a decision that curtailed any of the joys of life. He spoke very bitterly, however, against those who out of mere professional envy, and in order that the views of others might not prevail, placed a stricter interpretation on the laws. Isserlein was opposed to severe punishments, and decided that the way ought to be made easy for the return of a penitent to Judaism, and that he should not be discouraged by the necessity of a too rigorous atonement; for he maintained that a return to Judaism involved a denial of three kinds of pleasure, and entailed a large amount of suffering which should be counted to the credit of the penitent.

In many cases Isserlein's decisions are true reflections of German Talmudism in the fifteenth century, with all its strong and its weak points. Thus he could hardly make up his mind to observe the comet in 1456, because, according to the opinion of an old codifier, star-gazing was one of the practises of magic forbidden in the Bible. Nevertheless he permitted a sick person to consult a magician, if the latter did not belong in the category of the magicians forbidden in the Pentateuch.

Isserlein's works are most valuable for the study of Jewish history in the Middle Ages on account of the rich material they contain regarding the civilization of that period.

Isserlein is a pet name for Israel.

Read more: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=365&letter=I#ixzz0...

Rabbi Israel Isserlin ben Petahiah (1390-1460) was a Talmudist, and Halakhist, best known for his Terumat HaDeshen, which served as one source for HaMapah, the component of the Shulkhan Arukh by Moses Isserles.

Biography

Rabbi Isserlin was born in Regensburg, Germany in 1390. He was forced to flee first to Italy and ultimately to Austria, where he settled in Wiener Neustadt and in Maribor. Among his teachers was Yaakov Moelin (the Maharil). He was Rosh yeshiva there, and his fame attracted many students. His learning emphasised the study of the Rishonim. He is frequently cited by his student, the Mahari Bruna as well as by Moses Isserles. He died in 1460.

Works

Terumat HaDeshen is written as 354 responsa. Note that Rabbi Shabbatai ha-Kohen comments in his famous commentary on Shulchan Aruch, the Shach, on Yoreh De'ah 196:20, that there is a tradition that Rabbi Isserlin was not answering questions posed to him in the Terumat HaDeshen, rather he actually wrote the questions and answers himself. The comment of the Shach implies that since the Terumat HaDeshen was not based on actual practical questions, when he argues with other authorities we may rule against decisions of the Terumat HaDeshen.

The work is named for the practice in the Temple in Jerusalem of removing a part of the previous day's ashes from the furnace - 354 is the numerical value of Deshen. Terumat HaDeshen serves as an important source of the practices of the Ashkenazi Jews. The work was therefore used by Moses Isserles as one basis for HaMapah - the component of the Shulkhan Arukh which specifies divergences between Sephardi and Ashkenazi practice.

Rabbi Isserlin also wrote Pesakim u-kethahim (267 decisions) largely on points of the marriage law.

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Israel Isserlin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rabbi Israel Isserlin ben Petahiah (1390-1460) was a Talmudist, and Halakhist, best known for his Terumat HaDeshen, which served as one source for HaMapah, the component of the Shulkhan Arukh by Moses Isserles.

Biography

Rabbi Isserlin was born in Regensburg, Germany in 1390. He was forced to flee first to Italy and ultimately to Austria, where he settled in Wiener Neustadt and in Maribor. Among his teachers was Yaakov Moelin (the Maharil). He was Rosh yeshiva there, and his fame attracted many students. His learning emphasised the study of the Rishonim. He is frequently cited by his student, the Mahari Bruna as well as by Moses Isserles. He died in 1460.

Works

Terumat HaDeshen is written as 354 responsa. Note that Rabbi Shabbatai ha-Kohen comments in his famous commentary on Shulchan Aruch, the Shach, on Yoreh De'ah 196:20, that there is a tradition that Rabbi Isserlin was not answering questions posed to him in the Terumat HaDeshen, rather he actually wrote the questions and answers himself. The comment of the Shach implies that since the Terumat HaDeshen was not based on actual practical questions, when he argues with other authorities we may rule against decisions of the Terumat HaDeshen.

