• Wikipedia : Isaiah Horowitz and ישעיה הלוי הורוביץ
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Rabbi Isaiah Halevi Horowitz (The Sheloh)

(5318-5388 - 1558-1628)

Rabbi Isaiah Halevi Horowitz was born in the city of Prague, in the year 5318 (1558 or 1570) , just over 400 years ago. His father, Rabbi Abraham bar Rabbi Shabse Sheftel Halevi, was a celebrated Gaon and author of many works (Yesh Nochlin, Emek Brochoh, Chesed Avrohom, Bris Avrohom). He was the first teacher of Rabbi Isaiah. Later on, the father, with his whole family, left Prague, and went to Cracow in Poland, and from there to Lublin, where Rabbi Isaiah studied at the celebrated Yeshivoh of the Maharani. He married the daughter of one of the leading members of the Vienna community, Reb Avrohom Moul. His wife's name was Chaye.

Rabbi Isaiah Halevi Horowitz is famous as the "Sheloh Hakodosh" (the saintly Shelo) because of his great work, Shnei Luehos Habris (SheLoH). At an early age, he was recognized as a great Gaon, and he took part in the meetings of the Rabbis of the Vaad Arba Ha Arotzos (Council of the Four Countries), together with the greatest Rabbis of his generation. He held Rabbinical positions in various communities such as Dubno, Ostraha, Posen, Cracow, Vienna and Frankfurt, where he headed great Yehsivos and had large numbers of students.

When the Jews were driven out of Frankfurt in the year 5375 (1615) on the 27th of Elul, Rabbi Isaiah went with them into exile. Later on, he was chosen as Chief Rabbi of his native Prague, a position he occupied for seven years. At first, he shared the office together with the great Rabbi Efraim Luntschitz (author of "Olelos Efraim"), and upon Rabbi Efraim's death (7th Iyar, 5379 [1619]), the Shelo remained the sole Chief Rabbi in Prague, where he stayed until he left for Eretz Yisroel in the year 5381 (1621) . He always felt a desire to live in the Holy Land, and when his wife died in 5380 (1620) , he decided to satisfy his longing for the Holy Land, and he went there. He left his comfortable position, bade farewell to his children and grandchildren, and set out on the long journey. It was especially difficult for him to leave his dear son, Rabbi Sheftel, who was already a Gaon himself. Rabbi Isaiah stopped at Venice and other places on the way, where he was welcomed with great honor.

On Friday, the 6th of Kislev, in the year 5382 (end of 1621) , the saintly Sheloh arrived in the holy city of Jerusalem. The Ashkenazic community immediately appointed him as their Rabbi.

Here in the Holy Land he arranged his Siddur (Prayer Book) "Shaar Hashomayim" (the Gate of Heaven). He gave it this title because numerically the word "Hashomayim" equals the word Isaiah (395), and also because he arrived in Jerusalem on Friday, when the Portion of the Week to be read in the Torah was Vayetze, which contains the words "Vezeh Shaar Hashomayim," that our father Jacob said upon awaking from his heavenly dream. The Siddur was printed by his great-grandson, Rabbi Abraham in the year 5477 (1717), with the Haskomoh (written approval) of the Bach, Tosefos Yom Tov, and other great Rabbis of the period.

Two years after his arrival in Eretz Yisroel, he finished his gigantic Shnei Luchos Habris ("Two Tablets of the Covenant") known by all as the "Sheloh Hakodosh."

The year of the Sheloh's settling in Jerusalem was a Shemittah year (Sabbatical year). Because the previous year had been a year of drought and hunger, people sought to be a little lenient in the observation of the Shemittah. The Sheloh, however, did not agree to any leniency, in spite of the difficulty of the situation.

