Rav Eliyahu Luantz of Vermeiz zt"l
הרב אליהו בן משה לואנץ זצ"ל
Tammuz 21 , 5396
Rav Eliyahu Luantz of Vermeiz zt"l
Son of Rav Moshe Ashkenazi
(Not to be confused with the earlier famous Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem of Chelm who was an ancestor of Chacham Tzvi and Rav Yaakov Emden. It is this earlier Eliyahu Baal Shem who was famed for creating a golem.)
Born in Frankfurt (Circa שכד 1564) on 23 Iyar. He was descended from the famed Rav Yosseleh of Rosheim (some say he was Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem’s grandfather) and from Rashi. This leads us to his yichus as part of the famed Luria, family since Rav Yosselman was a descendant of Rav Shlomo Schapira, Rashi the Baalei Tosfos and they were named Luria for the French river bank. The family name Luantz or Loanz is an acronym for Luria Ashkenazi that Rav Yosselman often signed with.
He studied under Rav Akiva of Frankfurt, Rav Yaakov Ginzberg of Friedberg (a teacher and rebbe of the Tosfos YomTov) and the Maharal of Prague. When he arrived in Poland he studied under the Chassid Rav Mendel Rav Avigdor’s Rosh Yeshiva and of Av Beis Din of Cracow. It is said that this was his teacher in Kabbalah.
He was a master at preparing manuscripts for publication and when in Cracow he met Rav Eliezer the brother of the Rema and the Chida in Shem haGedolim tells us how he prepared the manuscript of Darkei Moshe from the glosses written in the margins of Rav Moshe Isserles’ seforim. He published the same Darkei Moshe we use to this day, for which he writes (in his own introduction to Aderes Eliyahu) that he was given by Rav Eliezer as a gift the Rema’s manuscript commentary to the Zohar which Rav Eliyahu later incorporated and published as part of his own sefer Aderes Eliyahu.
He also prepared for publication and printed the Maharshal’s commentary Amudei Shlomo to the Semag and Shaarei Dura as well as the liturgical poems of Rav Akiva of Frankfurt.
Unrest and expulsions plagued the Jews of German lands. His wanderings across Europe led him to meet the Maharal and study under under him. He himself writes that he witnessed Divine Providence and Hashgacha during all of his travels when he was saved from bandits and armed robbers as well as other dangers. He finally arrived in Basel where he printed several of his seforim such as Rinas Dodim on Shir HaShirim as well as the poems and prayers of Rav Akiva of Frankfurt and the Amudei Shlomo of the Maharshal.
He was a master of Kabbalah and his use of Divine Names, amulets and Kameos earned him the title Baal Shem. He served as Rav of several cities and kehillos including Frankfurt, Fulda, Hanau, Worms. He also served as a chazzan, darshan and Rosh Yeshiva. His talmid Rav Yuzpa Shamash writes that Rav Eliyahu loved and collected many legends, stories and accounts from the ancient kehillah of Worms in older times since the times of the first beis hamikdash and he would use and incorporate these tales and their moral lessons during his derashos.
He was married twice once to Blumelin daughter of Rav Raphael and after she passed away in שצ he married Yettel’eh who passed away 5 years later in שצה.
He left behind the following children known to us:
Yehuda Yoselin Yosef named after Rav Yosselman of Rossheim who was a Shatz in Magentza whose Yahrzeit is mentioned in the memoir buch of Magentza as 5th day of Chol HaMoed Sukkos, buried 17 Tishrei תלא. Another son Dovid is known, as well as Menachem and a daughter Hindelin, who was the wife of Rav Uri Vibush.
