(“The Tosfos Yom-Tov.”) Ma’adnei Melech V’Lechem Chamudoth [novellae to the Ro’sh, Rabbeinu Asher ben Yechiel]

Bavarian born Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller (1579-1654) is more commonly known as the ‘Tosfos Yom Tov’ after his major commentary to the Mishnah. In his youth he studied in Prague with both Rabbi Yehudah Loewe (the Maharal) and Rabbi Ephraim Luntschytz (the Kli Yakar) and already by aged 19 was asked to sit on the Maharal’s Judicial Court. By 1627 he was appointed Chief Rabbi of Prague. The author entitled the present commentary Ma’adanei Melech (“Royal Delicacies”), based upon Jacob’s blessing of the tribe of Asher (Genesis XLIX:20) - the dual meaning referring both to the necessity of bread and to the delicacies of a king. Similarly, the dual purpose of the work itself, was to provide legal decisions of Halacha of relevance to all, along with intricate pilpulistic discourses for the pleasure of the scholar - who are considered as kings (“Man Malki Rabanan.”) However, the author’s detractors deviously misconstrued the meaning of the title as an insult to the reigning monarch and a portent of revolution. Indeed R. Heller was imprisoned and upon release judiciously altered the title to the more innocuous “Maadanei Yom Tov.”