Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller
Encyclopedia
Aryeh Leib Heller-Kahane (1745-1812) was a Rabbi
, Talmud
ist, and Halachist
in Galicia. He was known as "the Ketzos" based on his greatest work, Ketzot Hachoshen, קצות החושן.
presently located in Ukraine.) Aryeh Leib was a fourth-generation descendant from Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller
. He was the youngest of four brothers (Chaim, Mordechai, Daniel, and Yehuda the Kuntras Ha'Sfeikos
) and one sister.
In his youth, after being recognized by his father as a prodigy
, Aryeh Leib was sent to learn Torah
from Rabbi Meshullam Igra of Tysmienica, Poland, an outstanding authority. From 1788 until 1812 Aryeh Leib was rabbi of Stry, a position later to be held by Aryeh Leib's opponent in many halachic
debates, Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum
.
Known as "the Ketzos" (based on his greatest work, Ketzot HaChoshen, קצות החושן), Rabbi Heller was a prominent critic of the Hasidic
movement (i.e., a misnaged- "[one who] opposes.") The Hasidic movement taught that closeness to God could be accomplished equally through intensive study of the Torah or through fervent song and dance. This unsettled many Torah authorities who feared that this philosophy may lead to the ultimate ignorance of the Torah by the masses. Regardless, he was held in high esteem by the Hasidic leaders in deference to his extraordinary Talmudic acumen.
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.
, the original high priest, and therefore was a member of the priestly class. Many cohanim
today claim to be descendants of the Kahana family including the current Toldos Aharon Rebbe
, but proof is difficult to establish without proper lineage. Typically, the claim of lineage to Rabbi Heler-Kahana is a tradition passed on through the generations as a source of pride.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ist, and Halachist
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
in Galicia. He was known as "the Ketzos" based on his greatest work, Ketzot Hachoshen, קצות החושן.
Biography
In 1745, Aryeh Leib was born to his father Yosef in the Galician town of KalushKalush, Ukraine
-Notable residents:*Stepan Bandera*August Aleksander Czartoryski*Jakub Sobieski*Jan "Sobiepan" Zamoyski*Tomasz Zamoyski*Fedir Danylak-Twin towns — sister cities:Kalush, Ukraine is twinned with:- Location :Local orientationRegional orientation...
presently located in Ukraine.) Aryeh Leib was a fourth-generation descendant from Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller
Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller
Yom-Tov Lipmann ben Nathan ha-Levi Heller, , was a Bohemian rabbi and Talmudist, best-known for writing a commentary on the Mishnah called the Tosafot Yom-Tov...
. He was the youngest of four brothers (Chaim, Mordechai, Daniel, and Yehuda the Kuntras Ha'Sfeikos
Yehuda Heller Kahana
Yehuda Heller-Kahane was a Rabbi, Talmudist, and Halachist in Galicia. He was known as "the Kuntras HaSfeikos" based on his work, Kuntras HaSfeikos, קונטרס הספיקות. He was a descendent of the Tosafos Yom Tov.-Life and works:...
) and one sister.
In his youth, after being recognized by his father as a prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, Aryeh Leib was sent to learn Torah
Torah study
Torah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
from Rabbi Meshullam Igra of Tysmienica, Poland, an outstanding authority. From 1788 until 1812 Aryeh Leib was rabbi of Stry, a position later to be held by Aryeh Leib's opponent in many halachic
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
debates, Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum
Yaakov Lorberbaum
Yaakov ben Moshe Lorberbaum of Lissa was a Rabbi and Posek...
.
Known as "the Ketzos" (based on his greatest work, Ketzot HaChoshen, קצות החושן), Rabbi Heller was a prominent critic of the Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
movement (i.e., a misnaged- "[one who] opposes.") The Hasidic movement taught that closeness to God could be accomplished equally through intensive study of the Torah or through fervent song and dance. This unsettled many Torah authorities who feared that this philosophy may lead to the ultimate ignorance of the Torah by the masses. Regardless, he was held in high esteem by the Hasidic leaders in deference to his extraordinary Talmudic acumen.
