Shmuel Eliezer haLevi Eideles, MaHarSha

In appreciation of his mother-in-law's efforts, the Maharsha added the name Eidels to his own name, and from then on called himself Shmuel Eliezer Eidels.

The Maharsha was survived by sons and sons-in-law, all of whom were gedolei Torah. His sons were Rav Meshulam Zalman, Rav Yehuda Leib and Rav Avraham. His sons-in-law were Rav Yitzchak Segal Charif, the av beis din of Lutzk; Rav Moshe ben Rav Yitzchak, the av beis din of Lublin; and Rav Shlomo Shapira, author of Mavo Shearim.

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Rabbi Samuel Eliezer Halevi Edeles (MaHaRSHA) was born in Posen about the middle of the sixteenth century. He lived at a time when there were very great Talmud scholars, and he took his place among the greatest.

Even among such great lights of the exponents of the Talmud as Rabbi Joel Sirkes (the BaCH), Rabbi Meir (MaHaRaM) of Lublin, Rabbi Mordecai Jaffe (the "Levush"), and others, Rabbi Samuel Edeles shone with a light of his own, for his commentary on the Talmud was unique and brilliant.

Rabbi Samuel Edeles (or Adel's)(Eidels) is better known by the name of MaHaRSHA (Morenu Harav Shmuel Adel's - Our Teacher Rabbi Samuel Adel's), and his famous commentary on the Talmud is so entitled-Hidushei MaHaRSHA (Hidushei meaning "New Explanations by").

He began to show his brilliant scholarship at an early age, and was chosen as a son-in-law by another famous scholar Rabbi Moshe Ashkenazi, author of Zichron Moshe. (Other sources claim he was Moshe Halperin Rabbi of Brisk, and Moshe Ashkenazi, his brother-in-law was the author of Zichron Moshe).

His mother-in-law Edel was famed for her virtues and charitableness. When the brilliant Rabbi Samuel was about thirty years of age, the parents of his wife founded a large Yeshivah and placed it under the deanship of their son in-law. Rabbi Samuel conducted this Yeshivah for twenty-four years, while his mother-in-law supported the students out of her own money.

The young Rabbi Samuel became recognized by the greatest Talmudists and Rabbis of his time, and was given an honorable place in their councils and conventions.

In 1600 he published his first Hidushim anonymously. His commentaries at once became popular and were very favorably received. This greatly encouraged him, and he continued his commentaries, publishing the remaining part 11 years later.

In 1610 he received a call to become the Rabbi of the important community of Chelm, where he served for four years. From there he was called to an even greater community, that of Lublin, where he also headed the famous Yeshivah in that city. His next post was in Tictin, and the remainder of his life he spent as Rabbi of Ostrog and head of the Yeshivah there. There he died on the 5th day of Kislev in the year 5392 (1631).

As already mentioned, Rabbi Samuel Edeles became especially famous for his commentaries on the Talmud, both on Halachah (the legal element of the Talmud) and Hagadah (the Ethical part of the Talmud). The latter were published in 1627.

His commentaries reveal his unusual mental brilliance and extensive knowledge of the whole Talmud. They are unique in method and approach which are bent upon a straightforward attempt to grasp he plain and logical meaning of the text of the Talmud, without indulging in hair-splitting juggling of various passages of he Talmud.

In his treatment of the Agadah he addresses the need for full acceptance of the teachings of our Sages, and is opposed to those scholars who treated them as pure parables and ethical fairy-tales. Even though some of the stories of the Agadic part of the Talmud are beyond our comprehension, we must accept them in deep faith, "for their knowledge was greater -id deeper than ours."

Not merely for his great learning, but also for his great qualities of character has Rabbi Samuel loved respected by all. He was very modest, as can be seen from the fact that he did not at first disclose that he was the author of his commentaries.

His house was always open for the needy, and his door is said to have had the following inscription, taken from job: "No stranger shall stay overnight outside; my door is open for every guest.

Rabbi Samuel's commentary has become so popular, that it is printed in all the standard editions of the Talmud, and is regarded as a "must" for all Talmud scholars.

Rabbi Samuel Eliezerr ben Judah Edeles stands out as one of the greatest of out great, who has contributed immensely to the spreading of the knowledge of the Talmud and the preservation of our faith and traditions among our people.

