Reuvein Margolies

Reuvein Margolies, (Hebrew: ראובן מרגליות) (November 30, 1889 – August 28, 1971) was an Israeli author, Talmudic scholar and head of the Rambam library.
Early life
Margolies was born in 1889 in Lemberg (now Lviv), then part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and now in Ukraine and from 1918 to 1940 in Poland. After the passing of his wife, he emigrated to Israel in 1934, settling in Tel Aviv.
Writings
Margolies authored over 55 books on Jewish topics. He possessed a photographic memory, and was well versed in all aspects of both the written Bible, Oral Torah (Talmud and its commentaries) and Kabbalah (Zohar etc.). He established the Rambam library.
He wrote on a wide range of subjects, including on the Kabbalah.
He was also involved in a controversy with Gershon Scholem over the Rabbi Jacob Emden/Rabbi Jonathan Eybeshuetz controversy.
He wrote a number of scholarly biographies of major Jewish personalities such as Maharsha, Ohr Ha-Chaim Hakodosh, Noam Elimelech, Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (Ramban), and Rabbi Yechiel of Paris.
Awards
In 1957, Margolies was awarded the Israel Prize for his work on Rabbinical literature.
Bibliography
Toldot Adam (Lemberg 1912) on R. Shmuel Edels, also known by the acronym "Maharsha"
Kav Bashamaim (Lemberg 1913), notes on the writings of the Tosafists
Kavei Ohr and Tal Techiya (Lemberg 1921), two volumes on Jewish law in the Land of Israel, and essays on various topics, including "Medicine and Healers in the Talmud", "The Laws of Ger Toshav", and the first printing of "Yesod Hamishna Va'arichatah"
Yesod Hamishna Va'arichatah (Lemberg, printed on its own first in 1923, then 1933, with addendums in Jerusalem 1956) on the creation of the Mishna
Sefer Hasidim (Lemberg 1924, Jerusalem 1957, 1960, 1964, 1970) by Rabbi Yehuda Hachassid, with biographical information, commentaries, and his own notes titled Mekor Hessed
Tolodot Rabbenu Hayyim ben Atar (Lemberg, 1925), biography on the Ohr ha-Hayyim includes the notes of Rabbi Meir Dan Plotzky (Kli Chemdah)
Ohr Meir (Lemberg 1926, Tel Aviv 1964), biography of R. Meir of Przemyślany
Margenita d'Reb Meir (Lemberg 1926, Germany 1948, Tel Aviv 1964), sayings of the above R. Meir
She'elot Uteshuvot Min Hashamayim (Lemberg 1926, 1929, Jerusalem 1957), the responsa of R. Yaakov the Tosafist, who claimed to have received answers to questions of Jewish law from an angel, with R. Margolios's extensive notes, as well as a comprehensive introduction discussing prophecy and its effect on Jewish law and other related topics
Yalkut Margoliot (Lemberg 1927), homiletic material for Sabbaths and holidays, and various times of the year
Imrei Kadosh Hashalem (Lemberg 1928)
Vikuach Rabbenu Yehiel miParis (Lemberg, 1928), the disputation of Rabbi Yehiel of Paris in 1240, with biography of R. Yehiel
Mekor Hesed (Lemberg 1928)
Lecheker Shemot Vekinuyim Batalmud (Lemberg 1928, Jerusalem 1960), on names and nicknames in the Talmud
Hilula D'Tzidkaya (Lemberg 1929, Tel Aviv 1930, 1961), a collection of different views and customs of great Torah scholars
Vikuach HaRamban (Bilgoraj 1928), the disputation of Nachmanides against Pablo Christiani in 1263, with his notes
Butzina D'Nehora Hashalem (Bilgoraj 1930)
Gevurat Ari (Lemberg 1930)
Toldot Rabbenu Avrohom Maimoni (Lemberg 1930), biography of the son of Maimonides, Rabbi Abraham ben HaRambam, including his responsa translated from the original Arabic
Mekor Baruch (Lemberg 1931)
Shem Olam (Lemberg 1931, 1962), an attempt to discover the authorities behind the Talmudic phrase "One said... and one said..." in Midrash, Babylonian Talmud, and Jerusalem Talmud
Nefesh Haya (Lemberg 1932, Tel Aviv 1954), notes on Shulchan Orakh Orakh Haim
Hagadah shel Pesach (Tel Aviv 1937, 1950), with commentary
Sichot Chachamim (Tel Aviv 1938), a collection of sayings and quotes from various rabbinic sages
Ner LaMaor (Bilgoraj 1932, Jerusalem 1959), notes and emendations on the book Ohr HaHaim by Rabbi Haim ben Atar
Mekor Habracha (Lember 1934), on clarifying the concept of making a blessing for a Torah commandment "al asiyatan", as well as the formulation of the blessings
Zohar (Jerusalem 1940–1946, 1960) with his extensive notes (multiple printings)
Sibat Hitnagduto (Tel Aviv 1941), discussing the R. Emden/R. Eybeschitz controversy
Mal'ache Elyon (Jerusalem 1945, 1964) on angels in the thought of Hazal
Olelot (Jerusalem 1947), essays on various topics
Tekunei Zohar (Tel Aviv 1948), a kabbalistic work attributed to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, with extensive notes by Rabbi Margolies
Sefer HaBahir (Jerusalem 1951), a kabbalistic work attributed to Rabbi Nehunye Ben HaKaneh with extensive notes by Rabbi Margolies
Zohar Hadash (Jerusalem 1953), a collection of statements from the Zohar, arranged according to the weekly portion. Includes a discussion of the tradition of the Zohar, as well as comparisons of sayings from the Talmud and Midrash, with the Zohar
Milchamot Hashem (Jerusalem 1953), the famous book by Rabbi Abraham ben HaRambam about the controversy surrounding his father, Maimonides. This version is based on the manuscript from the Vatican. The introduction is a biography of Rabbi Abraham ben HaRambam by Rabbi Morgolies
Mefarshei HaTalmud (Jerusalem 1954–1961), a commentary on some parts of the Talmud
Shaarei Zohar (Jerusalem 1957) notes on the Talmud directing one to the relevant passages in Zohar.
Margalios HaYam (Jerusalem 1958), a commentary on Sanhedrin
D'varim B'Itam (Tel Aviv 1959), homiletic material for Sabbaths and holidays and various times of the year
HaMikra Vehamesora (Jerusalem 1964, 1965), various articles relating to issues of chain of tradition in Judaism, as well as other various topics
Mechkarim Bedarkei Hatalmud Vechidotav (Jerusalem 1967), varied essays on the Talmud
Peninim U'Margoliyot A posthumously published collection of essays.
There is also a memorial volume edited by Dr. Yitchak Raphael and published by Mossad R' Kook, which describes these and more books in more detail.
See also
List of Israel Prize recipients
Margolies
References
External links
Several of his works are available on Hebrew Books
Bibliography
Photo
Israel Prize in Rabbinical literature recipients
Israel Prize Rabbi recipients
Israeli librarians
Orthodox rabbis in Mandatory Palestine
Religious Zionist Orthodox rabbis
Rabbis from Lviv
Polish emigrants to Mandatory Palestine
Burials at Nahalat Yitzhak Cemetery
1889 births
1971 deaths