Ir Gibborim [moral sermons on topics and character traits in order of the Pentateuch]

EPHRAIM (SOLOMON) OF LUNTSCHYTZ

Ambrosius Froben

Basle

1580

FIRST EDITION

Vinograd, Basle 166; Prijs, Basle 126

The author (1550-1619) studied under the tutelage of R. Solomon Luria (MaHaRSHa”L). He later served as Chief Justice of the rabbinical court of Prague. Today Ephraim Luntschytz is perhaps best known for his Keli Yakar (“Precious Vessel”), a popular homiletic commentary to the Pentateuch and included in most editions of Mikra’oth Gedoloth. The author issued an expanded version of Ir Gibborm entiled Oleloth Ephraim following criticism received for his alledged neglect to cite sufficient sources in the earlier work. Luntschytz defended himself by stating that “At the time [that I wrote Ir Gibborim] I had neither bread to eat nor clothes to wear...and had no books to consult...I wrote only the things that my memory retained from my youth.” See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp.151-52