The Maharshal was descended from a distinguished family, tracing his lineage to Rashi. His teachers were his father R. Jehiel and his maternal grandfather, R. Isaac Klober of Posen. Luria served as rabbi and head of the yeshiva in Ostrog, leaving after twenty years for Brisk and subsequently becoming a rosh yeshivah in the yeshivah of Shalom Shachna. In 1567, Maharshal founded his own yeshivah. His students include R. Mordecai Jaffe (Levush), Joshua Falk (Derishah u-Perishah), and Hayyim ben Bezalel. Maharshal was known for his intellectual independence.