R. Samuel Eliezer ben Judah ha-Levi Edels' (Maharsha, 1555-1631) was among the greatest Talmudists. The date and place of his birth are not known with certainty, although 1555 is suggested for the former and Cracow for the latter; his father's name is known only from Maharsha's signature. He learned in Posen, marrying there the daughter of R. Moses Ashkenazi Heilpern (Zikhron Moshe). After his marriage Maharsha lived with his in-laws, during which time both he and his students were supported by his mother-in-law, a wealthy women. Maharsha took her name, Edel, as his family name, Edels, a not uncommon occurrence in such circumstances in eastern Europe at that time. With the death of Edels' mother-in-law in 1605 it became necessary to accept a rabbinic position, which he did, first in Chelm, then in Lublin (1616), succeeding R. Meir ben Gedaliah (Maharam of Lublin), and afterwards in Ostrog (1625), founding in the latter place a yeshivah that attracted many students. Maharsha is best known for his concise, sharp, and profound analysis of the talmudic text, encompassing both Rashi and Tosafot. R. Edels' Hiddushei Halakhot and Hiddushei Aggadot, two distinct works, are now combined and printed with almost every Talmud and considered essential in its study. It has been suggested that Edels had to have had Divine inspiration, for it would have otherwise been impossible for a man to have written such a work.

נדפס דף על דף על-פי הענא תע"ז, בהשמטת דברים מהקדמת המלקט. הסכמה: ר' יודא עמריך, פיורדא.