During the early part of his stay in Jerusalem, the governor of the city was Mahmoud Pasha, an honest and friendly ruler, and the position of the Jews was not such a severe one. But in the year 5385 (1625) , a rich Arab from Jerusalem (his name was Ibn Farouk) bribed the Governor in Damascus, and bought the ruling powers over Jerusalem. He was blind in one eye, and a wicked, cruel man. During the last Shabbos of the month of Teves, he entered the city with 300 armed soldiers, and took over the rule. He started to persecute the Jews, and sought all means of squeezing money out of them. On Shabbos, the 11th of Elul, he sent his soldiers into the two Synagogues of the Ashkenazim and the Sefardim, and arrested 15 Rabbis, amongst them the Sheloh. He placed a huge ransom on their heads. They remained in prison until Rosh Hashonoh, when they were released after super human efforts by the community and a large amount of ransom money. No longer sure of their lives, Rabbi Isaiah, together with other Ashkenazim, escaped from Jerusalem, and went to Tzefas (Safed) in the month of Teves. Later on, the Sheloh settled in Tiberias, where he finally ended his gigantic and magnificent work, the "Shnei Luchos Habris," which he sent to his children in Prague. Three years later, he died at the age of 70. Before he departed for the Eternal World, he ordered that as soon as he dies, the following announcement should be made in all the Synagogues and Study Halls (Botei Midrash) in Tiberias and Tzefas:

"Friends! Let it be known that Rabbi Isaiah Halevi Segal Horowitz has died, and he ordered that no Hespedim (Eulogies) should be held in his honor. Special prayers should be offered during the first seven days and on the Yahrzeit." The grave of the saintly Sheloh is situated near the graves of Rabbi Jochanan ben Zakkai and the Rambam in Tiberias.

The Shnei Luchos Habris was written by him for his children and grandchildren. His son, Rabbi Shabse, better known as Rabbi Sheftel, who was the Chief Rabbi of Posen and vicinity, first published the Sheloh in 5408 (1648) in Amsterdam, adding his own work "Vovei Ho-Amudim." Fifty years later, in the year 5458 (1698-the year that the Baal Shem Tov was born) the Sheloh Hakodosh was printed a second time in Amsterdam in clear letters, and was in great demand. It is a highly respected and beloved work, and has been re printed many times.

Tzefas and Tiberias were the centers of the study of Kabbalah that was taught by the saintly Ari and his disciple Rabbi Chaim Vital. Rabbi Joseph Karo (author of "Beth Joseph" and Shulchan Aruch"), was also one of the great and illustrious Kabbalists of Tzefas. Also the saintly Sheloh spent much time in the study of Kabbalah, which formed the basis for his great book. The Sheloh contains explanations and commentaries on the deeper aspects of Torah and Mitzvos, the Holidays and other facets of Jewish life. The book is filled with the spirit of holiness and piety, the love and fear of G-d, love of the Torah and love of the Jews. The author rightfully earned the title of "Sheloh Hakodosh," because he was a saintly person, and his teachings were saintly.

Besides the "Sheloh Hakodosh", and the Siddur "Shaar Hashomayim", with explanations of the Prayers, Rabbi Isaiah also composed other works, including Sefer Mitzvos and Tefillin. The Sheloh Hakodosh who traveled a lot, and occupied many Rabbinical positions, wielded tremendous influence, both personally and through his many thousands of disciples, whom he set up, and also thorough his great written work, the Sheloh (Shnei Luchos Habris), by which name he is known to the present day.

______________________________________________________________________________ רבי ישעיהו הלוי הורוביץ ראב"ד לבוב

Isaiah ben Abraham Ha-Levi Horowitz saw a turkey take hold of its food with its foot. To him it meant that it was a treif bird, as all birds of prey, forbidden in kosher dietary laws, grasp their food with their claws. He thereupon made a request that all his male descendants, for ten generations, should refrain from eating turkey. The female descendants, because they would marry into families to whom this request had not been directed, could eat turkey after their marriage.

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Rabbi Yeshayahu Halevi Horowitz was born in Prague, where he served as chief rabbi for many years. His father was Rabbi Avraham Halevi.

He served as the head of the courthouse and head of a famous Yeshiva in Dovena.

After the death of his 1st wife; even though it was known that the life in Israel are hard and the rabbi’s life in Prague were comfortable, Rabbi Yeshayahu Halevi Horowitz decided to go to Israel.

He said that a person moving to Israel in raising his spirituality and should be happy to experience the hardship.

The day Rabbi Yeshayahu Halevi Horowitz left his town to start his journey to Israel, his hole town came to show their respects and support. He left his family behind.

Every county and city he passed by showed their hospitality to the rabbi. On his way he met his second wife, while waiting for the boat that would bring him to Syria. The boat travel took about a month. The ship arrived the evening before Yom Kippur, after hard travels.

