SHAPIRA, JOSHUA ISAAC BEN JEHIEL

SHAPIRA, JOSHUA ISAAC BEN JEHIEL (d. 1873), rabbi and talmudist. Known as Eizel Ḥarif ("sharp") because he was one of the keenest intellects and most outstanding pilpulists of his day, he was av bet din successively at Kalvarija, Kutno, Tiktin, and, finally, Slonim.

Shapira was the author of (1) Emek Yehoshua (1942), in two parts: part 1 – 24 responsa on the Shulḥan Arukh; part 2 – 16 occasional homilies; (2) Naḥalat Yehoshu'a (1851), in two parts: part 1 – responsa on several halakhot and various subjects in the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds; part 2 – Sabbath and festival homilies, and, at the end, a eulogy on his father; (3) No'am Yerushalmi, commentary and glosses on the Jerusalem Talmud – on Zera'im (1863), Mo'ed (1866), Nashim (1868), Nezikin (1869); (4) Ibbei ha-Naḥal (1855?), homilies; (5) Sefat ha-Naḥal (1859), homilies and comments on aggadot in the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds; (6) Aẓat Yehoshu'a (1868), commentary on the questions asked by the "sages of Athens" (Bek. 8b); (7) Marbeh Eẓah (1870), commentary on the aggadic statements of Rabbah bar Ḥana; (8) Marbeh Tevunah (1872), on the basic principles of the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds. Shapira was one of the few scholars in his generation who attached as much value to the Jerusalem Talmud as to the Babylonian, a fact amply reflected in his commentaries.

bibliography:

S.M. Chones, Toledot ha-Posekim (1910), 481.

[Samuel Abba Horodezky]