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MaHarSha

Hebrew Books ספר חידושי מהרש״א

Hebrew Books שמואל אליעזר בן יהודה אידלש, 1520-1631 - חידשי הלכות

Hebrew Books שמן רקח - חלק א - אלעזר בן אריה ליב, מפילץ, 1758-1837

Hebrew Books פרידברג, חיים דב בריש, 1870-1961 - לוחות זכרון

Jewish Dynasties

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Samuel Eidels (1555–1631) (Hebrew: שמואל אליעזר הלוי איידלס‎), was a renowned rabbi and Talmudist famous for his commentary on the Talmud, Chiddushei Halachot. Eidels is also known as Maharsha (מהרש"א) Hebrew acronym for: "Our Teacher, Rabbi Shmuel Eidels").

The Maharsha was born in Kraków, Poland. His father, Yehuda, was a Talmudist and both parents were descendants of rabbinic families - his mother Gitel was a COUSIN of Rabbi Yehuda Loew, the Maharal of Prague. From early childhood, the Maharsha's remarkable talents were evident. When he came of marriageable age, the Maharsha was offered many prestigious shidduchim (marriage partners), but he rejected them, asserting that he wanted to devote himself solely to Torah study.

He married the daughter of Edel Lifschitz of Posen and the late Moshe Lifschitz, rabbi of Brisk. He then moved to Posen and he established a yeshiva there. For twenty years all the expenses of the yeshiva were assumed by his mother-in-law. In appreciation of her support he adopted her name. After her death, he served as rabbi in the following prominent communities: Chełm, Lublin and Ostrog. Eidels was also active in the Council of Four Lands.

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The Maharsha: Rav Shmuel Eliezer Halevi Eidels (5315 - 5 Kislev 5392)

by D. Sofer

This article originally appeared in Yated Neeman, Monsey NY. Here are some excerpts:

In 1492, when King Ferdinand of Spain ordered his Jewish subjects to "convert or get out," one of the most glorious periods in the annals of Jewish history came to end: the Golden Age, during which time such great Torah sages as the Rambam, the Ramban, Rav Yehuda Halevi, Rabbeinu Bachya Ibn Pakuda and Rav Shlomo Ibn Gabriol lived.

The majority of Spain's Jews, about 300,000, refused to convert and set out in search of a haven where they could live in peace and remain loyal toTorah.

Some reached Portugal, from which they were banished 10 years later. Others went on to Holland and Turkey, where they found refuge. Still others tried to settle in Germany, but they were persecuted and soon continued eastward to Poland.

Poland's rulers were eager to absorb the Jews, whom they hoped would help boost the economy. They promised them security and freedom of religion. Many Jews settled in Poland, and eventually, Polish Jewry produced many great talmidei chachamim, among them the Bach, the Taz, the Maharam, the Rama, the Maharshal, Rav Yonasan Eibischitz and the Baal Levushim.

One of Poland's greatest rabbanim of that period was Rav Shmuel Eliezer Halevi Eidels, the Maharsha, son of Rav Yehuda Halevi. He is best known for his profound commentary on the Talmud.

ILLUSTRIOUS STOCK

The Maharsha was born in Krakow [or in Posen, YB] in 5315 (1555). His father, Rav Yehuda, was an eminent talmid chacham who descended from Rav Yehuda Hachassid, as well as from Rav Akiva Hakohen Katz, the father-in-law of the Shela Hakadosh.

The Maharsha's mother also stemmed from an illustrious family. She was the granddaughter of Rav Yehuda Loewe, the Maharal of Prague. [More likely Maharal's cousin, YB]

From early childhood, the Maharsha's remarkable talents were evident. But his brilliance did not adversely affect his character, and he was modest and unassuming.

When he came of marriageable age, the Maharsha was offered many prestigious shidduchim, but all were contingent on his acceptance of important rabbinical positions. Since such positions generally involved communal responsibilities, he rejected them, asserting that he wanted to devote himself solely to Torah study.

During that period, Rebbetzin Eidel Lifschitz of Pozna, the wealthy widow of Rav Moshe Lifschitz, the rav of Brisk, visited Krakow. While there, she made a match between her daughter and the Maharsha. She also offered the young illuy a large dowry and promised that she would enable him to study Torah as long as she was alive. The Maharsha was very impressed by Rebbetzin Lifschitz's sincere desire to let him devote his life to Torah study, as well as by her daughter's refined character traits. He accepted the offer.

