Rav Arye Leib HaKohen Heller zt"l
הרב אריה לייב בן יוסף הלר זצ"ל
Teves 19 , 5574
Known As: Ketzos HaChoshen
Father's Name: Yosef Heller
Rav Arye Leib HaKohen Heller zt"l
Rabbi Aryeh Leib HaKohen was a Rabbi, Talmudist, and Halachist in Galicia. He was known as "the Ketzos" based on his magnum opus, Ketzot Hachoshen.
Born circa 1745 in the Galician town of Kalush (presently located in Ukraine), Heller was a fifth-generation descendant of Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller. Heller was the youngest of five brothers with Chaim, Mordechai, Daniel, and Yehuda (author of Kuntras HaSfeikos), and one sister (about whom nothing is currently known).
In his youth, after being recognized by his father as a prodigy, Heller was sent to learn Torah from Rabbi Meshulam Igra of Tysmienica, Poland, an outstanding authority.
From 1788 to 1812, he was rabbi of Stryi, a position later to be held by his opponent in many halachic debates, Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum. He had four children: a daughter, Franziska Freide (1788-1842), who married Solomon Judah Loeb Rapoport (Shi'r) in 1810, and three sons: Yosef (1769-1832), Dovid (1771-1830), and Zvi Hirsch (1776-1834). Rabbi Heller's works became widely disseminated throughout Europe at a time when, due to technical and financial reasons, this kind of recognition was rare.
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Stories of Rav Arye Leib HaKohen Heller zt"l
It is said in the name of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz that the Ketzos HaChoshen’s popularity needs explaining, since many other Geonim who were greater in lomdus and Torah did not enjoy such acclaim. The Divrei Chaim explained that Rav Heller studied Torah with great Yiras Shomayim; he would closet himself in a special private room and do teshuva, crying and asking that he not be counted among those about whom Hashem says, “What have you to do with My laws?” (Avodas HaLeviim on Masechta Shavuos, Introduction)