Yaakov Yehoshua ben Tzvi Hirsch
Encyclopedia
Jacob Joshua Falk (also: Yaakov Yehoshua ben Tzvi Hirsch, or Yaakov Yehoshua Falk - see Note on the name "Joshua Falk".)
1680 - January 16, 1756) was a Polish and German rabbi
and Talmud
ist.
b. Yosef of Cracow, the author of Maginne Shelomoh. While a youth he became examiner of the Hebrew teachers of Lemberg. In 1702 his wife, his child, and his mother were killed through an explosion of gunpowder that wrecked the house in which they lived. Yaakov Yehoshia himself narrowly escaped death.
, small Galician towns. In 1717 he replaced Rabbi Tzvi Ashkenazi
in the chief rabbinate of Lemberg; and thence he was called to Berlin
in 1731.
Having displeased Veitel-Heine Ephraim
, one of the most influential leaders of the community, by rendering a judgment against him, he was compelled at the expiration of his term of office (1734) to resign. After having been for seven years rabbi of Metz
he became chief rabbi of Frankfort-on-the-Main; but the unfavorable attitude of the local authorities toward the Jews, and the fact that the community was divided by controversies, made his position there very precarious.
and Yonatan Eybeschütz
broke out. The chief rabbi, because of his opposition to Eybeschütz, was ultimately compelled to leave the city (1750). He wandered from town to town until he came to Worms
, where he remained for some years. He was then called back to Frankfurt; but his enemies prevented him from preaching in the synagogue, and he left the city a second time.
, and it remains an important book in the study of Talmud.
He wrote Pene Yehoshua
in four parts. Two of them were published in Frankfurt am Main (1752); the third, with his Pesak bet-Din Chadash, at Fürth
(1766); the fourth, which, in addition to Talmudic novellae, contains novellae on the Tur
Choshen Mishpat
and Likkutim, also in Fürth
(1780). He wrote also a commentary on the Pentateuch, which is mentioned by the author himself, but has not appeared in print.
1680 - January 16, 1756) was a Polish and German rabbi
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...
and 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....
ist.
Early life
He was born in Cracow in 1680 and died in Offenbach am Main in 1756. On his mother's side he was a grandson of Rabbi Yehoshua HeschelJoshua Höschel ben Joseph
Joshua Höschel ben Joseph was a Polish rabbi born in Vilnius, Lithuania about 1578 and died in Cracow on August 16, 1648. In his boyhood, he journeyed to Przemyśl, Red Ruthenia, to study the Talmud under Rabbi Samuel ben Phoebus of Cracow. He returned to his native country, and continued his...
b. Yosef of Cracow, the author of Maginne Shelomoh. While a youth he became examiner of the Hebrew teachers of Lemberg. In 1702 his wife, his child, and his mother were killed through an explosion of gunpowder that wrecked the house in which they lived. Yaakov Yehoshia himself narrowly escaped death.
Rabbinate
He was then called to the rabbinate of Tarli and LiskoLesko
Lesko ; is a town in south-eastern Poland with a population of 5,755 . situated in the Bieszczady mountains. It is located in the heartland of the Doły , and its average altitude is above sea level, although there are some hills located within the confines of the city...
, small Galician towns. In 1717 he replaced Rabbi Tzvi Ashkenazi
Tzvi Ashkenazi
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch ben Yaakov Ashkenazi , known as the Chacham Tzvi , for some time rabbi of Amsterdam, was a resolute opponent of the followers of the false messiah, Sabbatai Zevi. He had a chequered career, owing to his independence of character...
in the chief rabbinate of Lemberg; and thence he was called to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1731.
Having displeased Veitel-Heine Ephraim
Veitel-Heine Ephraim
Veitel-Heine Ephraim was Jeweller to the Prussian Court and Mint Master under the Prussian Kings Frederick William I and Frederick the Great....
, one of the most influential leaders of the community, by rendering a judgment against him, he was compelled at the expiration of his term of office (1734) to resign. After having been for seven years rabbi of Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
he became chief rabbi of Frankfort-on-the-Main; but the unfavorable attitude of the local authorities toward the Jews, and the fact that the community was divided by controversies, made his position there very precarious.
Emden-Eybeschutz dispute
Soon afterward, the quarrel between Rabbis Yaakov EmdenJacob Emden
Jacob Emden also known as Ya'avetz, , was a leading German rabbi and talmudist who championed Orthodox Judaism in the face of the growing influence of the Sabbatean movement...
and Yonatan Eybeschütz
Jonathan Eybeschutz
Jonathan Eybeschutz , was a Talmudist, Halachist, Kabbalist, holding positions as Dayan of Prague, and later as Rabbi of the "Three Communities": Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek. With Jacob Emden, he is well known as a protagonist in the Emden-Eybeschütz Controversy.-Biography:Eybeschütz's father was...
broke out. The chief rabbi, because of his opposition to Eybeschütz, was ultimately compelled to leave the city (1750). He wandered from town to town until he came to Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
, where he remained for some years. He was then called back to Frankfurt; but his enemies prevented him from preaching in the synagogue, and he left the city a second time.
Author of Pene Yehoshua
Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua was one of the greatest Talmudists of his time and his book of commentary and novellae on the Talmud, Pene Yehoshua, is one of the classic works of the era of AcharonimAcharonim
Acharonim is a term used in Jewish law and history, to signify the leading rabbis and poskim living from roughly the 16th century to the present....
, and it remains an important book in the study of Talmud.
He wrote Pene Yehoshua
Pene Yehoshua
Pene Yehoshua is the name of four different works of Rabbinic literature:*Homilies in the order of the parashas by Rabbi Yehoshua Falk ben Alexander HaCohen Katz, 1742*Responsa by Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel ben Yosef, 1715...
in four parts. Two of them were published in Frankfurt am Main (1752); the third, with his Pesak bet-Din Chadash, at Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
(1766); the fourth, which, in addition to Talmudic novellae, contains novellae on the Tur
Arba'ah Turim
Arba'ah Turim , often called simply the Tur, is an important Halakhic code, composed by Yaakov ben Asher...
Choshen Mishpat
Choshen Mishpat
Choshen Mishpat is the Hebrew for "Breastplate of Judgement". The term is associated with one of the four sections of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of halakha , Arba'ah Turim. This section treats aspects of Jewish law pertinent to finance, torts, legal procedure and loans and interest in...
and Likkutim, also in Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
(1780). He wrote also a commentary on the Pentateuch, which is mentioned by the author himself, but has not appeared in print.