YEARS OF GROWTH IN TORAH

The Maharsha's wedding was held in Krakow. Afterward, the Maharsha moved into his mother-in-law's home in Pozna. But before leaving Krakow, he assembled a group of outstanding talmidei chachamim and brought them with him to Pozna.

His mother-in-law supported this group, enabling the Maharsha to engage in Torah study with its members at all hours of the day. She also supported her other son-in-law, Rav Moshe Ashkenazi, author of Zichron Moshe, with whom the Maharsha studied.

Eventually, the Maharsha expanded this group and it became a yeshiva known as Hachavura Hakedosha.

Before long, the Maharsha became renowned for his vast Torah knowledge, and many prominent Torah sages would consult him on matters of importance to Poland's Jews.

This included the leaders of the Vaad Arba Ha'aratzos, a special association that represented Poland's four regions: Large Poland, Small Poland, Galicia and Wohlin. The Vaad instituted many important and effective amendments on behalf of the Jews, and often asked the Maharsha to sign them.

The Vaad also asked the Maharsha to give his haskama to many seforim, including Sefer Haselichos, written by Rav Eliezer Ashkenazi, and the Tzena U're'ena, written by the Maharshal. In time, the Maharsha became the Vaad's main spokesman.

The Maharsha studied in Hachavura Hakedosha Yeshiva for 20 years. During that time, his students developed many chiddushim, some of which appear in Zichron Devarim, which was published with financial assistance from the Maharsha's mother-in-law.

Rebbetzin Eidel passed away in 5368 at the age of 100. However, she didn't leave behind an inheritance, because she had used all of her vast wealth to support the yeshiva. In appreciation of his mother-in-law's efforts, the Maharsha added the name Eidels to his own name, and from then on called himself Shmuel Eliezer Eidels.

After the shloshim, a delegation of prominent Jews from the city of Chelem arrived in Pozna, and invited the Maharsha to serve as their rav. The Maharsha accepted the offer.

THE TELLTALE VAV

The Maharsha lived in Chelem for only a short time. Not long after he moved there, he was offered a position as rav of the prominent city of Austroha. He accepted the position, but an argument brewing in nearby Lublin complicated matters.

In Lublin, there were two yeshivos, one headed by the Maharam, Rav Meir of Lublin, and the other by Rav Shimon Zev Auerbach, the Maharshal' s son-in-law.

These two roshei yeshiva had different approaches to Torah study. Nonetheless, they were on excellent terms with each other. Both yeshivos also studied the same mesechtos because they hoped to publish a joint, proofread edition of the Shas, approved by all of the generation's Torah sages.

Shortly before the Maharsha was appointed rav of Austroha, the roshei yeshiva were deliberating on a particularly difficult Tosfos, and each interpreted it according to his own personal approach. The Maharam resolved the difficulty according to his pilpul method, while Rav Shimon Zev claimed that the printer had mistakenly deleted the letter "vav" from one of the words in the section in question, making it difficult to understand the text. When the "vav" was reinserted, he contended, the entire text became clear.

In time, the roshei yeshiva's students began to argue over the issue, and soon, all of the city's talmidei chachamim were swept up in the debate.

Fearing that the debate, which was truly l'shem Shamayim, might nonetheless split the community, the city's leaders decided to pose the question to Rav Shlomo Abuhav, Amsterdam's distinguished rav. They also decided that the rosh yeshiva whose opinion proved wrong would have to step down from his post, and that if both views were wrong, both roshei yeshiva would have to resign.

With that, the mood in the city changed from one of contention to one of anticipation, as all eagerly awaited Rav Abuhav's answer.

In his reply, Rav Shlomo Abuhav praised both roshei yeshiva, but said that Rav Shimon Zev was correct.

In conformance with the community leaders' decision, the Maharam resigned. However, Rav Shimon Zev demanded that the resignation be canceled and that the Maharam be reinstated. Pained by the incident, Rav Shimon Zev in turn resigned from his position.

RAV FOR A WEEK

Left without a rav and roshei yeshiva, Lublin's leaders dispatched a letter to the Maharsha in Austroha, appointing him rav of their city. When the messenger presented the Maharsha with the letter, he told him, "I am coming to Lublin this Shabbos to deliver a drasha." With this statement, everyone believed that the Maharsha had agreed to become the next rav of Lublin.