The people of Chaleb welcomed Rabbi Yeshayahu Halevi Horowitz with open arms and provided him with all his needs.

While in Dameskus, Rabbi Yeshayahu Halevi Horowitz received many letters from Israel asking the rabbi to situate himself in their cities.

When Rabbi Yeshayahu Halevi Horowitz arrived to Israel he went to Tzefat and visited all the holly graves. He continued to The Meiron Mountain and Tiberias.

His final stop was Jerusalem.

He immediately became the head of the Rabbinic Temple for the Ashkenazi population and the chief rabbi of Jerusalem. In Jerusalem he wrote his famous book "Shnei Luchot HaBrit"

Rabbi Yeshayahu got his name SheLaH Hakadosh (the holy) because of his book Shnei Luchot HaBrit, a work of commentary and Halacha, and is usually referred to as "the SHeLaH". He has also published the famous Siddur “Shaar Shamayim” (a gate to heaven)

When the control over Jerusalem changed Rabbi Yeshayahu and his family relocated to Tiberius.

His burial place is in Tiberius, only a few meters from the tomb of the Rambam.

A story is told about his travel at sea:

After 22 days at sea, on his way to Israel, the ship was about to stop for rest at Tarbola. It was the evening of Rosh Hashanh.

When the ship came close to the coast, the captain started screaming to his staff to return back to see and distance the ship from the coast. The captain seemed very worried. The rabbie who by then already was known to the captain, went to the control room to find out what is the matter.

The captain then told him he saw that the city was under attack, and that war ship concored the city. Right then, a war ship started coming close to their ship.

The rabbi raised and spread his arms and started praying.

In a few minutes, dark clouds and heavy fog covered the area, forcing the ship fat to see quickly. The ship was far from the coast and safe shortly.

A couple of hours later, the storm has passed and the ship was safe.

That night everyone sat to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, thanking god for listening to the rabbi’s prayers and saving them.

From http://www.jewishsearch.com/article_421.html

IN-DEPTH FEATURES

Sparks of Greatness: The Shloh Hakodosh;

In honor of his yahrtzeit 11th Nisan

The holy gaon, Reb. Yeshaya Halevi Horowitz was born in Lemberg in approximately the year 5230 (1470). His father R' Avrohom Halevi was dayan in Prague, Cracow and lastly in Lemberg. R' Yeshaya learnt with his father and with the gaon R' Shlomo Ben Reb Yehudah Leib zt"l, better known as the Maharshal Hasheini, the second Maharshal. He also learnt with the Maharam of Lublin, zt"l.

He married Chaya, daughter of one of the prominent members of the community in Vienna, Rabbi Avrohom Moyal. In an awesome statement, R' Sheftel zt"l later wrote about his mother, the Rebbetzin Chaya, "It was said in her generation that she lacked nothing in deeds and traits of the holy Imahos, Soroh, Rivka, Rochel and Leah."

Over the years, R' Yeshaya Halevi practiced as rov in various communities: in 5260 (1500) in Dubno, Russia, in 5262 in Ostroa and from 5266 he took over the reins in Frankfurt, leading the prestigious kehilla until their expulsion from the city on 27 Elul 5274 (1514). The rabbi was exiled together with his flock and he returned to Prague, where he was appointed Rov in 5275 (1515).

When his Rebbetzin passed away on 4th Adar 5280 (1520), Reb Yeshaya Halevi decided to make his dream of going to live in Eretz Yisroel a reality. On 8th Elul 5281 the Shloh boarded the ship and after a turbulent, difficult journey he arrived in the holy land on 2nd Kislev, 5282. Upon reaching Yerushalayim, he was immediately accepted as Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisroel.

Seeing the immense poverty of the settlers in the holy land, the Shloh sent messengers to the Diaspora and their Rabbonim, particularly to the communities where he had served as rov, initiating a tzedokoh campaign which he called "Yachatz" -- an acronym in Hebrew for the three cities Yerushalayim, Chevron and Tzfas.

On 11th Elul, 5285 (1525), the Shloh was imprisoned due to a libel trumped up by the wicked Machmed Ibn Paroueh. On Rosh Hashonoh, start of the year 5286 he was freed and he fled to Tzfas and Teverioh. There he established his center of learning and prayer in the ancient Beis Haknesses on the shores of the Kinneret in Teverioh.