He passed away on a Thursday 21 Tammuz (others say 29 Tammuz but the account from the pinkas chevra kadisha of Worms and memoir buch of Magentza cited by Avrohom Epstein in his sefer Mishpachas Luria pg53 both say it was on 21 Tammuz) ה'שצו (1636) at age seventy two (See Ohr Chaim by Rav Chaim Michel pgs 170,186)
His seforim:
Aderes Eliyahu on Zohar (published), Rinas Dodim on Shir HaShirim (published), Michlal Yofi on Koheles (published), Maaglei Tzedek (a commentary to Midrash Rabbeinu Bachaya) An unnamed commentary on Chovos HaLevavos (manuscript), Tzafnas Paneach on Tikkunei Zohar (manuscript), Commentary to Midrash Rabbah (manuscript), A Poem named Vikuach Yayin imMayim with commentary (published).
Based on the biography of Rav Eliyahu Luantz in the sefer Mishpachas Luria by Rav Avraham Epstein - pgs 47-54 and on the biography in the introduction to Aderes Eliyahu pg 9 and onwards
TRANSLATOR’S NOTES: (Some have made come to the erroneous conclusion and mistook that Rav Eliyahu Luantz Baal Shem of Worms and Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem of Chelm are one and the same person (see Seder HaDoros, Tzemach Dovid both cited by Intro to new edition of Aderes Eliyahu) and claimed that Chelm is a suburb of Worms. Other scholars and historians are however sure that they are in fact two different people (see Kelilas Yofi by Dembitzer and Ohr Chaim by Rav Michel, Melitzei Aish and others). Worms is in Germany whereas Chelm is in Poland. Furthermore Rav Eliyahu of Chelm’s (who was creator of the Golem) father was named Rav Aharon Yehuda and Rav Eliyahu Luantz of Worms’ father was named Rav Moshe. Tradition has it that Rav Eliyahu of Chelm had no matzeiva in the beis ha’chaim of Chelm whereas we know of and have photographic evidence for Rav Eliyahu Luantz’s matzeiva in Worms.)
Unfortunately we do not know the Yahrzeit of Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem of Chelm, creator of the Golem and ancestor of the Chacham Tzvi and so we will include his biography and family history here in the entry for his fellow Baal Shem and conamed Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem Luantz of Worms.
Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem was Rav of Chelm for almost his entire life. Rav Eliyahu was the son of Rav Yehudah Aharon of Chelm, he lived circa 1500-1583. He was famed as a miracle worker and Baal Shem especially because of the tradition that he created a golem. His descendant the famed Chacham Tzvi, father of Rav Yaakov Emden, himself testified that his ancestor Rav Eliyahu was famed to have created a golem, and the Chacham Tzvi discusses the halachic ramifications of such a creature such as can it be counted to a minyan for a quorom of ten men for davening and saying devarim she'be'kedushah. (Shut Chacham Tzvi Volume I Siman 93)
He was a child prodigy and by age 15 he was sent to study under Rav Shlomo Luria the Maharshal in Lublin were he excelled in his studies especially in the areas of halachah, rishonim and gemara. The Maharshal granted him semichah and guided him (Shut Maharshal Siman 42) and he was appointed Rav of Chelm like his father was. He also studied under the Bach and held halachic correspondence with him as well (Shut HaBach HaChadashos Siman 77).
(See also Sources in Yeshurun 17 Nissan pgs 664-667)
Stories of Rav Eliyahu Luantz of Vermeiz zt"l
Rav Moshe Duvid Shtrum of Tarnov once told how Rav Shimeleh Zelichover HY"D the famed mashgiach of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin once entered the beis medrash of Rav Aryeh Leibush of Sanz and he asked the yungeleit that were gathered there a question:
He asked them "why is that Rav Aryeh Leib does not recite LeDovid Hashem Ori, whereas in Shinuva (the son of tthe Divrei Chaim) they do recite it?! (the Divrei Chaim also did not recite it) they had no answer and he so told them "I will tell you a true story regarding Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem of Chelm:
"There was a decree of expulsion from the local squire, he was childless and he ordered all the Jews there to pray for him to have children and if they failed he would expel them all from his environs. Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem promised him a son within 12 months." The holy Rav Yisrael Baal Shem Tov retold this tale to his disciples and he told them "don't think that this came easily to Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem. At first Rav Eliyahu turned to the forces of holiness and when this failed he turned to the forces of darkness from the other side when this too failed, he laid his own life down on the line and turned to the leader of all the forces of evil himself," the Baal Shem Tov concluded "and as a punishment for forcing the hand of Heaven as it were, so to speak, don't assume that he was punished by sixty flames, instead he was told that he would lose all his nefesh, ruach and neshama, however since he laid his life down and self sacrificed himself to save the Jews, instead the heavenly decree was that two of the enacted prayers that he had instituted and they were: the recitation of LeDovid Hashem Ori and the second was the recitation of KeGavna."
