The Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehuda Löw (c. 1520–1609): biography and works
Rabbi Yehuda Löw ben Betzalel (יהודה ליווא בן בצלאל), the Maharal of Prague (from Morenu HaRav Löw), was a talmudist, thinker and rabbi in Moravia, Prague and Poland. He died in Prague on September 17, 1609 and is buried in the old Jewish cemetery of the city. His popular fame is due to the legend of the Golem, which is much later than his life.
Quick facts
| Name | Rabbi Yehuda Löw ben Betzalel. Acronym: Maharal |
| Born | Around 1520 (sources give 1512, 1520 and 1526), probably in Poznań |
| Died | September 17, 1609, in Prague |
| Posts | Rabbi of Moravia (Nikolsburg), of Prague and of Poland |
| Works | Gur Aryeh, Netivot Olam, Tiferet Yisrael, Gevurot Hashem |
Family
He was married to Perl; they had six daughters and a son, Betzalel, a rabbi in Kolín. His older brother was Chaim ben Betzalel, and his uncle Yaakov ben Chaim was a rabbi of the Holy Roman Empire. His granddaughter, Eva Bacharach, was a scholar. Davidic descent is attributed to him, but that claim is disputed by modern scholars.
His rabbinic career
- 1553: provincial rabbi (Landesrabbiner) of Moravia, based in Nikolsburg (Mikulov), until his retirement in 1573.
- 1573: he moved to Prague as rabbi.
- 1592: he went to Poznań on being elected chief rabbi of Poland.
- Toward the end of his life he returned to Prague, where he died.
The meeting with Rudolf II
On February 23, 1592 he had an audience with Emperor Rudolf II, accompanied by his brother Sinai and his son-in-law Yitzchak Cohen. The conversation seems to have dealt with Kabbalah, a subject that fascinated the emperor.
His works
- Gur Aryeh (Prague, 1578): a supercommentary on Rashi’s commentary on the Torah.
- Gevurot Hashem (Kraków, 1582): on Passover and the Exodus.
- Derech Chaim (Kraków, 1589): a commentary on Pirkei Avot.
- Netivot Olam (Prague, 1595–1596): a work of ethics.
- Be’er HaGolah (Prague, 1598): a defense of the Aggadah, in reply above all to Azariah dei Rossi.
- Tiferet Yisrael (Venice, 1599): a philosophical exposition for Shavuot.
The source notes that he did not embrace Kabbalah or other mystical traditions, although he knew them.
The Golem: legend and history
The legend tells that he created a creature of clay to protect the Jews of Prague, above all from blood-libel accusations. Historians consider it a German literary invention of the early 19th century; the oldest known source is the book Der Jüdische Gil Blas, by Friedrich Korn, from 1834. Legends about him began after his death, in 1609, but the Golem legend is not historical.
Legacy
Among his disciples were Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller and David Gans, who worked in astronomy and kept in contact with Tycho Brahe. A statue of him stands in Prague, and in 2009 Czech stamps and a coin were issued for the 400th anniversary of his death.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Maharal create a Golem?
It is a later legend. The historical sources do not document it.
What does Maharal mean?
It is an acronym of Morenu HaRav Löw (“our teacher, Rabbi Löw”).
Where is he buried?
In the old Jewish cemetery of Prague, where his tombstone is preserved.
Sources
- Judah Loew ben Bezalel, reference article (English Wikipedia) and the sources it cites
