Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz
Shlomo Ephraim ben Aaron Luntschitz was a rabbi and Torah commentator, best known for his Torah commentary Keli Yekar. He served as the Rabbi of Prague from 1604 to 1619.
Biography
He was born in Łęczyca and studied under Solomon Luria in Lublin, and subsequently served as rosh yeshiva of the yeshiva in Lvov. In 1604 he was appointed rabbi of Prague, a position he filled until his death. In the introduction of his Keli Yekar 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 Keli Yekar 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:
- Ir Gibborim, comprising Petichot u-Shearim and two works of Torah homilies. It was first published in Basel in 1580.
- Olelot Ephraim, four volumes of sermons published in Lublin 1590.
- Ammudei Shesh, sermons. Known for its criticism of pilpul.
- Siftei Da'at, a continuation of Keli Yekar in style and reach, Prague 1610.
- Orach le-Chayyim, sermons for Shabbat Shuvah and Shabbat ha-Gadol, Lublin 1595.
- Rivevot Efraim, not extant but mentioned in the introduction of Orach le-Chayyim.
Literature
- Kli Yakar, Zichron Avrohom Edition: The Torah: With the Commentary of Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated
- *Volume 1: Shemos
- *Volume 2: Bereishis Veyeitzei – Vayechi
- Leonard S. Levin: Seeing with Both Eyes: Ephraim Luntschitz and the Polish-Jewish Renaissance. Brill, Leiden/Boston 2008,.