Rabbi Israel Isserlin ben Petahiah (1390-1460) was a Talmudist, and Halakhist, best known for his Terumat HaDeshen, which served as one source for HaMapah, the component of the Shulkhan Arukh by Moses Isserles.

Biography

Rabbi Isserlin was born in Regensburg, Germany in 1390. He was forced to flee first to Italy and ultimately to Austria, where he settled in Wiener Neustadt and in Maribor. Among his teachers was Yaakov Moelin (the Maharil). He was Rosh yeshiva there, and his fame attracted many students. His learning emphasised the study of the Rishonim. He is frequently cited by his student, the Mahari Bruna as well as by Moses Isserles. He died in 1460.

Works

Terumat HaDeshen is written as 354 responsa. Note that Rabbi Shabbatai ha-Kohen comments in his famous commentary on Shulchan Aruch, the Shach, on Yoreh De'ah 196:20, that there is a tradition that Rabbi Isserlin was not answering questions posed to him in the Terumat HaDeshen, rather he actually wrote the questions and answers himself. The comment of the Shach implies that since the Terumat HaDeshen was not based on actual practical questions, when he argues with other authorities we may rule against decisions of the Termat HaDeshen. the The work is named for the practice in the Temple in Jerusalem of removing a part of the previous day's ashes from the furnace - 354 is the numerical value of Deshen. Terumat HaDeshen serves as an important source of the practices of the Ashkenazi Jews. The work was therefore used by Moses Isserles as one basis for HaMapah - the component of the Shulkhan Arukh which specifies divergences between Sephardi and Ashkenazi practice.

Rabbi Isserlin also wrote Pesakim u-kethahim (267 decisions) largely on points of the marriage law.

See also History of Responsa: Fifteenth century.

External links and references

References

• Isserlein (Isserlin), Israel Ben Pethahiah Ashkenazi, jewishencyclopedia.com
• Isserlein, Israel 1911encyclopedia.org
• Terumat HaDeshen, chaburas.org

Resources

• Terumat haDeshen excerpts