Rav Shimeleh Zelichover concluded: "it is known for example the Rebbe Reb Meilech of Lizensk did not recite KeGavna whereas the Apta Rav the Ohev Yisroel did not recite leDovid Hashem Ori (in this manner the talmidei HaBaal Shem kept up the tradition of reciting these tefilos enacted by Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem while still the decree was fulfilled)."
(cited from Nezer HaKodesh Minhagei Ropshitz pg147)
Rav Yaakov Emden writes: I heard from my father's holy mouth (the Chacham Tzvi) regarding the golem that was created by my ancestor Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem of Chelm. After he saw that the golem grew too strong, Rav Eliyahu feared that he would destroy the entire world.
Therefore, Rav Eliyahu removed the Divine Name that was on the forehead of the golem, by so doing the golem lost his life and became dust and earth once more. However, the golem injured Rav Eliyahu and the golem scratched his face while Rav Eliyahu was attempting to detach the Divine Name from the golem by force. I also received the tradition that because the golem was created to fight against the goyim and take retribution and vengeance against them, therefore afterwards the wicked hounded Rav Eliyahu and he had to hide from them in fear. (She'elas Ya'abetz Volume II Siman 82)
The following tale appears in the collection of kameos, amulets and segulos attributed in part to Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem, I have left out the Divine Names and incantations (lechashim):
Once upon a time during the days of the mekubal our master Rav Eliyahu who was AvBeisDin of Chelm, in the small village of Galnik, in the vicinity of Chelm there lived one by the name of Reb Gavriel. On a Thursday in Sivan Reb Gavriel's wife gave birth to a baby boy.
Reb Gavriel sent word to Chelm to announce the good news and to send for Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem to come and serve as the mohel and perform the rite of circumcion and bris milah since he was the rabbi and the mohel in those parts.
In the evening Rav Eliyahu left Chelm for Galink, as he approached the border of the town he saw more than a hundred thousand witches and sorcerers with fiery flames pouring from their mouths, the flames surrounded them and he saw them playing with new-born baby.
When the Rav witnessed this scene he told his servant boy to pour him some water from his flask, Rav Eliyahu washed his hands and pronounced the awesome ineffable Divine Name. He brought seven knives and seven planks and two loaves and seven shoes, he then stabbed a knife into each shoe, he then removed his own shoes, washed his hands twice and raised the thumb of his right hand and held it in the pinky of his left hand, and then he declared that he was hereby annulling and cancelling the sorcery of these men and women, so that the child shall remain unharmed with the honor and great glory of the holy Name Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso LeOlam VaEd uLeOlmei Ad Shem Zichro Baruch hu uBarch Shemo LoAd. This Divine Name has the power to cancel and annul all sorcery even if it was wroughts by thousands of women, for its secrets are unknown and very mysterious and deep, using this name Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem killed the sorcerers and then he took the baby and brought him before his parents. When Rav Eliyahu arrived he said the holy Divine Name and all those present witnessed how "the other baby" that was a few moments before beside his mother, was now nothing more than a mound of straw and chaff, it was only an illusion that took the form of a human baby. Then, Rav Eliyahu handed the real baby he had saved from the husks and shells of impurity - from the forces of darkness known as the klippos and handed the baby plucked like a brand from the fire, back to his mother. (Toldos Adam Siman 86)
One of the most famous widespread traditions was the legend of the golem and the miraculous wonder stories about Rav Eliyahu Ba'al Shem who, it was said, created the golem of Chelm.
