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Great Leaders of our People
Rabbi Yonason Eybeshitz
(1690-1764)
An exceptional Talmudist, Halachist and Kabbalist, Rabbi Eybeschitz held positions as
Dayan of Prague, and later rose to the position of Rabbi of the "Three
Communities," Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek.
He had contacts with Christian leaders of the period, debating religious and philosophical
topics with them. His position was challenged on a number of occasions following
allegations that he was a secret follower of the Shabbateanism, an outlawed movement
centered around the false messiah Shabtai Zvi, despite Rabbi Eybeshitz supporting the
excommunication of all Shabbatean followers.
The controversy over whether Rabbi Eybeshitz was a Shabbatean spread to all major Jewish
communities, and attacks by opponents lasted until his death.
Thirty of his works in the area of Halacha (Jewish law) have been published. In addition,
several of his works on homiletics, teaching methodology, and Kabbala are currently in
print.
It is interesting to note that only one of his works was published in his lifetime. The
posthumous printing of so many of his works is testimony to his influence on his
contemporaries through his oral teachings and his personality.
Y.R.
Biographies
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The above graphic includes photographs that were provided by VERAfilm archives.
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