Wildmann, Isaac Eisik

views updated

WILDMANN, ISAAC EISIK

WILDMANN, ISAAC EISIK (Haver ; 1789–1853), rabbi in Poland-Lithuania. He served as rabbi in the communities of Rozinoi, Volkovysk, Tikocyn, Siauliai, and Suwalk. In addition to his eminence in halakhah, he was a kabbalist in the tradition of the school of *Elijah b. Solomon Zalman, the Gaon of Vilna, and wrote Magen ve-Ẓinnah (Koenigsberg, 1855), a defense of Kabbalah against the attacks of Judah Leone *Modena's Ari Nohem. Wildmann was a prolific writer in both halakhah and Kabbalah.

His works include Beit Yiẓḥak (Suwalk, 1836), on the negative and positive commandments; Binyan Olam, responsa on halakhah (Warsaw, 1851); Beit Olamim (1889) on the Idra Rabba, a part of the Zohar; Yad Ḥazakah (1842), a commentary on the Passover Haggadah; Pitḥei She'arim (1888), a detailed exposition of Isaac *Luria's kabbalistic system; Be'er Yiẓḥak (1889), a commentary on the rabbinical collectanea Likkutei ha-Gra of the Gaon of Vilna.

bibliography:

Fuenn, Keneset, 95.

[Zvi Meir Rabinowitz]