Rabbi Isserles - Codifier, Philosopher
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
60 Friday, September 4, 1964
New Year Greetings
NORTHWEST
WINDOW SHADE CO.
15715 Livernois
UN 1-0126
By DR. BLANCHE KATZEN
Rabbi Moses Isserles (the name
means "son . of Israel") was born
in Cracow, Poland in 1520, some
say 1510. His father. Rabbi Israel
Isserles, was one of the richest
Jews in Poland. In 1553, he built,
at his own cost, a splendid syna-
gogue in memory of his wife. His
son, Rabbi Moses, married a sister
of the well-known Rabbi Joseph
Katz. Shortly after his marriage,
he established a Yeshiva in Cracow
and contributed liberally to the
support of needy students.
As spiritual head and research
worker in Jewish law and lore, he
obtained great success. His lucid
dicta became soon undisputed laws
for later generatibns. So strongly
did the rules he had laid down im-
press later generations of Jews,
that they accepted him as an
authority. His name as well as his
titles of his books were replaced
by abbreviations "R'ima." His
printed works contain lucid ex-
planations of biblecal books and
their commentaries, codification of
religious laws, responsa and intri-
cate philosophical material.
His commentaries on the "Songs
of Songs" as well as his Kabbalistic
material have remained unprinted.
HAPPY HOLIDAY
He was extolled by the inscription
on his tombstone — he died on
North-End
Lag B'Omer in 1572 — as well as
by Solomon Luria: "From Moses
Exterminating Co - ..
( Maimonides) to Nloses ( Isserles)
there was none like M o s e s" —
251 Chandler
TR 3-3633
words which were earlier referred
to Maimonides and later to Moses
Mendelssohn's method also.
In his opinion. Kabbalah and
Happy New Year
philosophy must be identical. only
they speak in two languages. Cus-
toms in his opinion must not be
changed or scoffed at. Whenever
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he thought that an inveterate cus-
tom did not harmonize with the
WO 1-7777
824 BAGLEY
law, he attempted to harmonize it
logically.
A Kabbalistic legend tells us
that Rabbi Caro created for him-
Best Wishes for a Happy New Year
self a mystical mentor, Maggid
To All Our Friends "and Patrons
(preacher), who used to prompt
him what to write—One day, the
mentor told him to hasten his
work on the Shulhan Arukh be-
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cause
there was a great Gaon in
Serving' Restaurants, Hospitals and Institutions
Poland who was planning to
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write a Shulhan Arukh himself.
The similar legend is told that
ffl whenever Caro wrote something
down in his chamber in Safed,
Happy New Year
Palestine, Rabbi Isserles had a
.vision of it in Cracow and im-
mediately made his notes of the
passage accordingly. This, of
course. is only a legend. because
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Isserles wrote his work long
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after Caro's Shulhan Arukh had
been known throughout Jewry.
Rabbi Isse;les viewed the world
Season's Best Wishes
with an optimistic eye. His con-
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ception of it is that of paradise
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endowed by the Creator for the
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happiness of mankind. He who is
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able to grasp the scheme of the
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universe can better understand
the Deity. Man must also be able
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to abstain from all evil, to do only
good. Man must understand the '
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idea of the Creator who made him
understand the ways of the exist- '
Holiday Greetings
ing creatures, so that he may
thereby study the mysteries of the
Torah. like King Solomon, who
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Fast of Gedaliah
The day after Rosh Hashanah is
a fast day commemorating the
murder of Gedaliah, governor of
the Jews of Judea, appointed by
Nebuchadnezzer some 2500 years
ago.
Gedaliah ben Akiham was a forth-
right, earnest patriot who was as-
sassinated soon after his appoint-
ment as governor of Judea during
the reign of the wicked Nebucha-
dnezzer. According to the Prophet!
Jeremiah (26:24) Akiham had pro-
tected him.
Gedaliah came of a noble family
and was one of the few which had
not been involved in Zedakiah's
rebellion against the fall of the
L'Hayim in Hebrew
There is a story about a young
lady Visiting Israel for the first
time. who was thrilled by the
experience and full of compli-
ments about the accomplishments
she saw. On the eve of her depart-
ure for home, she wanted to pro- '
pose a toast to her gracious host
and hostess, raised her wine glass,
and suddenly hesitated. Turning
to her host she asked. "You know.
I've forgotten—how do you say
*L'haim' in Hebrew?"
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first Temple in 586 so he was made
governor.
As soon as Gedaliah became gov-
ernor, he attempted to restore the
shattered Jewish community. This
aroused the jealousy of the House
of David and Gedaliah was assassi-
nated by Ishmael ben Nathaniah,
a member of the Jewish royal
house.
Thereupon the larger part of
the Jews, stricken and in utter
despair, leaderless, fled to Egypt
to escape Nebuchadnezzer's reign
of terror.
This was the tragic end of the
First Commonwealth.
The murder of Gedaliah happen.
ed on the third of Tishri and was
decreed a fast day—Tzom Geda-
liah. It is one of the . minor fast
days in the Jewih caleOdar.
•
Season's
Most Cordial Greetipgs
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Greetings on the Holiday'
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New Year Greetings
Happy New Year
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Happy New Year
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Best Wishes to the Community
-------
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Rosenberg and Family Wish Their
Friend and Customers a Year of Health and Happiness
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Happy Holiday Greetings
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GREETINGS •
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