About This Text
Author: David Luria
Rabbi David Luria (known by his Hebrew acronym, “Radal”) is best known for his comprehensive and in-depth commentaries on rabbinic texts, including one on Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, an aggadic midrash attributed to the second-century sage Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus and dated by scholars to the eighth century. Luria prefaced his commentary with four treatises, mostly related to Rabbi Eliezer: Emek HaBerakhah addresses a talmudic story of conflict between Rabbi Eliezer and his colleagues; Shem HaEchad Eliezer further explores Rabbi Eliezer’s scholarship and character; Beit Tzaddik discusses the sage’s family and biography; the fourth is a preface to the midrash itself.