Rabbi Heller's works became widely disseminated throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
at a time when, due to technical and financial reasons, this kind of recognition was rare.
Works
R. Aryeh Leib wrote three major works:- Ketzot HaChoshen ("Ends of the Breastplate") is a halachicHalakhaHalakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
work which explains difficult passages in the Shulchan AruchShulchan AruchThe Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
, Choshen MishpatChoshen MishpatChoshen Mishpat is the Hebrew for "Breastplate of Judgement". The term is associated with one of the four sections of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of halakha , Arba'ah Turim. This section treats aspects of Jewish law pertinent to finance, torts, legal procedure and loans and interest in...
(which deals mainly with business and financial laws such as contracts, witnesses etc.) with novel ideas proposed by Rabbi Aryeh Leib. This remarkable work is considered a classic. Familiarity with this work is considered mandatory for any Torah scholar and it is a fixture in any Talmudic library. It is customarily studied in conjunction with R. Yaakov Lorberbaum's Netivot ha-Mishpat, which seeks to controvert R. Kahana's conclusions on many points. His brother R' Yehuda'sYehuda Heller KahanaYehuda Heller-Kahane was a Rabbi, Talmudist, and Halachist in Galicia. He was known as "the Kuntras HaSfeikos" based on his work, Kuntras HaSfeikos, קונטרס הספיקות. He was a descendent of the Tosafos Yom Tov.-Life and works:...
book the Kuntras Ha'Sfeikos was often published in tandem. - Avnei Milluim ("Filling Stones") is a halachic work which explains difficult passages in the Shulchan AruchShulchan AruchThe Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
, Even HaEzer (which deals mainly with marital issues) with novel ideas proposed by him. - Shev Shema'tataShev Shema'tataShev Shema'tata , sometimes pronounced Shev Shmaytsa, is a work on Talmudic logic and methodology by R. Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller...
("7 passages") is a work composed of seven sections, each with approximately 25 chapters, which explains intricate halachic topics including the validity of a single witness and the practical ramifications of a doubt. The reasoning process that Heller employs to analyse and resolve these very basic conflicts and contradictions in the Talmud is considered the basis for the analytical method used in modern times in Talmudic study. Testimony to the critical nature of this seminal work is the fact that it was one of the few texts chosen by the vaad hatzalah (the post WWII organization which saved Jews and helped them re-integrate into society) to be copied and disseminated. Although an early form of this work was initially presented by him when he was still a young man during his seven days of celebration after his weddingSheva BrachotSheva Brachot literally "the seven blessings" also known as birkot Nesuim , "the wedding blessings" in Jewish religious law are blessings that are recited for a bride and her groom as part of nissuim...
, it was actually one of his later publications and underwent significant editing by the author. His introduction to this celebrated work includes some profound Biblical exegesis. There is a close intellectual parallel with the work of the Shi'ite scholar Muhammad Baqir BehbahaniMuhammad Baqir BehbahaniMuhammad Baqir ibn Muhammad Akmal al-Wahid Bihbahani, also Vahid Behbahani , was a Twelver Shia Islamic scholar. He is widely regarded as the founder or restorer of the Usuli school of Twelver Shi'a Islam and as playing a vital role in narrowing the field of orthodoxy in Twelver Shi'a Islam by...
, who lived at the same time and also sought to resolve substantive legal problems by applying the procedural rules for dealing with doubtful cases.
Family significance
As indicated by the HaCohen in his name, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Heller-Kahana was descended from the family of AaronAaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
, the original high priest, and therefore was a member of the priestly class. Many cohanim
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
today claim to be descendants of the Kahana family including the current Toldos Aharon Rebbe
Toldos Aharon (Hasidic dynasty)
Toldos Aharon is a strongly anti-Zionist Hasidic movement, headquartered in Jerusalem's Meah Shearim neighborhood. Significant concentrations of Hasidim are also located in Ramat Beit Shemesh, London and New York. Toldos Aharon is a split-off from Shomer Emunim...
, but proof is difficult to establish without proper lineage. Typically, the claim of lineage to Rabbi Heler-Kahana is a tradition passed on through the generations as a source of pride.