Aspaklaria Hame’ira

A Rare, Historically Important Publication, Branding Jonathan Eybescheutz a Heretic. A collection of letters and decisions attacking Jonathan Eybescheutz, apparantly published by his arch opponent Rabbi Jacob Emden. A response to the lame edict by the King of Denmark that the tortuous controversy concerning the suspected Sabbathian nature of amulets circulated by Eybescheutz should be stilled. The respondents include: Jacob Joshua of Cracow, the author of Pnei Yehoshua, (who at the time responded from Worms, “as my eyes and heart are hoping all day to settle in the Land of Israel”); R. Aryeh Leib of Amsterdam (brother-in-law of Jacob Emden); the scholars of the Kloiz of Brody; and Ezekiel Landau, author of Noda Beyehuda, then in Yampola All respond in a virulent and vitriolic manner. Many attack Eybescheutz violently, stating that his deeds and personality are all “lies and forgery.” Until the resolution of the matter, it is decreed forbidden to ask R. Jonathan any questions pertaining to Jewish law, or to consume foodstuff of which he has ritually supervised. R. Jacob Joshua exhorts: should his words not be heeded, a curse of the Rabbis will result, “for which there is no cure.” Ezekiel Landau phrases matters more diplomatically, stating that although Eybescheutz’s writings are worse than the heresy of Aristotle, it is incumbent upon the “Gaon” R. Jonathan to remove the perverse allegations against him by issuing a denouncement against “the author” of these impieties, thus cleansing his reputation. Regarding Landau’s stance in this controversy see S. Z. Leiman, When a Rabbi is Accused of Heresy in: Essays in Honor of Marvin Fox (1989) pp.179-194