Yaakov Kranz

Rabbi Yaakov Kranz is known as the Dubner Maggid ("the storyteller of Dubno"), though his career began in Mezeritch. Supported for a time by his father-in-law, Rabbi Kranz studied and taught Torah, including frequent sermons on the weekly Torah portion, without pay. He became known for his creative, sometimes sharp-witted approach, filled with parables and simple messages. Rabbi Kranz also served as a rabbi in several other cities before settling in Dubno. Though Rabbi Kranz likely intended to publish, his teachings were not printed until Avraham Dov Ber Flahm found his notes in Mezeritch and set out to publish them, with permission from Kranz's son.