Skip to content
This English version of the site was translated with AI assistance. We apologise for any errors and are working to improve it.
Сила Теилим

11 Tevet · Yahrzeit

Rabbi Shlomo Ginz Eiger – "Gilyon Maharsha"

Rabbi Shlomo Ginz Eiger – author of "Gilyon Maharsha" (1852), was born to the famous Rabbi Akiva Eiger and his first wife, Gickel. Yahrzeit - 11 Tevet Burial place - Poznan, Poland   Rabbi Shlomo Ginz Eiger studied under his father, and later became a merchant in Warsaw, but in 1831 he lost his fortune due to the November Uprising. He later became rabbi of Kalisz, and after his father's passing in 1837 he was appointed rabbi of Posen. In 1844 he sought permission from King Frederick William IV to establish an agricultural village in the province of Posen, but in 1848 his initiative was halted due to a new uprising. He was a staunch opponent of Reform Judaism, and even traveled to Rabbi Yaakov Ettlinger in Altona and to Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler in Hanover to seek their support, but although they agreed with Eiger's reasoning, they were hesitant to fully endorse his proposal. He sided with his father during the dispute between the Romm publishing house in Vilna and the Shapiro publishing house in Slavuta, which was part of the long-standing rivalry between the Misnagdim and Chassidic movements. The latter side accused Eiger of having improperly influenced his father: "My heart is greatly troubled by the bitterness of the Slavuta printers. Not only did they lie about my son, accusing him of having swayed my heart; but worse still, they turned against me, accusing me of being inclined to render judgment without first hearing both sides. May Heaven forgive them." Once, Rabbi Shlomo Eiger wrote a letter to his father asking him to pray for the healing of a woman named Sarah, daughter of Rivka. Some time later, Rabbi Akiva wrote back to his son: "I prayed for Sarah, daughter of Rivka, but received no response. Perhaps there was a mistake in the name of the sick woman." Rabbi Shlomo admitted that in his haste he had indeed mixed up the name – the woman was actually called Rivka, daughter of Sarah. Soon after, Rabbi Akiva Eiger reported: "I prayed for Rivka, daughter of Sarah, and the prayer was accepted." After his intercession, the woman, who had been on the verge of death, quickly recovered. His work "Gilyon Maharsha" (גליון מהרש"א) consists of notes on the Talmud and the Alfasi Code, appended to the Vilna Talmud. Rabbi Shlomo Eiger is buried in Poznan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Eger)