Austroha's Jews were surprised by the turn of events. Their community was much larger than Lublin's, and Or Torah, the Maharsha's yeshiva in Austroha, was also very prestigious, having been founded by the Shela Hakadosh. Why had the Maharsha opted to leave their city in favor of Lublin, they wondered. Why had he accepted a rabbinical position that also involved heading two yeshivos at the same time?

That Shabbos afternoon, all of Lublin's Jews assembled in the main shul to hear what they thought would be the Maharsha's acceptance speech. The two roshei yeshiva, the Maharam and Rav Shimon Zev Auerbach, were also in attendance, demonstrating their total submission to the city's new rav. The Maharsha ascended the bima and began, "I have two questions. One pertains to me, the other to you. I have resolved the one pertaining to me. But the one pertaining to you - Lublin's residents - still troubles me.

"The question that pertains to you is this," he continued. "How could the heads of this community appointment me rav of Lublin, when Austroha is much larger? The question that pertains to me is: Why did I agree to leave Austroha and come to Lublin?

"The answer is: In all Austroha there are no sages as great in Torah as Rav Meir (the Maharam) and Rav Shimon Zev, Lublin's roshei yeshiva. I left Austroha and came to Lublin to be in their midst. Your behavior, though, stymies me!"

After that opening, he launched into his Shabbos drasha, not allowing his listeners to react to his earlier remarks.

After his drasha, he concluded, "Since I have accepted your appointment, I am your rav and spiritual guide, and according to din Torah, you must obey me. Now, as your mara d'asra, I demand that you reinstate the two great Torah luminaries, Rav Meir and Rav Shimon Zev, to their former positions."

After Shabbos, the Maharsha returned to Austroha, and the two roshei yeshiva of Lublin resumed their positions. Because their argument was le'shem Shamayim, Torah study in Lublin only intensified in the years to come.

IN AUSTROHA

The Maharsha's first step as rav of Austroha was to establish a yeshiva gedola. The yeshiva, Or Torah, quickly expanded, attracting students from all over the region who were eager to hear the Maharsha's remarkable chiddushim.

During his years as rosh yeshiva in Austroha, the Maharsha compiled his monumental Chiddushei Halachos on the Shas and his Chiddushei Aggados on the aggados of the Talmud. These works were published during his lifetime.

Chiddushei Halachos is considered one of the greatest commentaries on the Talmud, while Chiddushei Aggados is considered a fundamental commentary on its aggados. Throughout the generations, the gedolim have embraced these works.

The Chazon Ish called them, "A good gift for Am Yisroel." Rav Yona Landsorfer told his sons, "Always study Gemara with Maharsha. Without Ruach Hakodesh, he couldn't have written a work of that caliber."

Other Torah sages added, "Disputing the Maharsha is like disputing the Shechina."

In time, Jews all over the world began to study Chiddushei Halachos. Today it is included in all editions of the Shas and is considered a basic commentary of the Achronim.

BRACHOS THAT MATERIALIZE

As the years passed, more and more students flocked to the Maharsha's yeshiva, making it necessary to build a larger building.

After much effort, funds were secured to begin building the yeshiva, and a gala cornerstone-laying ceremony was held. As the city's shamesh was about to launch the sale of the mitzva of the cornerstone laying, someone whispered to him, "I want to purchase that mitzva at all costs, but please don't reveal my identity." The man then requested that the ceiling price for the mitzva be 500 golden dinars, and gave the shamesh that sum. The "sale" began at 50 dinars, and it climbed all the way to 460. When the shamesh called out 500 dinars, no one could match it. As the shamesh was about to announce the "winner," the donor hushed him and said, "I bought the mitzva for the Maharsha. Summon him to lay the cornerstone and don't announce my name."

After the ceremony, the Maharsha asked the shamesh to call the donor into his study. The donor explained to the Maharsha that he wasn't a wealthy man, and that the 500 dinars he had paid for the cornerstone laying constituted nearly all his savings. He added that since he had no children, he hoped that the mitzva of kavod haTorah would stand him in good stead in the World to Come.

The Maharsha was touched by the donor's words and blessed him that he would have a son who would study in the new yeshiva. Within a year, the donor's wife gave birth to a boy. When the child reached bar mitzva age, his father brought him to the Maharsha's yeshiva. The gabbai, however, rejected him on the grounds that he was too young for yeshiva gedola. But the Maharsha, who recognized the father, intervened and warmly welcomed the youth into the yeshiva.

