Eliyahu Menachem of London facts for kids

Eliyahu Menachem of London (born around 1220, died 1284) was an important Jewish leader and teacher, known as a rabbi, in England during the 1200s. He was a respected figure in his community.

It's good to know that he was different from another famous person named Elias of London. That Elias was also a chief rabbi for English Jewish people from 1243 to 1257.

Eliyahu's Early Life and Family

Eliyahu Menachem was born into a very important Jewish family in England. His family held many official roles until Jewish people were eventually asked to leave England in 1290.

Unlike most Jewish families in England at that time, who came from France, Eliyahu's family originally came from a region in Germany called the Rhineland. His father was Moses of London, and his brother was Berechiah de Nicole. His nephew was Hagin Deulacres.

His Education and Return to London

When Eliyahu was young, he traveled to France to study. He likely attended one of the special schools in Sens where scholars called Tosafists taught. These schools focused on understanding and explaining Jewish law.

In 1251, Eliyahu wrote his own detailed explanation of the Mishnah, which is a key part of Jewish law. After finishing his studies, he returned to London.

Life in England: Business and Community Role

For about 30 years, Eliyahu was involved in many types of business in England. He worked in finance, which means dealing with money, and also in real estate, which involves buying and selling land and buildings. Many records show his business dealings, even with the king and queen of England.

Challenges During the Barons' War

During a time of conflict called the Second Barons' War, Eliyahu's family lost a lot of their property. However, they were not hurt physically and seemed to have escaped to Normandy in France. When the fighting stopped, they came back to England and started their businesses again.

Later, in the 1270s, new rules were made that limited what Jewish people could do. But Eliyahu and his brothers were given special permission to be free from some of these rules. Besides his business work, Eliyahu also worked as a doctor.

His Influence as a Jewish Scholar

Among Jewish people, Eliyahu was known as a leading expert in halachic law, which is Jewish religious law. His teachings were often quoted by other scholars, sometimes using names like R"M meLondrish or HaRav meLondrish. Even today, some of his rulings are still followed by Jewish people. He was also interested in mysticism, which is a spiritual way of understanding deep religious truths.