In Chelm's Yizkor Book the following version is written:
No one was allowed into the attic of the AlterSchul in Chelm, in fact no one even knew where the key to the attic could be found.
The secret used to be whispered from one ear to the other that up in the attic lie the remnants of the golem of the Chelmer Rav Eliyahu Ba'al Shem.
It was told that Rav Eliyahu Ba'al Shem created the golem from lime and clay. On days when the trade fair was running, the golem stood at attention in the marketplace, ax in hand. No sooner did the golem witness a peasant attempting to hit or beat a Jew, the golem would kill the peasant straight away.
The entire week the golem served the Rav and his Rebbitzen, performing menial tasks and hard manual labor in the Beis Midrash.
When the local squire, the Poritz or landowner found out about the golem's power, strength and might, the Ba'al Shem led the golem up to the attic, withdrew from him the Divine name of Hashem and the golem was left nothing more than an inert mound of lime and clay. The Ba'al Shem locked the door, took the key, and from then on then the attic door remains locked and sealed.
Many miracle stories about Rav Eliyahu Ba'al Shem have been told.
It is told that before his death he left a in his tzavaa - his last will and testament, that after his passing when his casket or coffin would be led past the Russian Kloister (there was no other way to reach the beis hachaim Jewish cemetery), and the Christian hooligans began throwing stones - as was their custom for many years - no one should run away instead, they should stop with the aron and remain standing in that place.
It was told that when Rav Eliyahu Ba'al Shem passed away his will was fulfilled. When the levaya - the funeral procession approached the Jewish bais hachaim and drew near the Kloister, the goyishe hooligans ran out of the Kloister and began to throw stones at the aron and at all the Jews who were engaged in the levaya of the great tzaddik.
No one ran, Rav Eliyahu sat up and looked into the sefer Torah that was in his aron, and a few minutes later the Kloister began to sink beneath the earth, together with all the hooligans.
Right after that the Ba'al Shem Tov stretched out in the coffin like a meis. The astonished and frightened Jews looked at one another before the funeral procession proceeded.
It was said that since then after that miracle the hooligans no longer threw stones during levayas at the Jewish funerals.
About the Kloister that sank, the cheder boys who studied in the home of the melamed Leib Paks would say that if someone would go down to the cellar and start jumping on the wooden floor boards, you can hear a kind of echo like the rining sound of a church bell which is the echos of the sunken Kloister.
It was also said that the Leib Paks house was built on the same place of the sunken church.
At the Chelm bais hachaim in a certain spot the bricks were in the circular shape of the Hebrew letter “Bais”. I saw with mine own eyes how on some of the bricks Hebrew letters were carved.
It was said that on the yahrezeit of Rav Eliyahu Ba'al Shem an angel or malach would appear and carve a letter on a brick.
Therefore, everyone was afraid to touch the bricks. That was the kever of Rav Eliyahu Ba'al Shem. There was no tombstone or matzeiva on the grave.
Sources: Yizkor Book Chelm published 1954 pgs 184-185 by Akiva Winik pg 265 by Josif Milner
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/dc2d9bf0-6498-0133-0d33-00505686d14e/book#page/109/mode/1up
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/dc2d9bf0-6498-0133-0d33-00505686d14e/book#page/110/mode/1up
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/dc2d9bf0-6498-0133-0d33-00505686d14e/book#page/150/mode/1up
The tale about the creation of the Golem was retold in the book Israel der Gotteskampfer der Baalschem von Chełm und sein Golem written by Chayim Block and published in 1920. See the Illustration from the Cover.