Eleazar of Worms (אלעזר מוורמייזא - also מגרמייזא of Garmiza or Garmisa) (c. 1176–1238), or Eleazar ben Judah ben Kalonymus, also sometimes known today as Eleazar Rokeach ("Eleazar the Perfumer" אלעזר רקח) from the title of his Book of the Perfumer (Sefer ha rokeah ספר הרקח)—where the numerical value of "Perfumer" (in Hebrew) is equal to Eleazar, was a leading Talmudist and Kabbalist,[1] and the last major member of the Hasidei Ashkenaz, a group of German Jewishpietists.
Eleazar was most likely born in Mainz. Through his father Judah ben Kalonymus, he was a descendant of the great Kalonymus family of Mainz. Eleazar was also a disciple of Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg (Judah he-Hasid),[1][2] who initiated him into the study of the Kabbalah, at that time little known in Germany. According to Zunz, Eleazar was hazzan at Erfurt before he became rabbi at Worms. In 1233 he took part in the Synod of Mainz which enacted the body of regulations known as "Takkanot Shum" (ShUM = "Speyer, Worms, Mainz"),[1] of which he was a signatory.
Massacre of the Jews of Metz during the First Crusade, by Auguste Migette.
According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, Eleazar underwent great sufferings during the Crusades. The Jewish Encyclopedia states that on the night of 22 Kislev, 1196, he was engaged in his commentary on Genesis (Eleazar relates that he had reached the parashahVayeshev), when two Crusaders entered his house and killed his wife Dulca (Dolce), his two daughters Belet (Belette) and Hannah, and wounded him and his son Jacob who did not escape. His wife had conducted a business in parchment scrolls in order to support the family and enable him to devote all his time to study.[1] Many of the piyyutim he authored protest at Israel's suffering and hope for redemption and revenge against her tormentors. He also recorded the deaths of his family in a moving and poetic eulogy.
Eleazar developed a vigorous activity in many directions. On the one hand, he was a Talmudist of vast erudition, a liturgist gifted with a clear and easy style, and an astronomer, and was well versed in the sciences open to the Jews of Germany at that time. At the same time, he was an adventurous mystic who experienced visions, seeing legions of angels and demons. He exerted himself to spread mystical systems which went far beyond the conceptions of the classical authors of Jewish esoterica. In his mystical works he developed and gave a new impulse to the mysticism associated with the letters of the alphabet. By the gematria and notarikon systems of interpretation found in the Talmud, Eleazar invented new combinations by which miracles could be performed. The haggadicanthropomorphism which he had combated in his earlier works (Ha-Roḳeaḥ,Sha'are ha-Sod weha-Yiḥud) occupied later the foremost place in his mystical writings. Eleazar's great merit therefore lies not only in his new mystical system, but also in his ethical works. In these he shows greatness of soul and a piety bordering upon asceticism. Though so severely tried by fate, he inculcates cheerfulness, patience, and love for humanity. He died at Worms in 1238.[1]
Ethical worksEdit
Ha-Roḳeaḥ, ("The Perfumer"), a halachic guide to ethics and Jewish Law for the common reader. The title derives from the numerical value of the word רקח, which corresponds to that of אלעזר. The book is divided into 497 paragraphs containing halachot and ethics; first published at Fano, 1505.[3]
Adderet ha-Shem, still extant in manuscript in the Vatican Library.
Moreh Ḥaṭṭa'im, or Seder ha-Kapparot, on penitence and confession of sin, first published at Venice, 1543. This work, which is included in the Hilkot Teshubah of the Ha-Roḳeaḥ, has been reproduced many times under various titles. It appeared under the title Darke Teshubah at the end of the responsa of Meir of Rothenburg in the Prague edition;[4] as Inyane Teshubah, or Seder Teshubah, in the Sephardic ritual of 1584; as Yesod Teshubah, with additions by Isaac ben Moses Elles, first published in 1583; as Yore Ḥaṭṭa'im ba-Derek; and as Sefer ha-Kapparot. The title adopted here is the same as that given in the Kol Bo, in which the work was reproduced.
Sefer ha-Ḥayyim, treating of the unity of God, of the soul and its attributes, and of the three stages (recognized by the ancients as "plant, animal, and intellectual") in man's life.