KIND TO ALL

While in Austroha, the Maharsha also attended to the city's communal needs. It is related that during the period he served as its rav, no Jew in the entire region went hungry.

Quite often, the Maharsha would personally provide for the poor, and his home was always open to the unfortunate. One time, the town's baker failed to sell a large amount of bread he had prepared. When the Maharsha learned of the baker's plight, he told him that he had found someone who would buy the bread before it became too stale to sell.

Little did the baker know that the Maharsha was the buyer, and that he had distributed the many loaves of bread he had bought to the town's needy.

SIYATTA D'SHEMAYA

The Maharsha was a genuine tzaddik who studied Torah day and night and merited great siyatta d'Shmaya. The only time he didn't study was on "Nittel Nacht," when he would review his accounts and determine how much maaser money he had to distribute.

One year, one of the city's ruffians told the police that out of contempt for Christianity's "savior," the Maharsha didn't study Torah on Nittel Nacht. The police agreed to investigate.

That night, as the Maharsha sat in his study going over his accounts, a sefer fell from his bookshelf. The Maharsha picked it up, kissed it and then returned it to its place. Moments later, another book fell, and he picked up that one, too, and returned it to the shelf. The third time a book fell, he picked it up, but for some reason, felt compelled to open it. At that very moment, the police burst into his home. Seeing the Maharsha bent over a book, they stopped in their tracks - and returned to the police station.

MAIN APPROACHES TO LIFE

As evident from his writings, the Maharsha advocated the pursuit of the golden mean in life. Although he opposed luxurious living, saying that it eventually leads to theft, he did not advocate excessive asceticism and self-denial.

He was also concerned about the spiritual development of the youth of his time. In Chiddushei Aggados (maseches Shabbos 119b) he exhorts yeshiva students not spend their time strolling through the streets during bein hazemanim. In a similar vein, he warns against the bitul Torah of young children. Believing that that a student cannot progress without a rav and a chaver, he was very warm to his students and involved them in the formulation of his chiddushim.

Kindness to one's fellow was the hallmark of his approach to life, and the verse in Iyov "Outside a stranger shall not sleep; my door is open to the wayfarer" was engraved on the arch above his front door.

PETIRA

The Maharsha was niftar on 5 Kislev, 5392, and was buried in Austroha's Jewish cemetery. The main hesped was delivered by the Chavos Yair 's father. Inscribed on his tombstone are the phrases "ish kadosh" and "mofeis hador."

The Maharsha was survived by sons and sons-in-law, all of whom were gedolei Torah. His sons were Rav Meshulam Zalman, Rav Yehuda Leib and Rav Avraham. His sons-in-law were Rav Yitzchak Segal Charif, the av beis din of Lutzk; Rav Moshe ben Rav Yitzchak, the av beis din of Lublin; and Rav Shlomo Shapira, author of Mavo Shearim.

The Maharsha was highly esteemed by gedolei Yisroel. In a letter to Vaad Arba Ha'aratzos, the Bach called him a gadol hador.

And the Baal Shem Tov said of him, "Had the world truly recognized the greatness of the Maharsha, people would kiss the earth of his grave."

(The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Tzemach Dovid)

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[http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A9%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%90%D7%9C_%D7%90%...

Samuel Eidels – שמואל אליעזר הלוי איידלס‎ (1555 – 1631), was a renowned rabbi and Talmudist famous for his commentary on the Talmud, Chiddushei Halachot. Eidels is also known as Maharsha (מהרש"א, a Hebrew acronym for "Our Teacher, the Rabbi Shmuel Eidels").

The Maharsha was born in Kraków, Poland. His father, Yehuda, was a Talmudist and both parents were descendants of rabbinic families - his mother Gitel was a cousin of Rabbi Yehuda Loew, the Maharal of Prague. From early childhood, the Maharsha's remarkable talents were evident. When he came of marriageable age, the Maharsha was offered many prestigious shidduchim (marriage partners), but he rejected them, asserting that he wanted to devote himself solely to Torah study.

He married the daughter of Edel Lifschitz of Posen and the late Moshe Lifschitz, rabbi of Brisk. He then moved to Posen and he established a yeshiva there. For twenty years all the expenses of the yeshiva were assumed by his mother-in-law. In appreciation of her support he adopted her name. After her death, he served as rabbi in the following prominent communities: Chełm, Lublin and Ostrog.

Eidels was also active in the Council of Four Lands.

