R. David b. Naphtali Fraenkel of Berlin (1704–1762), was born in Berlin. He was descended from the Mirels family that originated in Vienna and was also known as David Mirels. He studied under his father who was a dayyan in Berlin and under R. Jacob b. Benjamin ha-Kohen Poppers, author of Shav Ya'akov. After living for a time in Hamburg, in 1737 he was appointed rabbi of Dessau. In 1739–42 his father Naphtali and his brother Solomon undertook the printing of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah on his initiative. In 1743 he was appointed chief rabbi of Berlin. In R. Fraenkel's letter of appointment it was expressly stipulated that he was not to act as judge or give rulings in cases where members of his family, of whom there was a great number in Berlin, were involved. R. Fraenkel's jurisdiction extended to the districts of Brandenburg and Pomerania.

R. Fraenkel's main achievement is his commentary to the Jerusalem Talmud which constitutes his life work. He wrote Hebrew poems following various events in Prussia - the end of the Silesian wars (1745) and the victory of Prussia in the Seven Years' War (1757) - and published sermons.