Rav Yeshaya Pick of Berlin

Early years

Rav Yeshaya Pick zt"l, also known as Rav Yeshaya Berlin, was a German Talmudist. He was born around October 1725 in Eisenstadt, in the Kingdom of Hungary, the son of Aryeh Leibush Pick.

He learned in the yeshiva of Rav Tzvi Hirsch Bialeh, known as the Charif, the Rav of Halberstadt. In 1755 he moved to Breslau, where he went into business.

Rav of Breslau

In 1793, when he was already advanced in years, Rav Yeshaya was chosen for a rabbinic post, as the successor of Rav Yitzchok Yosef Teomim as Rav of Breslau. His election was marked by a dispute between members of the community and the local maskilim, who had begun to organize as a body. They opposed him, since he openly attacked their ideas despite his love of peace. Rav Yeshaya was elected by an overwhelming majority.

He was greatly admired, even by people who differed with him in religious views. Chassidim relate that he was sympathetic to Chassidus and warmly welcomed one of its emissaries, Rav Yaakov Shimshon of Spitsevka. Maskilim of Breslau, among them Joel Brill, Aaron Wolfsohn and Judah Bensew, often came to him with questions on scientific subjects. They were careful never to hurt his religious feelings, and he in turn met them halfway in many matters.

On the occasion of the Peace of Basel (May 17, 1795), Rav Yeshaya held a solemn service in the shul and, exceptionally, permitted the use of instrumental music. He himself delivered a discourse that was highly praised in the press (Schlesische Zeitung, 1795, no. 59). In this way he won over the hostile members of his congregation.

Teachings and seforim

Rav Yeshaya had the habit of annotating almost every sefer he read, noting its sources, parallel passages and variant readings. His glosses have been printed on the Chumash (the Torah, Dyhernfurth, 1775, and the rest of Tanach, Dyhernfurth, 1807); on the siddur Tikun Shlomo (Dyhernfurth, 1806); on the Rambam's Yad HaChazakah (Dyhernfurth, 1809); on the Rif (Pressburg, 1836); on the Sefer HaChinuch, attributed to Rav Aharon HaLevi of Barcelona (Vienna, 1827); on Yad Malachi by Malachi ben Yaakov (Berlin, 1825); and on Reshis Chochmah by Rav Eliyahu de Vidas (Dyhernfurth, 1811).

His short, clear notes show his immense learning and keen insight. His lasting place among the pioneers of the study of the text of the Gemara rests on his works on the Talmud. These include Omer HaShichechah (Forgotten Sheaf, Königsberg, 1860), which gathers many halachos from the Gemara that the poskim did not note; Otzar Balum (Full Treasure, Vilna, 1899), printed in the edition of Rav Yaakov ibn Chaviv's Ein Yaakov, which traces the Gemara passages quoted without a source in the various commentaries on the aggadic parts of the Gemara; and Hagahos HaShas (Notes on the Talmud, Dyhernfurth, 1800, and in nearly all editions of the Talmud), with corrections to the text and notes on the origin of parallel passages.

His other works include Haflaah SheBaArachin (Detached Orders, part one Breslau, 1830, part two Vienna, 1859), explanations and glosses on the Aruch; Chiddushei HaShas (Königsberg, 1860, and in several editions of the Talmud); Minei Targuma (Dessert Dishes, Breslau, 1831), remarks on Targum Onkelos and the Palestinian Targum, the word Targuma meaning both Targum and dessert; Kashiyos Meyushav (Difficulties Answered, Königsberg, 1860), which he wrote in fourteen days; Rishon LeTzion (The First for Zion, Dyhernfurth and Vienna, 1793, and reprinted several times), a collection of indexes and parallel passages in the Midrash whose title is a play on the word for Zion and for an index; and Sheilas Shalom (Greeting of Peace, Dyhernfurth, 1786), a commentary on the Sheiltos of Achai of Shabcha. His collection of responsa and his commentary on the Tosefta deserve special mention, though what became of them is not known.

Rav Yeshaya was the first, at least among the Jews of Germany, to show an interest in the history of the literature that came after the Gemara. He was the one who raised the question of Kalir, in a letter to his brother-in-law, Yosef ben Menachem Steinhart, printed in Steinhart's Zikaron Yosef (no. 15).

Later years and passing

Rav Yeshaya passed away on 5 Iyar 5559 (1799) in Breslau. His passing was mourned equally by all.