His son-in-law was R. Moses ben Isaac Bonems of Lublin, who authored his own novellæ on the Talmud, published with the Ḥiddushe Halakhot, last recension (Mahdura Batra).

Works

Chiddushei Halachot (חידושי הלכות - "Novellae in Jewish Law") is an "incisive and keenly analytical" commentary on the Talmud, Rashi and Tosafot together, and with a focus on Tosafot. It is said that if one grasps the Maharsha, then one has understood the Tosafot. This commentary was quickly accepted and was printed in almost all editions of the Talmud. Chiddushei Halachot is based on Maharsha's teaching in his yeshiva, and he refrained from printing his commentary on those pages that were studied while he served on the Council of Four Lands.

The Maharsha also wrote an extensive commentary on the aggadot of the Talmud known as the Chiddushei Aggadot (חידושי אגדות - "Novellae in Aggadah") reflecting a wide knowledge of philosophy and Kabbalah.

• Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Edeles (MaHaRSHA), chabad.org
• Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Edels (MaHarSha), ou.org
• Family Tree #1
• Family Tree #2

רבי שמואל אליעזר הלוי איידלס (ה'שט"ו 1555 - ה'שצ"ב 1632) מהרש"א. המהרש"א היה צאצא של: משפחת קלונימוס המפורסמת שיחוסיהם מגיע עד דוד המלך.

המהרש"א נולד לאביו רבי יהודה הלוי - אימו הייתה ממשפחת מהר"ל מפראג. בשנת שט"ו ברובע קאזימירש שבקראקא (או בפוזנאן), ונודע כעילוי עוד בילדותו. הוא התחתן עם הבת של מרת איידל ליפשיץ (הלפרין) (אלמנתו של רבי משה ליפשיץ רבה של בריסק) כאשר הוא ואשתו פורנסו על ידי מרת איידל, שאף מימנה את הישיבה של המהרש"א ועל כך היה תמיד מזכיר אותה כאמו השנייה ולכן כונה איידל'ס (של איידל). בשנת שס"ח 1608 נפטרה מרת איידל ועם מותה עבר לשמש כרב בחלם ליד לובלין. לאחר מכן שימש כרב באוסטרוג והקים שם ישיבה. השתתף בועד ארבע ארצות בירוסלב, והיה חתום על תקנה שאסרה קניית משרות רבניות בשכר. התפרסם בחייו במעשי חסד רבים, על דלת ביתו היה רשום פסוק מאיוב "דלתו פתח לעני". כמו כן היה משורר וכתב כמה קינות על יהודים שנהרגו מעלילה. נפטר בה' כסלו שצ"ב (1632) ונקבר באוסטרוג.

המהרש"א חיבר פירוש על הש"ס אשר מודפס ברוב המהדורות של הש"ס, יחד עם פירוש מהר"ם וחכמת שלמה. פירושו של המהרש"א מתמקד בעיקר בתוספות, אבל לפעמים מפרש גם את הגמרא ורש"י. חלק מהספר, קיים בשתי מהדורות. הספר נחשב לספר יסודי בלימוד תוספות עד כדי כך, שהוא משמש מדד ללומדי תוספות אם לימודם הובן להם על ידי השוואה עם הבנת המהרש"א, והחזון איש באגרותיו מדריך ללמוד מהרש"א כחלק עיקרי בלימוד.

רבי שמואל אליעזר הלוי איידלס (בכתיב ארכאי: איידלש או אידלש; בראשי תיבות: מהרש"א (מורנו הרב רבי שמואל איידלס); ה'שט"ו 1555 - ה'שצ"ב 1631), רב ומפרש התלמוד, מגדולי האחרונים. צאצא למשפחת קלונימוס, שייחוסה מגיע עד דוד המלך.