Kether Shem Tov. The Crown Of The Good Name, by Avraham ben Alexander of Cologne, disciple of Eleazar Ben Yehudah of Worms: Ethical-Kabbalist book.[5]
Pietistic worksEdit
Yir'at El, still extant in manuscript in the Vatican Library, containing mystical commentaries on Psalm 67, on the Menorah, and on Sefirat ha-Omer. In 2001 this work was published as part of the book דרוש המלבוש והצמצום.[6]
Sefer ha-Kabod, mystical explanations of various Biblical passages (Neubauer, Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS. No. 1566, 1).
Perush 'al Sefer Yeẓirah, a commentary on the Sefer Yetzirah, being extracts from Shabbethai Donnolo's commentary. Fragments of this work were first published at Mantua in 1562, later in several other places; a complete edition was printed at Przemysl, 1883.[9]
Midrash we-Perush 'al ha-Torah, mystical commentary on the Pentateuch, mentioned by Azulai, recently printed by klugman.
Sha'are Binah, in which, interpreting Biblical verses by the system of gemaṭriyyot, he shows the origin of many haggadot of the Talmud. This work is frequently quoted by Solomon al-Ḳabiẓ, in his Manot ha-Lewi.
Shi'ur Komah, a commentary on the Shi'ur Komah, the Pirḳe de-Rabbi Yishma'el, and the Merkabah (MS. Michael).
Sefer ha-Ḥokmah, mystical treatise on the various names of God and of angels, and on the seventy-three "Gates of the Torah", שערי תורה.
Sefer ha-Shem, mystical dissertations on the names of twenty-two letters, with a table of permutations (Neubauer, ib. No. 1569, 4).
Eser Shemot, commentary on the ten names of God (MS. Michael, No. 175).
Six small cabalistic treatises entitled Sod ha-Ziwwug,Sefer ha-Ne'elam,Sefer Mal'akim,Sefer Tagim,Sefer Pesaḳ, and Sefer ha-Ḳolot, all of which are still extant in manuscript (Neubauer, ib. No. 1566).
Sode Raza, a treatise on the mysteries of the "Merkabah." Part of this work was published at Amsterdam in 1701, under the title Sefer Razi'el ha-Gadol. In the introduction[10] the editor says that he decided to publish this book after having seen that the greater part of it had been produced in French under the title Images des Lettres de l'Alphabet.[1]
^ abcdefgh One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Eleazar ben Judah ben Kalonymus of Worms". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. Retrieved Jan 11, 2017. Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography:
^ספר מצרף לחכמה (in Hebrew). Retrieved Jan 11, 2017.
^פי' הר"א מגרמיזא על ספר יצירה (in Hebrew). Retrieved Jan 11, 2017.
^הקדמה דבעל המגיהה (in Hebrew). Retrieved Jan 11, 2017.
October 20, 2023
eleazar, worms, jewish, tanna, generation, tannaic, eleazar, judah, bartota, אלעזר, מוורמייזא, also, מגרמייזא, garmiza, garmisa, 1176, 1238, eleazar, judah, kalonymus, also, sometimes, known, today, eleazar, rokeach, eleazar, perfumer, אלעזר, רקח, from, title,. For the Jewish Tanna of the 3rd generation of the Tannaic era see Eleazar ben Judah of Bartota Eleazar of Worms אלעזר מוורמייזא also מגרמייזא of Garmiza or Garmisa c 1176 1238 or Eleazar ben Judah ben Kalonymus also sometimes known today as Eleazar Rokeach Eleazar the Perfumer אלעזר רקח from the title of his Book of the Perfumer Sefer ha rokeah ספר הרקח where the numerical value of Perfumer in Hebrew is equal to Eleazar was a leading Talmudist and Kabbalist 1 and the last major member of the Hasidei Ashkenaz a group of German Jewish pietists Eleazar ben Judah ben KalonymusPersonalBornc 1176probably Mainz Electorate of MainzDied1238Worms Holy Roman EmpireReligionJudaismSpouseDulcea of Worms Contents 1 Biography 2 Ethical works 3 Pietistic works 4 SourcesBiography EditEleazar was most likely born in Mainz Through his father Judah ben Kalonymus he was a descendant of the great Kalonymus family of Mainz Eleazar was also a disciple of Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg Judah he Hasid 1 2 who initiated him into the study of the Kabbalah at that time little known in Germany