Rav Avrohom and the Maharam of Lublin

The Maharam of Lublin, Rav Meir, was an outspoken critic of his contemporaries, and he took issue with many of the halachic works of his day. Remarkably, he argued with the Shulchan Aruch, with the glosses of the Rema, and with the commentary of the Sma. In his responsa he made offhand remarks to the effect that, in his estimation, their opinions on halachic matters carried little weight, and that he cared little, if at all, to study them.

This attitude may have been one of the main causes of his dismissal from his post as rav in Lwow. It is supported by the following story, recorded in Matzvos Kodesh and cited in Anshei Shem and Ir HaTzedek.

Once, Rav Avrohom Shrentzel, the author of Aysan HaEzrachi, made a wedding and married off his son. He invited many guests, among them noted personalities and rabbanim, including the Maharam. At the end of the affair, out of respect for the great rav, Rav Avrohom proceeded to escort him home. The Maharam, however, was lost in his own thoughts and took no notice of his escort until he reached his own doorstep.

Once he was home, the Maharam's wife, who had seen the well-known Avrohom Shrentzel escorting her husband, turned to him and said pointedly, "Why did you not notice who was escorting you? Does your honor take precedence over his? Could you not even honor your escort by taking notice of him, or by speaking with him?"

The Maharam answered, "And what about his own Rebbe and teacher, the author of the Sma? Why did he not join his talmid and escort me home? Was his honor so great that he did not feel the need to honor me as well?"

When Rav Avrohom Shrentzel heard that the honor of his own Rebbe had been belittled, he decided that, in defense of the Sma's honor, he would have the Maharam removed from office. After the wedding he summoned the leaders of the community, as well as the heads of the Council of the Four Lands, and used whatever political influence he had against the Maharam until he succeeded in having him deposed. At that time the city of Lublin sent for the Maharam and asked him to serve as their rav. The Maharam left Lwow for Lublin to serve as their rav instead.