Rav Yosef Shaul Nathanson of Lemberg zt"l
הרב יוסף שאול בן אריה לייבוש נאטהאנזאהן זצ"ל
Adar I 27 , 5635
Known As: Shoel Umeishiv, Lemberger Rav
Father's Name: Aryeh Leibush Nathanson
Rav Yosef Shaul Nathanson of Lemberg zt"l
(1808–1875 / 5568[70]-5635)
Born in Brezhan in 1808/5568 (others say 1810/5570) to Rav Aryeh Leibush, author of the sefer, Bais E”l.
He married Shifra Buna the daughter of Rav Yitzchok Aharon HaLevi Etinga of Lwow. Even as a young chassan, he was already recognized as an outstanding talmid chacham and a gaon who was master of all of Shas and poskim.
In his father-in-law's home, he became close with his new brother-in-law, Rav Mordechai Zev Etinga and the two studied together as partners for many years.
They collaborated to author the sefer, Mefarshei HaYam, a commentary on the sefer, Yam HaTalmud on Bava Kama. They also exchanged responsa and halachic queries with four great geonim of the generation: Rabbi Akiva Eiger of Posen, Rav Moshe Schreiber, the Chasam Sofer of Pressburg, Rav Mordechai Benet and Rav Hirsch Charif of Bonihad, and these are published there as well.
They also authored together works such as Magen Gibborim on Shulchan Aruch -- Orach Chaim, and Meiras Aynaim on treifos haReiya, Maasei Alfas on the Rif, Yad Yosef and Yad Shaul on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, as well as many other joint writings.
Alone, Rav Yosef Shaul authored fourteen volumes of shu"t (responsa) named Shoel U’Mashiv as well as Toras Moshe on the Rema's Toras Chatas and Ner Maaravi on the Yerushalmi among others.
At age forty-nine in ת"ריז, after the death of his uncle Rabbi Yaakov Meshulam Orenstein, the author of Yeshuos Yaakov, Rav Yosef Shaul was appointed to succeed him as the AvBeisDin of Lwow (Lemberg). He served in the position for eighteen years, while never taking a salary, as his wealth allowed him to live comfortably and study and teach Torah. He was a great ba’al tzedakah who supported the poor. He founded a soup kitchen and could even be found from time to time sitting and eating his meal together with those whom he supported.
The Shoel U’Meshiv also took an active role and interest in communal affairs. He was involved in the great rabbinic decisions and debates in his region and generation. His greatness in Torah was well known and people wrote to him with their halachic queries from far and wide.
He passed on 27 Adar I, 5635.