According to Zunz Eleazar was hazzan at Erfurt before he became rabbi at Worms In 1233 he took part in the Synod of Mainz which enacted the body of regulations known as Takkanot Shum ShUM Speyer Worms Mainz 1 of which he was a signatory nbsp Massacre of the Jews of Metz during the First Crusade by Auguste Migette According to the Jewish Encyclopedia Eleazar underwent great sufferings during the Crusades The Jewish Encyclopedia states that on the night of 22 Kislev 1196 he was engaged in his commentary on Genesis Eleazar relates that he had reached the parashah Vayeshev when two Crusaders entered his house and killed his wife Dulca Dolce his two daughters Belet Belette and Hannah and wounded him and his son Jacob who did not escape His wife had conducted a business in parchment scrolls in order to support the family and enable him to devote all his time to study 1 Many of the piyyutim he authored protest at Israel s suffering and hope for redemption and revenge against her tormentors He also recorded the deaths of his family in a moving and poetic eulogy Eleazar developed a vigorous activity in many directions On the one hand he was a Talmudist of vast erudition a liturgist gifted with a clear and easy style and an astronomer and was well versed in the sciences open to the Jews of Germany at that time At the same time he was an adventurous mystic who experienced visions seeing legions of angels and demons He exerted himself to spread mystical systems which went far beyond the conceptions of the classical authors of Jewish esoterica In his mystical works he developed and gave a new impulse to the mysticism associated with the letters of the alphabet By the gematria and notarikon systems of interpretation found in the Talmud Eleazar invented new combinations by which miracles could be performed The haggadic anthropomorphism which he had combated in his earlier works Ha Roḳeaḥ Sha are ha Sod weha Yiḥud occupied later the foremost place in his mystical writings Eleazar s great merit therefore lies not only in his new mystical system but also in his ethical works In these he shows greatness of soul and a piety bordering upon asceticism Though so severely tried by fate he inculcates cheerfulness patience and love for humanity He died at Worms in 1238 1 Ethical works EditHa Roḳeaḥ The Perfumer a halachic guide to ethics and Jewish Law for the common reader The title derives from the numerical value of the word רקח which corresponds to that of אלעזר The book is divided into 497 paragraphs containing halachot and ethics first published at Fano 1505 3 Adderet ha Shem still extant in manuscript in the Vatican Library Moreh Ḥaṭṭa im or Seder ha Kapparot on penitence and confession of sin first published at Venice 1543 This work which is included in the Hilkot Teshubah of the Ha Roḳeaḥ has been reproduced many times under various titles It appeared under the title Darke Teshubah at the end of the responsa of Meir of Rothenburg in the Prague edition 4 as Inyane Teshubah or Seder Teshubah in the Sephardic ritual of 1584 as Yesod Teshubah with additions by Isaac ben Moses Elles first published in 1583 as Yore Ḥaṭṭa im ba Derek and as Sefer ha Kapparot The title adopted here is the same as that given in the Kol Bo in which the work was reproduced Sefer ha Ḥayyim treating of the unity of God of the soul and its attributes and of the three stages recognized by the ancients as plant animal and intellectual in man s life Sha are ha Sod ha Yiḥud weha Emunah a treatise on the unity and incorporeality of God combating the anthropomorphism of the Aggadah published by Adolf Jellinek in the Kokabe Yiẓḥaḳ collection xxvii 1 Kether Shem Tov The Crown Of The Good Name by Avraham ben Alexander of Cologne disciple of Eleazar Ben Yehudah of Worms Ethical Kabbalist book 5 Pietistic works EditYir at El still extant in manuscript in the Vatican Library containing mystical commentaries on Psalm 67 on the Menorah and on