]תולדות חייו

המהרש"א נולד לגיטל (ממשפחת מהר"ל מפראג) ולרבי יהודה הלוי בשנת ה'שט"ו בעיר קז'ימייז' שליד קרקוב, בפולין היגלונית, ונודע כעילוי עוד בילדותו. הוא נישא לבתה של מרת איידל ליפשיץ (הלפרין) (אלמנתו של רבי משה ליפשיץ רבה של בריסק), והוא ואשתו פורנסו על ידי מרת איידל, שאף מימנה את הישיבה של המהרש"א; על כך היה תמיד מזכיר אותה כאמו השנייה, ולכן כונה "איידל'ס" (יידיש: של איידל). בשנת שס"ח 1608 נפטרה מרת איידל ועם מותה עבר לשמש כרב בחלם ליד לובלין. לאחר מכן שימש כרב באוסטרואה והקים שם ישיבה. השתתף בועד ארבע ארצות בירוסלב, והיה חתום על תקנה שאסרה קניית משרות רבניות בשכר. התפרסם בחייו במעשי חסד רבים, על דלת ביתו היה רשום פסוק מאיוב "בחוץ לא ילין גר דלתי לארח אפתחנו". כמו כן היה משורר, וכתב כמה קינות על יהודים שנהרגו מעלילה. נפטר בה' בכסלו ה'שצ"ב (1631), ונקבר באוסטרואה.

ספר המהרש"א

המהרש"א חיבר פירוש על הש"ס אשר מודפס ברוב המהדורות של הש"ס, יחד עם פירוש מהר"ם וחכמת שלמה. פירושו של המהרש"א מתמקד בעיקר בתוספות, אבל לפעמים מפרש גם את הגמרא ורש"י. חלק מהספר, קיים בשתי מהדורות. הספר נחשב לספר יסודי בלימוד תוספות עד כדי כך, שהוא משמש מדד ללומדי תוספות אם לימודם הובן להם על ידי השוואה עם הבנת המהרש"א, והחזון איש באגרותיו מדריך ללמוד מהרש"א כחלק עיקרי בלימוד. גם חכמי המזרח החשיבו מאד את לימוד המהרש"א, לדוגמה, הרב עזרא עטיה הנהיג בישיבת פורת יוסף, שמיד לאחר לימוד התוספות ילמדו את פירוש המהרש"א כולו על הסדר.

רבי שמואל אליעזר הלוי איידלס (בכתיב ארכאי: איידלש או אידלש; בראשי תיבות: מהרש"א (מורנו הרב רבי שמואל איידלס); ה'שט"ו 1555 - ה'שצ"ב 1631), רב ומפרש התלמוד, מגדולי האחרונים. צאצא למשפחת קלונימוס, שייחוסה מגיע עד דוד המלך. המהרש"א נולד לגיטל (ממשפחת מהר"ל מפראג) ולרבי יהודה הלוי בשנת ה'שט"ו בעיר קז'ימייז' שליד קרקוב, בפולין היגלונית, ונודע כעילוי עוד בילדותו. הוא נישא לבתה של מרת איידל ליפשיץ (הלפרין) (אלמנתו של רבי משה ליפשיץ רבה של בריסק), והוא ואשתו פורנסו על ידי מרת איידל, שאף מימנה את הישיבה של המהרש"א; על כך היה תמיד מזכיר אותה כאמו השנייה, ולכן כונה "איידל'ס" (יידיש: של איידל). בשנת שס"ח 1608 נפטרה מרת איידל ועם מותה עבר לשמש כרב בחלם ליד לובלין. לאחר מכן שימש כרב באוסטרואה והקים שם ישיבה. השתתף בועד ארבע ארצות בירוסלב, והיה חתום על תקנה שאסרה קניית משרות רבניות בשכר. התפרסם בחייו במעשי חסד רבים, על דלת ביתו היה רשום פסוק מאיוב "בחוץ לא ילין גר דלתי לארח אפתחנו". כמו כן היה משורר, וכתב כמה קינות על יהודים שנהרגו מעלילה. נפטר בה' בכסלו ה'שצ"ב (1631), ונקבר באוסטרואה.

המהרש"א חיבר פירוש על הש"ס אשר מודפס ברוב המהדורות של הש"ס, יחד עם פירוש מהר"ם וחכמת שלמה. פירושו של המהרש"א מתמקד בעיקר בתוספות, אבל לפעמים מפרש גם את הגמרא ורש"י. חלק מהספר, קיים בשתי מהדורות. הספר נחשב לספר יסודי בלימוד תוספות עד כדי כך, שהוא משמש מדד ללומדי תוספות אם לימודם הובן להם על ידי השוואה עם הבנת המהרש"א, והחזון איש באגרותיו מדריך ללמוד מהרש"א כחלק עיקרי בלימוד. גם חכמי המזרח החשיבו מאד את לימוד המהרש"א, לדוגמה, הרב עזרא עטיה הנהיג בישיבת פורת יוסף, שמיד לאחר לימוד התוספות ילמדו את פירוש המהרש"א כולו על הסדר.