The Maharal’s Hesped
on the Tzaddik Rabbi Akiva of Frankfurt
Prague, 1598
Brought to Print by the Maharal of Prague!
Hesped given by the Maharal of Prague for the tzaddik and chassid Rabbi Akiva Frankfurter. This work was brought to print by the Maharal himself.
Whenever faced with trial or tribulation, the Chasam Sofer would donate tzedakah l’iluy nishmas Rabbi Akiva Frankfurter, and his descendants follow this custom until this very day (see Chut Hameshulash p. 170, and Tomer Devorah printed at the end of Minhagei Baal Chasam Sofer p. 158 [photo attached]).
Rabbi Akiva (Ginzburg) of Frankfurt (d. 1597) was one of the great Rabbanim of 16th century Germany and renowned for his enthralling lectures and mussar. He was an ancestor of Rabbi Akiva Eiger (see copy of family lineage).
Rabbi Akiva Frankfurter’s contemporary, the author of Tzemach Dovid, writes that the former was recalled to the heavenly yeshivah in the year “Shem Tov” which has the numerical equivalent of 5397 (1597), “and from him all the tzedakah funds benefiting the poor of Eretz Yisrael were established”. Testimony to his greatness is evident from the fact that the Maharal not only delivered a eulogy for him, he also undertook the publication of it as well.
Prague, 1598. First edition. Extremely rare! Page Count: [7] leaves.
Page Size: 8 cm.
Condition: Good with water marks at margins. New binding. Genazym 2020
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