Abraham ben Joseph ha-Levi

Who was Abraham ben Joseph ha-Levi?

Abraham ben Joseph ha-Levi was a Polish commentator born at Cracow. In consequence of the persecution of the Jews of Poland by the Cossacks in 1656, he fled from his native city and sought asylum in Hamburg. Here he produced a commentary upon Megillat Ta'anit, which was printed at Amsterdam, in 1659, and went through several editions. His work, however, was not favorably received by his contemporaries, for both Ephraim Cohen, author of Sha'ar Ephraim, a collection of rabbinical decisions, and Abraham Gombiner, author of Magen Abraham, refer to him somewhat disparagingly.

He died, probably in Hamburg, about 1670, or at least some time after 1659.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Louis Ginzberg. "Abraham ben Joseph ha-Levi". Jewish Encyclopedia. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=474&letter=A&search=Abraham%20ben%20Joseph%20ha-Levi. Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography: Michael, Or ha-Ḥayyim, No. 124.