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Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz –The
Shaloh (1565-1630)
Rabbi Isaiah, a community leader in Russia, Austria,
Frankfurt, Prague and then Israel, wove together in lucid
and contemporary language the legal, ethical and mystical
dimensions of Torah in his magnum opus, the Shaloh, the first
work to begin applying mysticism to modern life.
Biographical Highlights:
~1565: Born in Prague.
~ His first teacher is his father, R’ Abraham ben Shabse
Sheftel HaLevi, author of many works includingEmek Brochoh,
Chesed Avraham and Bris Avraham.
~ Family moves to Cracow in Poland, then to Lublin where
he studied at the yeshivah of the Maharam.
~ Marries Chaye, daughter of a leading member of the Vienna
Jewish community. Has two sons.
~ Participates in meetings of the Vaad Arba HaArotzos –
Council of the Four Countries - together with
other leading Rabbis.
~ 1600: First Rabbinical post in Dubno.
~ 1602: Appointed head of Beis Din in Austria
~ 1606: Appointed Rabbi of Frankfurt.
~ 1614: Jews expelled from Frankfurt - R’ Horowitz leaves
with the community.
~ 1615: Appointed chief Rabbi of Prague.
~ 1620: Wife passes away.
~ 1621: Moves to Israel. Appointed Rabbi of the Ashkenazic
community in Jerusalem. Marries Chava with whom he has a daughter.
~ 1623: Completes “Shnei Luchot HaBrit” (Two Tablets of the
Covenant), known as the “Shaloh.”
~ 1625: Arrested by local government together with fifteen
leading Rabbis.
~ 1626: Released from prison. Goes to live in Tzfat and Tiberius
in the north of Israel.
~ 1630: Passes away 11th of Nissan. Buried in Tiberius
near the graves of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai and the Rambam.
~ 1648: “Shnei Luchot HaBrit” first published in Amsterdam.
~ 1648-1930: 16 editions of “Shnei Luchot HaBrit “
published.
(Some) Concurrent Events in History:
1580-89: Walter Raleigh establishes first English colony
in North America ~ Decimal fractions introduced to mathematics
by Dutchman, Simon Stevin ~ Francis Drake completes circumnavigation
of the globe ~ First black slaves arrive in America
1590-99: Compound microscope invented, pioneering study of
microorganisms ~ William Shakespeare presents many plays
~ Trading agency, Dutch East India Company formed after Spain
closes spice market to English and Dutch
1600-10: Black Death kills more than 33 000 in London ~ German
astronomer, Johannes Kepler, establishes that planets move
in an inconstant rate of motion along elliptical paths ~ Plot
to blow up English Parliament uncovered - Catholic perpetrators
hanged by Protestant powers.
1610-20: Explorer Henry Hudson disappears after crew mutinies
and strands him at James Bay ~ King
James version of Bible published in England ~ 200-year Romanov
dynasty begins in Russia ~ Pocahontas, daughter of Indian
chief of Powhatans, marries John Rolfe ~ Galileo Galilei arrested
by Catholic Church on charges of heresy.
1620-30: The Mayflower arrives in North America ~ William
Harvey proposes that the heart is a muscle that pumps blood
throughout the body ~ The idiot Mustafa is restored to the
Ottoman throne ~ Dutch purchase Manhattan
Published Writings:
Commentary on Emek Berocho; The Shaloh - Shnei Luchot
HaBrit; Siddur Shaloh - Shaar Hashomayim (Gate of Heaven)
- commentary on the prayer book; Bigdei Yesha; Mitzvat Tefillin;
Commentary on Zohar; Commentary on Tur Shulchan Aruch; Names
of Gittin
Resources in English:
Shnei Luchot HaBrit , Section on Torah portions translated
and annotated by Eliyahu Munk, Jerusalem, 1992
www.kabbalahonline.org - a good, authentic resource.
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