Maadnei Melech V’Lechem Chamudoth [novellae to the Ro”sh, Rabbeinu Asher ben Yechiel]

HELLER, YOM TOV LIPMANN

Moses ben Bezalel Katz

Prague

1628

First Edition. Title letters historiated

Vinograd, Prague 325

R. Yom Tov Lipmann Heller (1579-1654) was born in Wallerstein, Bavaria. The most profound influences on his intellectual life were his paternal grandfather R. Moses Wallerstein and R. Judah Löw (Mahara”l) of Prague. He is most famous for his commentary to the Mishnah, “Tosaphoth Yom Tov.” The author entitled the present commentary "Maadanei 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 law of relevant to all, as well as intricate pilpulistic arguments 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 Heller was briefly imprisoned and thereafter judiciously altered the title to the more innocuous “Maadanei Yom Tov.”