*Aaaaa---> This day in Jewish history- 10 Adar Maharal Meets Emperor (1592) Rabbi Judah ben Bezalel Lowe, known as the Maharal of Prague was famous among Jews and non-Jews alike. He was a mystic who was revered for his holiness and Torah scholarship, as well as his proficiency in mathematics, astronomy, and other sciences. Eventually, word of his greatness and supernatural powers reached the ears of Emperor Rudolph II. The Emperor invited the Maharal to his castle on February 23, 1592. There they conversed for one and a half hours, and developed a mutual respect for each other. Few among the great men of Jewish history have been the subject of so many popular legends as Rabbi Judah ben Bezalel of Prague. He was said to possess great powers. One legend tells of the Maharals having shown the emperor his far-off castle by television. Another one tells of the Maharal per request of the emperor having brought down the spirits of the twelve sons of Jacob in the presence of the emperor. Rabbi Judah Lowe made use of his excellent connections with the Emperor, often intervening on behalf of his community when it was threatened by anti-Semitic attacks or oppression. Creator of the Golem The Maharal of Prague must have also been a master of Kabbalah, for most of the legends concerning him speak of his knowledge of the divine creation and the hidden ways of G-d. The most famous story is that of the Golem which he created out of clay and which he brought to life by the use of G-ds holy name. The Maharal averted many calamities and blood-libels through the Golem. Every Friday evening, he would remove the sacred amulet bearing the name of G-d from the Golem, in order that it might not profane the Sabbath. When the Golem had performed his mission, the Maharal laid it away in the attic of the Prague Synagogue. In later years, a statue of Der Hohe Rabbi Uwe, created by a famous Czech sculptor, was placed before the new city hall of Prague. But the Maharal has not become so revered a figure amongst the Jewish people because of his supernatural powers. To us, he is the man who during one of the trying periods of Jewish history has done so much for his Jewish brethren, who was their spiritual leader and their spokesman, and who in his writings has left us a wealth of deep Jewish thought and moral teachings. We do not think of the Maharal only as a creator of the Golem, but rather of the light he has brought to Torah students and of the source of inspiration and faith contained in his ethical writings.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:33:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015