He was niftar on 11th Nisan and is buried in the old cemetery in Teverioh close to the grave of Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakai.

His holy seforim were accepted and beloved by Jews the world over, a fact which is proven by the amount of times his great sefer Shnei Luchos Habris had to be printed over and over.

His famous siddur Shaar Hashomayim is also world renowned and in reference to it the Shach wrote in his approbation, "I guarantee that whoever davens with this siddur, his tefilloh will be accepted."

• **********************

The Shloh Hakodesh was extremely preoccupied with his Torah studies and duties as rov, and had no spare time at all. However, when he saw how most of the Jews of his time were grossly neglecting their fear of Hashem and their whole attitude in serving Hashem was so lax, he took upon himself as a holy mission to teach Bnei Yisroel mussar, ethics and unadulterated fear of G-d. With this is mind, he wrote his holy sefer Shnei Luchos Habris, teaching the bypaths of the Torah and exhorting every Rov and teacher to impress mussar and ways of serving Hashem upon their congregants and pupils.

The greatness of this work of the Shloh Hakodesh and its value is indicated in the following amazing, if not chilling, story:

The gaon of Frankfurt a generation later, Rabbi Yosef Shmuel zt"l, in addition to carrying out all his duties as rov of the city, bestowed the Torah world with his immense treasures. In the margins of his gemora next to each sugya, he would point out all the places where the gemora mentions this subject. This column, known as Masores Hashas has now been added to every gemora so that anyone studying a sugya has laid out in front of him a full index of every place in Shas where the subject matter is mentioned.

Rabbi Yosef Shmuel had a wonderful method of learning Torah with a large group of the cream of talmidei chachomim of Frankfurt.

All day they would each learn individually a chosen topic and in the evening they would gather together for the shiur of the rov. Each one would bring up for discussion the questions and comments that had arisen during the day's learning and a great and mighty storm would engulf the beis medrash. From all directions questions and doubts were hurled with gale force and it seemed as though the sugya was too difficult to navigate with waves of problems that would drown those studying it.

Until the rov Reb Yosef Shmuel opened his mouth and showed them how to steer a clear way through. He would answer and explain, prove and expound until the gemora radiated clarity, like the sun on a clear day.

In this thorough manner the group learned the whole of Shas over many years.

The Chidoh, in his biography of R' Yosef Shmuel zt"l, wrote that the rov of Frankfurt learned all of Shas forty- two times, fulfilling the commandment "Vedibarto bom'," (the numerical value of bom' being forty- two). He also added that for 25 years he learnt standing on his feet and all his learning was Torah lishmoh!

When this holy Rabbi, Reb Yosef Shmuel was niftar, all the city joined his levaya in great mourning and a long hesped was given.

Upon their return from the levaya, his group of talmidim gathered in the beis medrash to continue their practice of studying together and to their astonishment, in his seat, was their departed Rabbi, sitting ready to learn as in the past. Shaken by the sight, they looked at one another, wondering if they were dreaming.

"Do not be afraid and do not tremble," said R' Yosef Shmuel zt"l. "I will soon go back to my eternal rest. I came down to let you know what has been going on with me in the Heavenly court, up there in the World of Truth.

"When I arrived to the Heavenly spheres they called out loud - - "make way for R' Yosef Shmuel" and immediately my court- case proceeded -- the verdict being that my place in Gan Eden is next to the Shloh Hakodesh. However, the Shloh himself arose in protest, refusing to accept the company of his new neighbor. "The reason," he said, "is as follows. I wrote the sefer Shnei Luchos Habris which is full of mussar, to teach all Jews ethics and the correct way to serve Hashem. Many are the tears that I shed whilst compiling this sefer, entreating Hashem that it should fulfill its purpose in arousing the hearts of those who learn it to better their ways. However, this Reb Yosef Shmuel here spread Torah to multitudes of people, learned with his distinguished group of talmidei chachomim all of Shas, yet never once did he teach them mussar or exhort them to better their avodas Hashem. How can he sit next to me here in Gan Eden?"

