Eleazar of Worms facts for kids

Eleazar of Worms (born around 1176, died 1238) was a very important Jewish leader and scholar. He was also known as Eleazar ben Judah ben Kalonymus. Sometimes people call him Eleazar Rokeach, which means "Eleazar the Perfumer." This name comes from his famous book, Book of the Perfumer (Sefer ha-Rokeah).

Eleazar was a leading expert in the Talmud, which is a collection of Jewish laws and traditions. He was also a Kabbalist, meaning he studied Jewish mysticism, which explores the deeper, hidden meanings of the Torah. He was the last major leader of a group called the Hasidei Ashkenaz, who were very religious Jewish people in Germany.

His Life Story

Eleazar was most likely born in a city called Mainz in Germany. His family, the Kalonymus family, was well-known and respected. Eleazar learned from a great teacher named Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg, who taught him about Kabbalah. At that time, Kabbalah was not widely known in Germany.

Before becoming a rabbi (a Jewish religious leader) in Worms, Eleazar might have been a hazzan (a prayer leader) in Erfurt. In 1233, he took part in an important meeting of rabbis in Mainz. They created a set of rules known as "Takkanot Shum" for Jewish communities in Speyer, Worms, and Mainz. Eleazar was one of the people who signed these rules.

Eleazar faced great hardships during the Crusades, which were religious wars. In 1196, his family suffered a terrible attack. His wife, Dulca, and his two daughters, Belet and Hannah, were killed. Eleazar and his son, Jacob, were also hurt. His wife had worked hard, selling parchment scrolls, so that Eleazar could spend all his time studying.

After these tragic events, Eleazar wrote many poems and prayers. In these writings, he expressed his deep sadness and hope for a better future for the Jewish people. He also wrote a moving poem to remember his family.

Eleazar was a very busy and talented person. He was an expert in the Talmud and wrote many prayers in a clear and easy-to-understand style. He also studied astronomy and other sciences known to Jews in Germany back then. At the same time, he was a mystic who had visions and believed he saw angels and demons. He helped spread mystical ideas, especially about the hidden meanings of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

He used systems like gematria (where letters have numerical values) and notarikon (where words are formed from the first or last letters of other words) to find new meanings and connections. Even though he faced so much pain, Eleazar taught people to be cheerful, patient, and to love others. He passed away in Worms in 1238.

His Writings

Eleazar wrote many important books. Some of his works focused on Jewish law and ethics, while others were about Jewish mysticism.

Ethical Works

• Ha-Rokeach ("The Perfumer"): This book is a guide to ethics and Jewish Law for everyday people. It has 497 sections covering laws and good behavior. The title "Perfumer" matches the numerical value of Eleazar's name in Hebrew.
• Moreh Hatta'im (Guide for Sinners): This book is about repentance and confessing sins. It has been published many times under different names.

Mystical Works

• Yayin ha-Rekach (Wine of the Perfumer): This book contains mystical explanations of five important Biblical scrolls, including the Book of Ruth and the Song of Songs.
• Perush 'al Sefer Yetzirah (Commentary on the Book of Creation): This is a commentary on an ancient Jewish mystical text called the Sefer Yetzirah.
• Midrash we-Perush 'al ha-Torah (Commentary on the Torah): This book offers mystical explanations of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
• Sefer ha-Shem (Book of the Name): This mystical book discusses the different names of God and angels.

Eleazar also wrote additions to many Talmudic texts and composed many religious poems and songs that are still used in Jewish prayers today.

Images for kids

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  A historical painting showing a difficult time for Jewish communities during the Crusades.