Rabbi Israel of Bruna (ישראל ברונא; 1480–1400) was a -Germany rabbi and Posek (decisor on Halakha). He is also known as Mahari Bruna, the Hebrew language acronym for "Our Teacher, the Rabbi, Israel Bruna". Rabbi Bruna is best known as one of the primary Ashkenazi authorities quoted by Moses Isserles in the Shulkhan Arukh.
Biography
Rabbi Bruna was born in
Brno in the
Bohemian Kingdom, although often anachronically he is stated as "been born in
Germany".
He studied under the leading
Ashkenazi rabbis of his time:
Jacob Weil and
Israel Isserlin, who
semicha him and spoke very highly of him. "He was a brilliant student, who devoted himself, body and soul, to the study of the
Talmud." He was then elected rabbi of his hometown of
Brno, known in Talmudic Hebrew literature as "Bruna". After the expulsion of the Jews from that city (1454) he settled at
Ratisbon,
Bavaria, where he opened a
yeshivah.
His later life has been described as "eventful and troublesome".
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His position in Ratisbon caused some controversy, dividing the community. Rabbi Anschel Segal, who already was operating a yeshivah there, felt Rabbi Bruna should have opened his yeshivah elsewhere. Among Rabbi Anschel's followers there were some who resorted to painting the word "heretic" on Rabbi Bruna's seat in the synagogue, and when he preached, they would stage a walkout. Rabbi Bruna, however, bore the attacks and insults with humility, and on the death of Rabbi Segal, he was accepted by the whole community.
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In 1474, following a dispute between Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Duke Ludwig of Landsberg over a tax placed on the Jewish community, Bruna was imprisoned by the Emperor to compel him to use his authority in the Emperor's favor; he was released after thirteen days in prison.
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Rabbi Bruna was later threatened with execution based on a charge of Blood libel, brought by a convert to Christianity, Hans Vagol. The community appealed to Frederick III, as well as to King Ladislav of Bohemia, both of whom declared Rabbi Bruna innocent.
Works
Rabbi Bruna was one of the greatest
posek of his time: rabbis and scholars from various cities and countries sent him their queries on all matters relating to Jewish law. These
responsa,
Teshuvot Mahari Bruna, are his best known work. Importantly, they served as a source of
Halakha for
Moses Isserles'
HaMapah - the gloss on the
Shulkhan Arukh describing differences between
Ashkenazi and
Sephardi minhag. See also
External links
