Rabbi
A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as '' semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form o ...
Elazar Rokeach, also known as Eleazar ben Samuel (c. 1665—1742), was the author of ''Maaseh Rokeach'',
and
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi ( he, רב ראשי ''Rav Rashi'') is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a ...
of
Amsterdam.
He was born at
Kraków about 1665; died at
Safed
Safed (known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as Tzfat; Sephardi Hebrew, Sephardic Hebrew & Modern Hebrew: צְפַת ''Tsfat'', Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation, Ashkenazi Hebrew: ''Tzfas'', Biblical Hebrew: ''Ṣǝp̄aṯ''; ar, صفد, ''Ṣafad''), i ...
,
Israel, 1742. According to family legends, he was a direct paternal descendant of
Eleazar of Worms. On the completion of his studies he became ''
dayyan'' of Kraków. In 1708 he accepted the rabbinate of Rakow,
Poland. From there he went to
Brody, where he became rabbi (1714). In 1735 he went to Amsterdam in response to a call from the
Ashkenazic congregation there. A medal was designed in his honor, one side of which exhibited his head in relief, surrounded by the words: "Eleazar ben Samuel, Rabbi of Brody" (in
Hebrew), the other side containing chosen verses from the
Psalms. Elazar was one of those who placed Moses Ḥayyim Luzzatto under excommunication.
[ Jewish Encyclopedia Bibliography: Friedberg, ''Gesch. der Familie Schor'', p. 16; idem, ''Luḥot Zikkaron'', p. 52; Heimann Joseph Michael, Michael, ''Or ha-Ḥayyim'', p. 239; I. T. Eisenstadt, ''Da'at Ḳedoshim'', p. 181.]
In 1740 Elazar decided to go to Palestine. He took up his residence at Safed, where his life, however, was not of a peaceful character. It came to his knowledge that many of the most respected citizens of the place were reading the works of Nehemiah Ḥayyun and of other adherents of Shabbethai Ẓebi. Elazar vigorously endeavored to eradicate this tendency, but his efforts were in vain. His life thus became embittered, and he was seriously contemplating a return to Europe, when death intervened. Elazar, besides being a great Talmudist, was a profound Kabbalah, cabalist and an able ''Maggid, darshan''.
His published works are: "''Arba' Ṭure Eben''" (''Four Rows of Stone''), containing History of responsa in Judaism, responsa and Wikt:novellae, novellæ on Maimonides' "''Mishneh Torah, Yad''" and on the Talmud (Lemberg, 1789); "''Maaseh Rokeach''" (''Work of the Ointment-Maker''), a Kabbalah, cabalistic commentary on the Mishnah (Amsterdam, 1740);
"''Maaseh Rokeach''," on the Pentateuch
(Lemberg, 1789).
His grandson was Rabbi Elazar Rokeach (II), father of Rabbi Sholom Rokeach of Belz (Hasidic dynasty), Belz.
In various times up to the present, many people bearing the surname "Rokeach" or "Rokach" - including famous later rabbis, Israeli politicians and others prominent in different fields - are considered to be among his descendants.
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rokeach, Elazar
1665 births
1742 deaths
Bible commentators
Chief rabbis of the Netherlands
Jews and Judaism in the Netherlands
Judaism in Amsterdam
Rabbis from Amsterdam
Rabbis from Kraków
Rabbis in Safed