Shlomo Ephraim ben Aaron Luntschitz (1550 – 21 February 1619) was a rabbi and Torah commentator, best known for his Torah commentary Keli Yekar. He served as the Rabbi of Prague from 1604 to 1619.

Biography

He was born in Łęczyca (also known as Luntschitz) and studied under Solomon Luria in Lublin, and subsequently served as rosh yeshiva (dean) of the yeshiva in Lvov (Lemberg). In 1604 he was appointed rabbi of Prague, a position he filled until his death. In the introduction of his Keli Yekar he relates that the name Shlomo was added to his name during life-threatening illness, a common practice in Judaism.

Works

Luntschitz is best remembered for his homiletical work, most prominently Keli Yekar (precious vessel, an allusion to Proverbs 20:15) on the Torah which first appeared in Lublin in 1602. It is still printed in many editions of the Pentateuch and continues to be highly popular. He composed two penitential prayers in commemoration of the 1611 pogroms that hit Prague on the 2nd of Adar on the Jewish calendar. In addition he wrote:

Literature