Reb Yosef Shmuel zt"l continued to relate to his mesmerized talmidim. "The Heavenly court heard out the Shloh and sat in judgment again. They decided that my rightful place, reward for my holy work all my years, cannot be taken away from me; however, the Shloh is correct in his argument that I did not teach you mussar. They thus decreed that I must correct this misdeed before receiving my just reward and sent me down to you during our usual study hours to instruct you that from now and onwards before your daily learning session you should study mussar and avodas Hashem. In doing so, you will enable me to rest in peace and enjoy my reward in Gan Eden."

Shaken by this heavenly revelation, the talmidim immediately took upon themselves strictly to obey his will, studying the Shloh's words of mussar every day before their shiur.

With that their Rabbi disappeared, returning to his seat in Gan Eden next to the Shloh Hakodesh.

Zechuso Yogen Oleinu.

From http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5761/vayikra/features2.htm

More:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_Horowitz

- http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=908&letter=H

MISSING GENERATIONS Missing Links Project

• Ancestor (7 generations) of Rabbi Aaron HaLevi Horowitz, of Staroselye
  
• Ancestor of Shimon Halevy Horovitz

רבי ישעיהו הלוי הורוביץ בעל השל"ה

מרבני אשכנז בראשית המאה ה-17, ישב על כס הרבנות בקהילות רבות ברחבי מזרח-אירופה. כונה השל"ה, ולעתים אף "השל"ה הקדוש", על-שם ספרו הגדול "שני לוחות הברית".

השל"ה הינו נצר לשושלת רבנים שמוצאה מספרד, בנעוריו למד אצל אביו ובבגרותו למד בישיבתם של המרה"ם מלובלין והמהרש"ל. בערוב ימיו עלה לארץ-ישראל - תחילה קבע מושבו בירושלים ושימש רב לקהילת האשכנזים שבעיר, מאוחר יותר נדד לצפת ואח"כ לטבריה - בה נפטר.

חיבורו שני לוחות הברית הינו ספר הנהגות אשר מציג בערבוביה כללי מוסר, הלכות פסוקות וענייני אמונה והשקפה.

ביום כ"ט טבת שנת שצ"ב לפני מאתיים ושמונים שנה, נפטר בלבוב הגאון רבי ישעיה הלוי הורוביץ ראב"ד לבוב.

בספר מצבת קודש (ח"ב גאוני ק"ק לבוב, סי' נג), כתוב כך: נוסחת מצבת הרב הגאון הגדול מוהר"ר ישעי' הלוי הורוויץ ראב"ד ומגיד משרים פה לבוב: יום א' ער"ח שבט תצ"ב לפ"ק נתבקש הרב הגאון מוהר"ר ישעי' במוהר"ר אברהם הלוי הורוויץ לישיבה של מעלה, וישעי' לא משה מתוך האוהל, הורה בהוראות מופלאים בישראל, היה מגיד משרים פה ק' לבוב וראב"ד פה תנצב"ה.

וכן העתיק גם החכם שלמה באבער בספרו אנשי שם, סי' של. ולא הרחיב לנו אודותיו, לספר את קורות חייו, ומי היו אבותיו וכדומה.

כותבי קורות הימים, רגילים לכתוב, כי ר' אברהם אביו של ר' ישעיה זה, הוא רבי אברהם הלוי הורוביץ שהיה דיין בק"ק פוזנא בנו של רבי ישעיה הורוביץ אב"ד פוזנא בנו של רבי שבתי שעפטיל הורוביץ מחבר ווי העמודים בנו של רבי ישעיהו הלוי הורוביץ בעל השל"ה.

בשורות הבאות, ננסה לעמוד על אמיתות נקודה זו, ולברר האם יש לה מקור מהימן או לאו. וראשית נפרט מעט אודות אבות השושלת.

רבי ישעיהו הלוי הורוביץ בעל השל"ה נולד בשנת ש"כ, למד בישיבות פראג לובלין וקראקא, שימש ברבנות בכמה קהילות בפולין ובאשכנז. בשנת שפ"א עלה לארץ הקודש וגר בטבריה, עד לפטירתו בשנת ש"צ.

בנו רבי שבתי שעפטיל הלוי הורוביץ מחבר ספר 'ווי העמודים', בצעירותו כיהן כדיין בפראג כאביו, ולאחר מכן נתמנה כרב בפירודא. בשנת שצ"ב עבר לכהן ברבנות העיר פרנקפורט, ומשנת ת"א עבר לפוזנא בה כיהן עד שנת תט"ז, בשנותיו האחרונות היה בוינה, שם נפטר בשנת ת"כ.

