Rabbi Yeshayah Halevi Horowitz • Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz • The Shlah
The Shlah Hakadosh
Era of the AcharonimThe Shlah Hakadosh — Rabbi Yeshayah Halevi Horowitz (1558–1630) — was one of the greatest rabbis of Ashkenaz in the 17th century. He was born in Prague, Bohemia, to his father Rabbi Avraham Halevi Horowitz, of the renowned Horowitz family. He studied under Rabbi Shlomo Leibush an…
Biography
The Shlah Hakadosh — Rabbi Yeshayah Halevi Horowitz (1558–1630) — was one of the greatest rabbis of Ashkenaz in the 17th century. He was born in Prague, Bohemia, to his father Rabbi Avraham Halevi Horowitz, of the renowned Horowitz family. He studied under Rabbi Shlomo Leibush and the Maharam of Lublin, and was counted among the greats of his generation. He served as rabbi in communities across Ashkenaz and Poland, and later made aliyah to the Land of Israel. He composed Shnei Luchot HaBrit (the Shlah) — one of the foundational books of Judaism, combining halacha, ethics, kabbalah, and customs, accepted by all communities of Israel. He died in Tiberias and was buried near the tomb of the Rambam. His book was printed after his death by his son, Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel, and became one of the most studied and beloved books in the Jewish people.
Life Story
Childhood
He was born in Prague, Bohemia, in 1558, to his father Rabbi Avraham Halevi Horowitz, of the Horowitz family — a famous and important family of scholars and community leaders in Prague. The Horowitz family was among the pillars of Torah and leadership in Ashkenaz, and from it came rabbis and leaders for the generations. Already in his childhood he was revealed as a boy of talent and sharp mind, and was sent to study Torah under the sages of Prague.
Teachers
In his youth he studied under Rabbi Shlomo Leibush, one of the sages of Prague. Afterward he traveled to study under the Maharam of Lublin — Rabbi Meir of Lublin, one of the greats of Poland — who became one of his preeminent teachers. From his teachers he received the inquiry into the Talmud and halacha, as well as the kabbalistic and ethical influence that is evident in his writings. His teachers recognized his greatness and saw in him an outstanding disciple.
Students
He raised many disciples in the communities of Ashkenaz and Poland where he served as rabbi. His son, Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel Halevi Horowitz, the author of Vavei HaAmudim, was one of his preeminent disciples and continued his way; he also edited and published his father's book after his death. His disciples and his generation saw in him a decisor and a leader, and his book became a model for the generations.
Family
His father, Rabbi Avraham Halevi Horowitz, was one of the sages of Prague and of the Horowitz family. His son, Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel Halevi Horowitz, composed Vavei HaAmudim and published his father's book. The Horowitz family was among the pillars of Torah in Ashkenaz, and from it came rabbis and leaders for the generations.
Key Events
He served as rabbi in communities across Ashkenaz and Poland, including Prague and Frankfurt. On his way he passed through many communities, and in each place he led the public in Torah and ethics. At a later stage in his life he made aliyah to the Land of Israel — a rare and dangerous journey in those days — and settled first in Jerusalem and afterward in Tiberias. His aliyah was seen as an act of holiness and self-sacrifice. In his work Shnei Luchot HaBrit he combined halacha, ethics, kabbalah, and customs, thus creating a foundational book accepted by all communities of Israel.
Miracles
A few legends were woven around the name of the Shlah, including stories of his holiness, of his self-sacrifice in his aliyah to the Land of Israel, and of his prayers that were a model in his generation. It is told of his second marriage, which was arranged through divine providence after his first wife did not bear children, and of the son born to him from this marriage — Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel. These legends, though not documented in his own writings, reflect the admiration of the generations for his figure and his holiness.
Influence
The influence of the Shlah is felt in the entire world of Torah and ethics of both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewry. His book Shnei Luchot HaBrit became one of the foundational books of Judaism, and is studied and cited in all communities of Israel. His way — the combination of halacha, ethics, kabbalah, and customs — shaped the character of traditional Judaism for the generations. His prayers and studies for the education of children ('Mizmor LeDavid Hashem Ro'i Lo Echsar' and 'Shenuvim BeMitzvot HaKedoshot') were accepted in all Israel. His tomb in Tiberias became a pilgrimage site.
Death
He died in Tiberias on 11 Nisan 5390 (1630), at the age of about 72. He was buried in the compound of the tomb of the Rambam in Tiberias, and his burial place became a site of prayer and pilgrimage. His book Shnei Luchot HaBrit was published by his son, Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel, after his death, and the book became one of the most widespread and beloved books in the Jewish people.
Writings
Shnei Luchot HaBrit (The Shlah)
1648 (Amsterdam, after his death)Halacha, Ethics, and Kabbalah
A foundational book of Judaism, combining halacha, ethics, kabbalah, and customs. It is divided into two parts: Luchot HaBrit — on laws and customs throughout the year and the weekly portions, and Luchot Edut — on ethics, divine service, and education. The book was printed after his death by his son, Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel, and became one of the most widespread and beloved books in the Jewish people. It is accepted by all communities of Israel, and is studied in the entire world of Torah.
Vavei HaAmudim
c. 1690Ethics and Divine Service
A work by his son, Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel Halevi Horowitz, which complements his father's book. It is included here because of its close connection to Shnei Luchot HaBrit and to the way of the Shlah. The work deals with divine service and ethics, and continues the way of the Shlah.
Prayers and Studies for the Education of Children
In his lifetime (before 1630)Education and Prayer
Prayers and studies that the Shlah established for the education of children, chief among them 'Mizmor LeDavid Hashem Ro'i Lo Echsar' and 'Shenuvim BeMitzvot HaKedoshot'. These prayers were accepted in all Israel, and are said in schools and Talmud Torahs to this day. They reflect the way of the Shlah in educating to the fear of Heaven and to good traits.
