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On the ritual laws of kosher slaughtering by R. Ephraim Zalman ben Menahem Mannes Margolioth with two commentaries. 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. |
