R. Ephraim Zalman ben Menahem Mannes Margolioth (1760–1828) Ephraim studied under his uncle, R. Alexander Margolioth, rabbi of Satanov, Isaac of Ostrow, author of Berit Kehunnat Olam, and R. Ezekiel Landau. In his youth he was rabbi of Ohanov, but later left the rabbinate, according to some reports declining an offer of the rabbinate of Frankfort. R. Margoliot settled in Brody and went into business, in which he was highly successful. He owned commercial establishments in Vienna and it was said of him: "From the time of the minister Saul Wahl there has not been Torah and wealth such as belong to Margolioth." He spent most his time in study, leaving the conduct of his business to his partner Simeon Dishze. He also studied esoteric works with a group of kabbalists at Brody, and had a sound knowledge of history. Margolioth wrote many books and exchanged responsa with the greatest rabbis of his time, with some of whom he maintained close relations. He was involved in the controversy caused by Joshua Heshel Zoref's book Ha-Zoref and established the fact that it had strong leanings toward Shabbateanism. He also contended with the communal leaders of Brody over the leniency extended to the wealthy parnasim under the prevailing system of communal taxation and demanded their full participation in community expenditure.

R. Margolioth gave his approbation to a great number of books, including many by hasidic rabbis. His own works, which appeared in many editions, and many of his halakhic decisions have been accepted. His works, in addition to Matteh Efrayim, include: Beit Efrayim, part 1 entitled Peri Tevu'ah, with commentary Rosh Efrayim (Lemberg, 1809); part 2 Shulhan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah (ibid., 1810); responsa Beit Efrayim (ibid., 1818); and another collection of responsa Beit Efrayim (Brody, 1866); Shem Efrayim, on Rashi's commentary to the Pentateuch and haftarot (Ostrow, 1826); Zera Efrayim on the Pesikta Rabbati (Lemberg, 1853); Yad Efrayim, on Shulhan Arukh, Orah Hayyim (in Dubno ed. of Shulhan Arukh, Orah Hayyim, 1820). He also wrote Ma'alot ha-Yuhasin, a genealogical book on the families Landau, Margolioth, etc. (Lemberg, 1900). R. Zevi Hirsch Chajes of Zolkiew was among his pupils.

In 1847 the Shapira printing press was established by the three brothers Hanina Lipa, Aryeh Leib, and Joshua Heschel Shapira, sons of R. Samuel Abraham Abba Shapira, the printer in Slavuta. Until 1862 this was one of the only two Hebrew presses the Russian government permitted to operate in the whole of Russia, the other being in Vilna. This press had 18 hand presses and four additional large presses. In 1851 Aryeh Leib broke away and established his own printing press in Zhitomir. In these two establishments only sacred books of every kind were printed.