His Way and Views
Torah Study
The Shlah saw the study of Torah as the calling of man and the foundation of divine service. He demanded that the Torah be studied through inquiry, perseverance, and intention, and that the study be connected with the fear of Heaven and with ethics. In his book Shnei Luchot HaBrit he emphasized the importance of studying Torah for its own sake, and the influence of the study on man and on the world. He saw in the study of Torah not only a means of understanding halacha, but a service of the heart and the soul.
Halacha
He was a decisor and a leader, and in his book Shnei Luchot HaBrit he combined halacha with the reasons and the sources. He saw in halacha the revelation of the divine will, and in its fulfillment the purpose of man. His way in decision was characterized by precision, deep inquiry, and the understanding of the reasons, and was influenced by his teachers in Poland and Ashkenaz.
Faith
The faith of the Shlah was whole and deep, and found full expression in his writings. He saw in faith and in the fear of Heaven the foundation of divine service, and in the fulfillment of the commandments and in the study of Torah the way to realize them. He combined in his faith both kabbalah and ethics, and saw in them complementary ways of divine service. He saw in all the events of life divine providence, and sought to see the hand of God in everything.
Ethics
The Shlah saw the repair of traits and the fear of Heaven as the foundation of divine service. He demanded humility, alacrity, and guarding the tongue, and saw them as a condition for the fulfillment of the Torah and for the attainment of truth. In his book he explained the virtue of humility, the danger of pride, and the importance of the repair of traits as a foundation for service. He emphasized the importance of educating children and youths to good traits and to the fear of Heaven.
Customs
The Shlah enacted and established customs and ordinances in his communities, and in his book he gathered the customs and ordinances of the communities of Israel. He saw in customs an important element of the fulfillment of the Torah, and sought to establish them on halachic and ethical foundations. His prayers and studies for the education of children were accepted in all Israel, and are said in schools and Talmud Torahs to this day.
Character
He was humble, a God-fearing man, and devoted to Torah and to disciples. He refused honor, and was content with little. He had the courage to make aliyah to the Land of Israel in days when this aliyah was dangerous and rare, and a softness in his attitude toward his fellow creatures. His figure became a model of holiness, a scholar, and a man of ethics, and his memory is preserved in Israel as one of the greats of the generations.
Public Role
He led his communities in Torah and in ethics, and saw in the leadership of the public a holy mission. In each place of his service he acted to repair the community, to educate the children, and to deepen the fear of Heaven. His aliyah to the Land of Israel was also a public act of self-sacrifice, and became a model for the generations. His book Shnei Luchot HaBrit became a foundational book in all communities of Israel, and influenced the character of traditional Judaism.
Famous Quotes
"A person is obligated to say: For me the world was created"
"The main thing is the education of children, for from them Torah and the fear of Heaven will grow"
"Nothing stands before prayer and the outcry from the depth of the heart"
"The fear of Heaven is the gate to all good, and the Torah is the way to it"
Famous Stories
The Shlah saw in the aliyah to the Land of Israel a holy mission and self-sacrifice. In days when this aliyah was dangerous and rare, he left his communities in Ashkenaz and Poland and made aliyah to the Land. He settled first in Jerusalem and afterward in Tiberias. His aliyah was seen in his generation as an act of holiness, and became a model for the generations. His tomb in Tiberias, in the compound of the tomb of the Rambam, became a site of prayer and pilgrimage.
The Shlah combined in his book Shnei Luchot HaBrit the entire world of Torah — halacha, ethics, kabbalah, and customs — thus creating a foundational book accepted by all communities of Israel. The book was printed after his death by his son, Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel, and became one of the most widespread and beloved books in the Jewish people. His way — the combination of the entire world of Torah in one book — shaped the character of traditional Judaism for the generations.
The Shlah established prayers and studies for the education of children, chief among them 'Mizmor LeDavid Hashem Ro'i Lo Echsar' and 'Shenuvim BeMitzvot HaKedoshot'. These prayers were accepted in all Israel, and are said in schools and Talmud Torahs to this day. They reflect the way of the Shlah — to see in the education of children the foundation of the continuation of Torah and the fear of Heaven for the generations.
Students
Teachers
Grave Site
Grave Details
- Grave Name
- Tomb of the Shlah Hakadosh
- City
- Tiberias
- Country
- Israel
Timeline
Birth in Prague, Bohemia
Study under Rabbi Shlomo Leibush and the Maharam of Lublin
Beginning of service as rabbi in communities of Ashkenaz and Poland
Service as rabbi in Frankfurt and other communities
Aliyah to the Land of Israel; settlement in Jerusalem
Move to Tiberias
Death in Tiberias; burial in the compound of the tomb of the Rambam
Printing of Shnei Luchot HaBrit by his son, Rabbi Shabbtai Sheftel (Amsterdam)
Legacy
The legacy of the Shlah Hakadosh is felt in the entire world of Torah and ethics of Israel. His book Shnei Luchot HaBrit became one of the foundational books of Judaism, and is studied and cited in all communities of Israel — Ashkenaz, Sephard, and Hasidism alike. His way — the combination of halacha, ethics, kabbalah, and customs — shaped the character of traditional Judaism for the generations. His prayers and studies for the education of children were accepted in all Israel, and are said in schools and Talmud Torahs to this day. His aliyah to the Land of Israel in days when this aliyah was dangerous and rare became a model of self-sacrifice and holiness. His tomb in Tiberias, in the compound of the tomb of the Rambam, became a site of prayer and pilgrimage. The figure of the Shlah — the scholar, the man of ethics, and the holy one — became a model for the generations, and his memory is preserved in Israel as one of the greats of the generations.