Enoch Zundel ben Joseph (died 1867) was a Polish Talmudist best known as author of three commentaries on Ein Yaakov, He authored the books "Etz Yosef" (Joseph's Tree), "Anaf Yosef" (Joseph's Branch), and "Yad Yosef" (Joseph's Hand). He also wrote commentaries on Midrash Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma and others. He spent his life in Białystok, Poland; he was a maggid there and gave shiurim on Midrash.

Biography

He was born to Rabbi Yosef and Leah. He resided in Biaylstok, where he served as a preacher and also delivered lessons in "Chevrat Midrash" on the Midrashim of the Sages. Not much is known about him, but in a Biaylstok notebook, Abraham Shmuel Hirschberg writes about him, stating that the elders of Biaylstok considered him a righteous individual and "a person of standing." Rabbi Zundel composed commentaries on various Midrashic works such as Midrash Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma, Aggadat Bereshit, Ein Yaakov, and Seder Olam. His commentaries were divided into two: a concise explanation called "Etz Yosef" and an expanded commentary with innovations called "Anaf Yosef." He named his commentaries after his father, Rabbi Yosef. His books consist of a compilation of previous commentaries (such as "Yafeh Toar" by Rabbi Shmuel Yafeh Ashkenazi or commentaries on the Nevi'im and Ketuvim by early commentators) as well as his own original insights. In addition, he authored commentaries of a similar nature on the prayer liturgy. These commentaries were included in the book "Otzar HaTefilot" (Treasury of Prayers). His books received recommendations from Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson, Rabbi Shmuel Avigdor Tosafot, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Katzenellenbogen, and others.

Publications

He is author of the following works:

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography