Rabbi Shmuel Kolin of Boskovitz - the "Machatzis HaShekel"

Gaon Rabbi Shmuel ben Nathan Nate HaLevi of Kolin (Bohemia), author of "Machatzis HaShekel" (1720–1806) Yahrzeit - 1 Nissan Resting place - Boskovitz, Moravia   He was a Talmudist and halachic authority, best known for his work "Machatzis HaShekel." He was a beloved friend of the Maran, the Chasam Sofer, who corresponded with him on matters of Halacha and Divrei Torah. The son of Nathan Nate HaLevi, he was born in Kolin, Bohemia. For nearly 60 years he headed the yeshiva in Boskovitz, Moravia, where he passed away on 20 May 1806. He held the title of Av Beis Din of Boskovitz, and later of Prostitz. Rabbi Shmuel had 3 sons and 3 daughters: Benjamin Zev HaLevi (Wolf) Boskovitz (1746–1818), Yaakov (c. 1750–1833), Yehuda (c. 1751–1800), Sarah (Hinda), who married Marcus (Mordechai Lob) Wassertrilling of Boskovitz, and Esther, who married Bernhard Biach. His son Wolf Boskovitz delivered the eulogy at his funeral. His fifth-generation descendant, Dr. Max Anton Löw, who converted to Catholicism, served as attorney to the antisemite Francis Deckert. His works were published under the title "Machatzis HaShekel" as follows; these commentaries now appear in most editions of the Shulchan Aruch: An extensive super-commentary on the "Magen Avraham" of Avraham Abele Gombiner on the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim (Vienna, 1807–1808; 2nd ed. 1817) A super-commentary on the "Shach" on the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Hilchot Nidda (Lemberg, 1858) and Hilchot Melicha (1860)  

Stories of the Tzadikim

Saving the Community from a Pogrom Rabbi Shmuel ben Nathan HaLevi lived in Boskovitz, Moravia, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Unfortunately, a blood libel accusation was leveled against the Jews of Boskovitz. The accusation nearly led to a pogrom. Specifically, it was claimed that a non-Jewish child had been murdered so that his blood could be added to the Passover matzah. Rumors spread that the knife found next to the child's body belonged to the city rabbi — Rav Shmuel himself. Rav Shmuel was imprisoned pending trial. When Rav Shmuel was brought forward as a witness, he was asked whether the knife belonged to him. Against his lawyer's advice, he answered that the murder weapon was indeed his knife, but that he had no idea who had killed the child. His lawyer resigned from the case. Others tried to convince him to deny ownership of the knife, but he refused. The judge gave him another chance to deny it, but to no avail. Rav Shmuel would not lie. He remained firm that it was his knife. The judge then turned to those gathered in the courtroom and said, "There is no doubt that this is an innocent man, because his very honesty puts him at risk." Then the prosecutor stood up and announced that he had another witness. The prosecution's witness testified: "I have been to the rabbi's house many times and am thoroughly familiar with all the knives in the rabbi's home. I can state with complete certainty that the knife used in the murder has a very fine hollow above the upper opening of the blade, and I have seen this very weapon in the rabbi's house!" The judge examined the knife and confirmed that it was exactly as the witness had described. The Jews in the courtroom were terrified. The judge asked Rav Shmuel, "What do you have to say now?" The Rav answered, "Now I would like to amend my earlier testimony." The judge said, "Are you mocking this courtroom?? You cannot change your testimony." The Rav replied, "I still maintain that the knife is indeed mine. But earlier I stated that I had no idea who killed the child. Now I believe I have an idea." He pointed at the witness. "Anyone could come to my home and find out what knives I own. But only one knife found here has that peculiar hollow which the so-called witness described. I believe the only possible way this witness could have known about the hollow above the upper opening of the knife is if he himself had held it in his hands," the rabbi continued. Following this, the witness confessed to murdering the child. Had Rav Shmuel lied and claimed the knife was not his, he would have been suspected of lying once the witness was able to precisely identify the knife as the Rav's. And then no one would have believed him afterward when he accused the witness of the murder. Thus, through his unwavering commitment to truth, Rav Shmuel saved both himself and the entire community from the blood libel. May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!   https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2097762/how-the-author-of-the-machatzis-hashekel-averted-a-pogrom.html)