Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller (c. 1745 – 1812) was a Rabbi, Talmudist, and Halachist in Galicia. He was known as "the Ketzos" based on his magnum opus, Ketzot Hachoshen,.

Biography

Born about 1745 in the Galician town of Kalush (presently located in Ukraine), Heller was a fifth-generation descendant of Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller. Heller was the youngest of five brothers, including Chaim, Mordechai, Daniel, and Yehuda (author of Kuntras HaSfeikos), and one sister (about whom nothing is currently known). In his youth, after being recognized by his father as a prodigy, Heller was sent to learn Torah from Rabbi Meshulam Igra of Tysmienica, Poland, an outstanding authority. From 1788 to 1812, he was rabbi of Stryi, a position later to be held by his opponent in many halachic debates, Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum. He had four children: a daughter, Franziska Freide (1788–1842), who married Solomon Judah Loeb Rapoport (Shi'r) in 1810, and three sons: Yosef (1769–1832), David (1771–1830), and Zwi Hirsch (1776–1834). Heller was a staunch misnaged and prominent critic of the Hasidic movement. Rabbi Heller's works became widely disseminated throughout Europe at a time when, due to technical and financial reasons, this kind of recognition was rare.

Works

R. Aryeh Leib Heller wrote three major works:

Family significance

As indicated by the HaCohen in his name, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Heller was descended from the family of Aaron, the original High Priest, and therefore was a member of the priestly class. Many kohanim today claim to be descendants of Leib Heller's family, including the current Toldos Aharon Rebbe, but proof is difficult to establish without proper lineage data. Typically, the claim of lineage to Rabbi Heller is a tradition passed on through the generations for prestige reasons. His brother's descendants include Rabbi Yehuda Amital.