Schmelkes, Isaac Judah

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SCHMELKES, ISAAC JUDAH

SCHMELKES, ISAAC JUDAH (1828–1906), talmudic scholar of Galicia. Schmelkes was born in Lemberg and was the son of Ḥayyim Samuel Schmelkes, claiming descent from Eleazar b. Samuel Schmelke *Rokeaḥ (see introduction to Beit Yiẓḥak, Oraḥ Ḥayyim, Przemysl, 1875). A pupil of Joseph Saul ha-Levi *Nathanson, head of the local bet din, he was hailed in his youth as a brilliant talmudic student. He served as head of the bet din in a number of towns before being appointed in Lemberg, where he remained until his death. His Beit Yiẓḥak (6 vols., 1875–1908), on the four parts of the Shulḥan Arukh, was widely acclaimed. His opinion on halakhic questions was sought by many prominent contemporary scholars.

[H.D. Modlinger]