Benjamin Wolf Löw
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Wolf Löw was a Polish-Hungarian rabbi
. He was also known as Binyamin ben Elʻazar, Benjamin Adolf Löw, and . He born in Loslau , Prussia
(now Poland
) and died in Verbó
, Royal Hungary
, Austrian Empire
, (now Slovakia
).
His father, Eleazar Löw, instructed him in Talmud
ic literature, and at an early age he became rabbi of a Polish congregation. In 1812, following his father to Austria
, he became rabbi of Kolín
, Bohemia
. In 1826 he was called as rabbi to Gross-Tapolcsany, Hungary, and in 1836 to Verbo, where he spent the remainder of his life.
His only work was Sha'are Torah
a treatise on the principles of Talmudic law which shows the author's methodical mind and vast knowledge of Talmudic literature. Three parts of the work appeared in print (Vienna
, 1821 and 1850; Sátoralja-Ujhely, 1872), while the 4th part is still in manuscript (as of 1906).
Wolf Löw was twice married; his first wife, from whom he obtained a divorce, was the daughter of Ephraim Zalman Margolioth of Brody
; the second was the daughter of Isaac Landau, rabbi of Auschwitz. Löw's son Jeremiah, rabbi in Sátoralja-Ujhely, was the recognized leader of the Orthodox
party in Hungary and its spokesman in an audience which its deputation obtained with the emperor in order to protest against the establishment of a rabbinical seminary
. He was nevertheless opposed to the secession of the Orthodox from the whole body of Judaism
and therefore refused to take part in a congress planned by the Orthodox. Upon his death in 1872 he was succeeded by his son Eleazar, who was later called to the rabbinate of Unghvar. Other grandsons of Wolf Löw were Abraham and Benjamin Singer, joint authors of Ha-Madrik, a pedagogic anthology of the Talmud. Moses Löb Bloch
was Wolf Löw's nephew and pupil.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. He was also known as Binyamin ben Elʻazar, Benjamin Adolf Löw, and . He born in Loslau , Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
(now Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) and died in Verbó
Vrbové
Vrbové ; ) is a town in the Trnava Region of Slovakia. It has a population of 6,309 as of 2005. The town lies around northwest from Piešťany.- Characteristics :...
, Royal Hungary
Royal Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary between 1538 and 1867 was part of the lands of the Habsburg Monarchy, while outside the Holy Roman Empire.After Battle of Mohács, the country was ruled by two crowned kings . They divided the kingdom in 1538...
, Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, (now Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
).
His father, Eleazar Löw, instructed him in Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic literature, and at an early age he became rabbi of a Polish congregation. In 1812, following his father to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, he became rabbi of Kolín
Kolín
Kolín is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic some east from Prague, lying on the Elbe river.-History:Kolín was founded by king Přemysl Otakar II in the 13th century, first mentioned in 1261. Later on, 1437, a castle was founded here...
, Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. In 1826 he was called as rabbi to Gross-Tapolcsany, Hungary, and in 1836 to Verbo, where he spent the remainder of his life.
His only work was Sha'are Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
a treatise on the principles of Talmudic law which shows the author's methodical mind and vast knowledge of Talmudic literature. Three parts of the work appeared in print (Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, 1821 and 1850; Sátoralja-Ujhely, 1872), while the 4th part is still in manuscript (as of 1906).
Wolf Löw was twice married; his first wife, from whom he obtained a divorce, was the daughter of Ephraim Zalman Margolioth of Brody
Brody
Brody is a city in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Brody Raion , and is located in the valley of the upper Styr River, approximately 90 kilometres northeast of the oblast capital, Lviv...
; the second was the daughter of Isaac Landau, rabbi of Auschwitz. Löw's son Jeremiah, rabbi in Sátoralja-Ujhely, was the recognized leader of the Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
party in Hungary and its spokesman in an audience which its deputation obtained with the emperor in order to protest against the establishment of a rabbinical seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. He was nevertheless opposed to the secession of the Orthodox from the whole body of Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and therefore refused to take part in a congress planned by the Orthodox. Upon his death in 1872 he was succeeded by his son Eleazar, who was later called to the rabbinate of Unghvar. Other grandsons of Wolf Löw were Abraham and Benjamin Singer, joint authors of Ha-Madrik, a pedagogic anthology of the Talmud. Moses Löb Bloch
Moses Löb Bloch
Moses Löb Bloch was a Hungarian rabbi and rector at the Rabbinical Seminary of Budapest.-Life:...
was Wolf Löw's nephew and pupil.