The work is named for the practice in the Temple in Jerusalem of removing a part of the previous day's ashes from the furnace - 354 is the numerical value of Deshen. Terumat HaDeshen serves as an important source of the practices of the Ashkenazi Jews. The work was therefore used by Moses Isserles as one basis for HaMapah - the component of the Shulkhan Arukh which specifies divergences between Sephardi and Ashkenazi practice.

Rabbi Isserlin also wrote Pesakim u-kethahim (267 decisions) largely on points of the marriage law.

Askenazi

ר' ישראל איסרלין (מהרא"י) חי באשכנז במאה החמש עשרה. היה מגדולי הפוסקים וגדול הדור באשכנז. חיבר את הספר "תרומת הדשן". 1380-1460.

ר' ישראל איסרלין, מהרי"א או מהרא"י, נולד סמוך לשנת 1390. נתחנך בבית דודו ר' אהרן פלומל. למד גם אצל ר' עוזר משלזיה, שהיה תלמיד תלידו של מהר"ם מרוטנבורג. שימש ברבנות בעיר מרבורג, משם עבר לנוישטט ליד וינה. שם ניהל ישיבה גדולה, ונהג ברבנות עד פטירתו בשנת 1460 לערך.

הוכר על ידי חכמי דורו כבר סמכא בענייני דת ודין, ופנו אליו בכל עניין הנוגע לכלל. התנהג בחסידות, ולא נטל שכר רבנו מעדתו. תלמידו ר' יוסף בר' משה, רשם את מנהגיו והוראותיו של ר' ישראל כפי שראהו נוהג וכפי שמצא בכתביו בספר "לקט יושר".

ספרו העיקרי: תרומת הדשן, ועל שמו נקרא "בעל תרומת הדשן". בספר 354 תשובות (כמניין "דשן"). לספר נספח חלק שני "פסקים וכתבים", המכיל 267 תשובות וספקים שנסדרו על ידי אחד מתלמידיו.

גדולי הפוסקים במדינות שונות החשיבו מאוד את ספריו. ר' שלמה לוריא, מהרש"ל, כתב עליו כי היה גדול ומופלא בימיו, ואין לסור מדבריו ימין ושמאל. ר' יוסף טאיטאצק מגדולי טורקיה מעמיד את תרומת הדשן בשורה אחת עם תשובות הראש.

מן הספר "לקט יושר" לר' יוסף בר' משה, תלמידו של ר' ישראל איסרלין, שרשם את הנהגותיו וארחות חייו של רבו, עולה לפנינו דמותו של רא"י והיא דמות נעלה של חסיד מחסידי אשכנז, בעל נטיות אסקטיות ומיסטיות, המחונן ברגש פיוטי ובזיקה עמוקה לקבלה ולדרוש, לתפלה ולניגון.

מהרא"י חי בדור של מקדשי השם. עלילות וגזירות, גרושי קהילות שלמות ומיתות על קידוש השם היו אז מן הדברים המצויים.

בהיותו כבן שלושים, בשנת 1421, אירע המעשה הנורא הידוע בתולדות המרטירולוגיה היהודית בשם "גזרת ווינה" (י' סיון ק"ף - ט ניסן קפ"א), שבה נשחטו ונשרפו על קידוש השם כארבע מאות יהודים ובתוכם אמו ואחי-אמו ר' אהרן פלומל (בלומלין), מאורע שנחרת עמוק בנפשו של מהרא"י ושהיה נוהג לספר עליו לתלמידיו.

בזקנותו אירע המעשה הנורא בברסלאו, שבשל עלילת חילול לחם-הקודש, בהשפעת הטפותיו ועלילותיו של יוהן קפיסטראנו, נשרפו חיים על קידוש 41 יהודים (בכ"ז תמוז רי"ג - 4 ליולי 1453).

לעת זקנתו מתה עליו בתו בקטנותה.