Isserles, Mose Ben-israel

Isserles, Mose ben-Israel a celebrated Polish Rabbi, was born at Cracow in 1520. The son of a very wealthy man, and a relative of the distinguished savan Meir Katzenellenbogen of Padua, he was afforded peculiar advantages for thorough culture. Of these he readily availed himself, and, in consequence, filled very prominent positions at quite an early age. He was distinguished, however, rather for his early acquisitions and extended knowledge than any great natural abilities. He died in 1573. The writings of Isserles are very varied, covering the departments of theological, exegetical, ecclesiastical, and even historical and philosophical literature. In all of these he was perfectly at home. His most important works are סֵ תּוֹרִת הָעוֹלָה, on Sacrifices and other subjects of Jewish Antiquities (Prague, 1569): — מחַיר יִיַן, or Commentary on the Book of Esther (Cremona, 1559, 4to; Amsterd. 1769, 8vo). For a list of all his works, see Fiirst, Biblioth. Jud. 2, 155 sq. See Frainkel, Los. b. — Isräel genannt Mose Isserles, in the Oriental Literaturblatt (1847), c. 827-10; Grätz, Gesch. d. Juden, 9, 472 sq. (J. H. W.)