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Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz

Shlomo Ephraim ben Aaron Luntschitz (1550 – 21 February 1619) was a rabbi and Torah commentator, best known for his Torah commentary . He served as the Rabbi of Prague from 1604 to 1619.

Biography

He was born in Łęczyca (also known as Luntschitz) and studied under Solomon Luria in Lublin, and subsequently served as rosh yeshiva (dean) of the yeshiva in Lvov (Lemberg). In 1604 he was appointed rabbi of Prague, a position he filled until his death. In the introduction of his he relates that the name Shlomo was added to his name during life-threatening illness, a common practice in Judaism. One of his students was Aaron Samuel ben Moses Shalom of Kremnitz.

Works

Luntschitz is best remembered for his homiletical work, most prominently (, an allusion to Proverbs 20:15) on the Torah which first appeared in Lublin in 1602. It is still printed in many editions of the Pentateuch and continues to be highly popular.

He composed two penitential prayers in commemoration of the 1611 pogroms that hit Prague on the 2nd of Adar on the Jewish calendar.

In addition he wrote:

  • (, cf. Proverbs 21:22), comprising () and two works of Torah homilies. It was first published in Basel in 1580.
  • (, a reference to Judges 8:2), four volumes of sermons published in Lublin 1590.
  • (, Esther 1:6), sermons (Prague, 1617). Known for its criticism of pilpul.
  • (, also Proverbs 20:15), a continuation of in style and reach, Prague 1610.
  • (, Proberbs 10:17), sermons for and , Lublin 1595.
  • (, Deuteronomy 33:17), not extant but mentioned in the introduction of .

References

Literature

  • Kli Yakar, Bereishis 1: Translated and annotated by Elihu Levine (Menucha Publishers, 2013)
  • Kli Yakar, Zichron Avrohom Edition: The Torah: With the Commentary of Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated
  • Volume 1: Shemos (ArtScroll Mesorah, 2025)
  • Volume 2: Bereishis Veyeitzei – Vayechi (ArtScroll Mesorah, 2025)
  • Leonard S. Levin: Seeing with Both Eyes: Ephraim Luntschitz and the Polish-Jewish Renaissance. Brill, Leiden/Boston 2008, .

External links