בנו רבי ישעיהו הלוי הורוביץ, נולד בשנת שצ"ב. נשא לאשה את מרת מרים, בתו של ר' שלמה ר' מנדלש מפוזנא. כבר בשנת ת"ט כיהן כשליח ציבור בפוזנא, ובשנת ת"י נתמנה שם להיות ממונה על הנדבות לטובת ארץ ישראל. בשנת תי"ח נבחר לכהן כאב"ד שטייניץ. בשנת תכ"ח נקרא לכהן כאב"ד פירט היא פיורדא, מקום בו כיהן גם אביו. אחר כך עבר לגינצבורג ובשנת תל"ג כבר ישב ברבנות העיר לייפניק והסכים משם על ספר 'לב אריה'. החל משנת תל"ח כיהן כאב בית דין בפרנקפורט דמיין, גם זה על מקום אביו. בתחילת קיץ תמ"ה לקה רבי ישעיה בכפליים, בכ"ד אייר נפטר בנו ר' קאפיל, וחודש אחר כך בכ"ו סיון נפטרה רעייתו מרת מרים. יתכן שבעקבות כך, חזר רבי ישעיה לעירו פוזנא, ועל כל פנים כיהן שם החל מתמ"ה כאב"ד [%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91, על מקום אביו], עד ליום פטירתו בכ"ג אדר תמ"ט.

בני רבי אברהם הלוי הורוביץ, דיין דק"ק פוזנא. נולד בשנת תכ"ט. בפנקס קהל פוזנא נזכר ר' אברהם כממונה מטעם הקהל בכל מיני מינויים ושררות החל משנת תנ"ד, ועד לשנת תע"ב. בשנים תע"ג ותע"ד כבר כיהן כדיין. בשנים שלאחר מכן, יצא לאמסטרדם להדפיס שם את ספרי אבותיו. כבר בשנת תע"ז הדפיס שם את ספרו של השל"ה על התפילה - 'שערי שמים'. ואף כתב לסידור הקדמה. ובשנת תפ"ט הדפיס את הספר 'עמק ברכה' שחיבר אביו של השל"ה וכך כתוב בראש הספר, וברכה לראש משביר גזע ישישים, בנן של קדושים, אשר יאמר עליו כי הוא זה, מזה בן מזה, בר אבהן ובר אוריין ה"ה הנכוחי האלוף בתורה המופלא והמופלג החכם והשלם דיין המצוייני דק"ק פוזנן כמוהר"ר אברהם סג"ל נר"ו בן הגאון הגדול המפורסם מוהר"ר ישעי' סג"ל זצוק"ל. בן הגאון הגדול מוהר"ר שעפטיל סג"ל זצוק"ל בעל ווי העמודים בן הגאון הגדול מוהר"ר ישעי' סג"ל זצוק"ל בעל המחבר ספר הקדוש שני לוחות הברית. ותפלה הקדוש שער השמים (כוונתו בזה לפירושו של השל"ה על התפילה, ולא לתפילת השל"ה המפורסמת שרגילים לאומרה בערב ראש חודש סיון). בן הגאון המחבר מוהר"ר אברהם סג"ל זצוק"ל. יברך השם חילו אשר נתן לבו ונפשו ומאודו להוציא לאור תעלומות החכמה מבית הלוי. ולהביא הספר הנחמד הזה לבית הדפוס פעם שנית. עם תוספות מרובה חדושי דינים והנהגות מהגאונים הנ"ל.

וכן בהסכמות שם, משבחים אותו הרבנים על שבא לאמסטרדם להדפיס את ספרי זקנו. ומזכירים אתו כדיין בפוזנן, ואת אביו מזכירים בברכת המתים. מלבד ספרי זקניו, הדפיס גם את ספר חדושי הריטבא חמש שיטות אמסטרדם תפח. והלך מעיר לעיר למכור את ספריו, ונפטר בפרנקפורט דאודר ביום ה' י"ט אלול תק"ד. בהיותו בן שבעים וחמש.