Sefirat ha Omer In 2001 this work was published as part of the book דרוש המלבוש והצמצום 6 Sefer ha Kabod mystical explanations of various Biblical passages Neubauer Cat Bodl Hebr MSS No 1566 1 Yayin ha Reḳaḥ mystical commentaries on the five Megillot Those on Book of Ruth and the Song of Songs were published at Lublin 1608 7 A commentary on Psalm 145 MS De Rossi No 1138 A commentary on the prayers mentioned by Joseph Solomon Delmedigo in his Maẓref la Ḥokmah p 14b 8 Printed by Hirshler Ta ame we Sodot ha Tefillah Neubauer ib No 1575 Perush al Sefer Yeẓirah a commentary on the Sefer Yetzirah being extracts from Shabbethai Donnolo s commentary Fragments of this work were first published at Mantua in 1562 later in several other places a complete edition was printed at Przemysl 1883 9 Midrash we Perush al ha Torah mystical commentary on the Pentateuch mentioned by Azulai recently printed by klugman Sha are Binah in which interpreting Biblical verses by the system of gemaṭriyyot he shows the origin of many haggadot of the Talmud This work is frequently quoted by Solomon al Ḳabiẓ in his Manot ha Lewi Shi ur Komah a commentary on the Shi ur Komah the Pirḳe de Rabbi Yishma el and the Merkabah MS Michael Sefer ha Ḥokmah mystical treatise on the various names of God and of angels and on the seventy three Gates of the Torah שערי תורה Sefer ha Shem mystical dissertations on the names of twenty two letters with a table of permutations Neubauer ib No 1569 4 Eser Shemot commentary on the ten names of God MS Michael No 175 A commentary on the piyyuṭ Ha Oḥez Six small cabalistic treatises entitled Sod ha Ziwwug Sefer ha Ne elam Sefer Mal akim Sefer Tagim Sefer Pesaḳ and Sefer ha Ḳolot all of which are still extant in manuscript Neubauer ib No 1566 Liḳḳuṭim mystical fragments mentioned by Menahem Recanati Sode Raza a treatise on the mysteries of the Merkabah Part of this work was published at Amsterdam in 1701 under the title Sefer Razi el ha Gadol In the introduction 10 the editor says that he decided to publish this book after having seen that the greater part of it had been produced in French under the title Images des Lettres de l Alphabet 1 In addition to these works Eleazar wrote tosafot to many Talmudical treatises referred to by Bezalel Ashkenazi in his Shiṭṭah Meḳubbeẓet a commentary on Sheḳalim in the Jerusalem Talmud cited by Asheri in his commentary to that treatise in the Babylonian Talmud thirty six chapters on the examination of slaughtered animals MS Michael No 307 Zunz enumerates fifty five liturgical poems and dirges composed by Eleazar and occurring in the Ashkenazic maḥzorim ḳinot and seliḥot 1 Sources Edit a b c d e f g h nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Singer Isidore et al eds 1901 1906 Eleazar ben Judah ben Kalonymus of Worms The Jewish Encyclopedia New York Funk amp Wagnalls Retrieved Jan 11 2017 Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography Zacuto Yuḥasin p 221 Zunz Z G p 131 idem Literaturgesch p 318 Heinrich Gratz Gesch vii 29 Steinschneider Cat Bodl col 918 Landshuth Ammude ha Abodah p 25 Epstein in Monatsschrift xxxvii 75 Dukes in Orient Lit 1844 idem Zur Kenntniss der Religiosen Poesie p 148 Ernest Renan Adolf Neubauer Les Rabbins Francais pp 464 et seq Michael Or ha Ḥayyim No 487 Trachtenberg Joshua 2004 Originally published 1939 Jewish Magic and Superstition Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press p 17 ISBN 9780812218626 ספר הרוקח in Hebrew Retrieved Jan 11 2017 דרכ י ת ש ו ב ה PDF in Hebrew Retrieved Jan 11 2017 Providence University Inc ULC ITALIA ISBN 1 897352 02 6 אוצר החכמה יין הרוקח in Hebrew Retrieved Jan 11 2017 ספר מצרף לחכמה in Hebrew Retrieved Jan 11 2017 פי הר א מגרמיזא על ספר יצירה in Hebrew Retrieved Jan 11 2017 הקדמה דבעל המגיהה in Hebrew Retrieved Jan 11 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eleazar of Worms amp oldid 1166766737, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