ובכן, בואו חשבון, רבי ישעיהו הלוי הורוביץ מגיד מישרים וראב"ד בלבוב, נפטר בשנת תצ"ב. ר' אברהם הורוביץ נפטר שתים עשרה שנים מאוחר יותר, בהיותו בן שבעים וחמש. כמה צריכים אנו לדחוק ולצמצם את השנים כדי שרבי ישעיהו יהיה בנו של ר' אברהם. עלינו להכריח כי ר' אברהם נשא אשה בגיל צעיר מאד פחות מחמש עשרה, ומיד נולד לו בנו ישעיהו, ואז נוכל להגיע כי רבי ישעיהו הספיק לכהן כמגיד מישרים וראב"ד לבוב, ונפטר בשנת תצ"ב בהיותו כבן ארבעים ושמונה שנים. דחוק, אבל אפשרי.

אך ישנה עוד בעיה, אביו של רבי אברהם הוא רבי ישעיהו אב"ד פוזנא נפטר בכ"ג אדר תמ"ט, א"כ ודאי שר' אברהם לא קרא לבנו בשם אביו בעודו בחיים, ואם נרצה לומר כי רבי ישעיהו ראב"ד לבוב, היה בן ר' אברהם זה, נצטרך לדחוק עוד יותר ולומר כי הוא נולד אחרי אדר תמ"ט, ובפטירתו בטבת תצ"ב, היה בן פחות מארבעים ושלש שנים, ובימי חייו אלו, כבר הספיק להיות מגיד מישרים וראב"ד לבוב. על מצבתו, אין כלל איזכור לפטירתו בגיל צעיר כל כך. עדיין זה אפשרי. דחוק, אבל אפשרי.

נציין בזאת, עוד כי מי שבודאות היה בנו של ר' אברהם, הוא ר' זאב וואלף הלוי הורוביץ מיושבי הקלויז בק"ק אלטונא, אכן האריך ימים עד שנת תקל"ז, ועל מצבתו נחקק שהוא דור חמישי לשל"ה, ושהוא בן ר' אברהם הלוי מפוזן.

עוד הערה אחת נביא, בנו של רבי ישעיהו ראב"ד לבוב, היה רבי שמריה שמערל הלוי הורוביץ שאף הוא היה ראב"ד ומ"צ חוץ לעיר, הוא היה מעט פעיל בעיר בימי חייו, ונודע מחתימותיו מעט מזמני חייו. על פי נוסח מצבתו שהועתק אף הוא במצבת קודש, הוא נפטר בי"ט אדר תכ"ט, אלא שכבר העיר החכם באבער בספרו אנשי שם, כי זה ודאי טעות, שהרי חתימתו של ר' שמעריל מופיעה בפנקסים בלבוב ובהודעות למיניהם, החל משנת תע"ז ואילך, עד שנת תצ"א. על כן הוא משער שהיה חרות על האבן שנת פטירתו - תצ"ט, ומאז השערתו זו, הפך הדבר לקבע וכל כותבי הדורות כותבים כי ר' שמריה נפטר בשנת תצ"ט.

ועתה, נשוב ונתבונן, קבענו לעיל, כי לא יתכן שרבי ישעיהו ראב"ד לבוב נולד לפני אדר תמ"ט, ובכן, אף אם נאמר כי ר' ישעיהו נשא אשה מיד בהיותו כבן שלש עשרה, בשנת תס"ב, ובשנת תס"ג כבר נולד לו בן, הוא שמריה שמערל הלוי הורוביץ, האם הגיוני שחתימתו תופיעה בפנקסים משנת תע"ז, בהיותו אך בן ארבע עשרה? זה כמובן יתכן, ואפשרי, אבל דחוק, דחוק מאד.

ושוב, לפנינו מופיע נוסח המציבה, ואין בה שום איזכור כי הנפטר הלך לעולמו צעיר לימים, במקרה זה הוא בן שלושים ושש שנים בלבד.

אם היה מקור ברור לאותם כותבי קורות הימים, המלמד שאכן ר' אברהם הורוביץ אביו של רבי ישעיהו ראב"ד לבוב, הוא הוא רבי אברהם הלוי הורוביץ דיין פוזנא, הרי שהייתי מסכים לדחוק ולהידחק ולסדר את טווח הגילאים שיתאימו היטב. אלא שאין להם מקור. במאמר הבא נשוב לדון בענין זה, ולראות מנין נלקח עץ משפחה זה.