Rabbi Aaron Shimon Spira Wedeles, Chief Rabbi of Prague and Bohemia

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Rabbi Aaron Shimon Spira Wedeles (Spira), Chief Rabbi of Prague and Bohemia

Also Known As: ""Simon the Righteous""
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
Death: December 03, 1679 (79-80)
Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
Immediate Family:

Son of Rabbi Benjamin Wolf Spira and Chawa Spira
Husband of Chaja Spira Wedeles
Father of Rabbi Asher Anschel Spira-Fränkel /Fraenkel; Rabbi Benjamin Wolf Spira - Wedeles; Schewa Schlackenwerth; Malka Krotoschin; ? Spira and 2 others
Brother of Rabbi David Chayim /Chaim /Chajim Wiener; Bune Perlhefter; Gutrut Auerbach and Rachel Spira

Occupation: Chief Rabbi of Prague, Meisel Synagogue, Rosh Yeshiva in Prague
Managed by: Elie Lederman
Last Updated:

About Rabbi Aaron Shimon Spira Wedeles, Chief Rabbi of Prague and Bohemia

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~prohel/genealogy/names/loew/spira/s...

https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%9F_%D7%A9%D7%9E...

JewishEncyclopedia #2 Aaron Simeon Spira, son of Benjamin Wolf Spira (who died in 1630); rabbi at Frankfort, Lemberg, Brez in Lithuania, Lublin, Cracow, Vienna, Prague (1640), and also rabbi of Bohemia; born 1599; died Dec. 3, 1679, at Prague. He led an ascetic life, and collected many pupils about him. He wrote "Moreh Yehezkiel Katon" (Prague, 1695), penitential prayers ("selihot") on the sufferings of the Jewish community of Prague when that city was besieged by the Swedes in 1648 OR holocaust.cz Praha (Czech)

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Jahrbücher der Gesellschaft für Geschichte der Juden in der Čechoslovakischen Republik 1929 bis 1936. IV. Jahrgang, 1932 - Die Erlebnisse des Oberrabbiners Simon Spira-Wedeles in Prag (1640 - 1679)

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Aus Grabsteininschriften des Prager israelitischen alten Friedhofes von Koppelmann Lieben (Prag, 1856), ins Hochdeutsche übertragen:

Aaron versah das Amt des Oberrabbiners von Prag für 40 Jahre, davon auch ein Großteil als Landesrabbiner von Böhmen. Des Weiteren war er Rabbiner zu Frankfurt, Lemberg, Brecz in Litauen, Lublin, Krakau und Wien. Aaron hatte oft Verfolgungen zu erdulden und entging auch nur knapp einer Einkerkerung bis er endlich von Kaiser Leopold einen Freibrief erhielt, welcher der Überlieferung nach mit goldenen Lettern geschrieben war.

Aaron hatte einmal einen Streit mit mehreren Oberen der Gemeinde wegen inokulierter Eßrogim, deren Gebrauch er nicht gestatten wollte. Daraufhin versuchten die Oberen den damals in Prag weilenden berühmten Rabbi Sabathai Kohen eine Erlaubnis abzulocken und dann den Vorbeter der Altneusynagoge zum Gebrauch eines solchen Eßrogs zu zwingen. Sabathai Kohen erkannte aber recht bald die Intrige, deren Werkzeug er werden sollte, und ließ durch seinen Sohn bei Aaron Abbitte leisten. Seine Schriften sind allesamt verschollen, wahrscheinlich sind sie den Plünderungen des Prager Ghettos 1645-1648 und den Feuersbrünsten 1689 und 1754 zum Opfer gefallen. Seinem Nachruhm tat dies keinen Schaden.

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non-working url: Simon Wolf (Aharon Simeon ben Benjamin) Spira (geb. 1599, gest. 1679 in Prag) "Er war Rab (German )biner in Frankfurt a.M., Lemberg, Brez (Litauen), Lublin, Krakau, Wien (hier wohl nicht offizieller Rabbiner) und von 1640 an in Prag. Er führte ein asketisches Leben und hatte zahlreiche Schüler. Sein Werk More Chason Jecheskel enthält Bußgebete (slichot) anläßlich der schwedischen Besetzung Prags "?

OR on Judaica "..The close of a period that was soon to appear as the good old times was symbolized by the death of the very aged Chief Rabbi Aaron Simon Spira, on Kislev 29, 5450 / December 2, 1679. In the passing-away of this exceptionally pious man, the community lost a natural moral authority, which fact henceforth established a long-lasting political problem.." AND Tobias Jakobovits: Die Erlebnisse des Oberrabbiners Simon Spira-Wedeles in Prag (1640–1679), in: Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft für Geschichte der Juden in der âechoslovakischen Republik, IV, 1932, s. 253–296."

Judaica Bohemiae: Prague Jews and Judah Hasid. A Study on the Social, Political and Religious History of the Late 17th and Early 18th Centuries -Part One. What is remarkable about the group of the most wealthy people in the ghetto is the high proportion of close relatives of the late Chief Rabbi Gaon Simon SPIRA. R. Katriel KROTOSCHIN was his son-in-law, Wolf Anshel FRENKEL his grandson, R' Michael WIEN his nephew, Wolf SPIRA WEDELES his son, R' Leib NEUSTÄDTL (NASCH) the husband of SPIRA’s granddaughter Slawa SCHLACKENWERTH. Simon’s grandson was the brother of Slawa, R' Aharon Sinai SCHLACKENWERHTH. The immediate family also included R' Naftali BRANDES, the husband of Simon’s granddaughter Judita and R' David Michal WIEN, Simon’s great nephew. Only 4 people in the top 10 were not members of the SPIRA clan. It is hard to believe that such an extensive concentration of property in a single family would have gone unnoticed at the time.

...... Top 20 Wealthy men in Prague ghetto 1687

  1. R' Katriel KROTOSCHIN Sch.M. 125
  2. R' Wolf Anshel FRENKEL Sch.M. 120
  3. R' Michael WIEN Sch.M. 110
  4. R' Wolf SPIRA WEDELES Sch.M. 95
  5. R' Leib NEUSTÄDTL (NASCH) Sch.M. 85
  6. R' David AUSTERLITZ Sch.M. 85
  7. Jacob Muntes ROßTÄUSCHER Sch.M. 70
  8. Hirschl Zimel POLL Sch.M. 65
  9. R' Aharon Katz PLANTA Sch.M. 65
  10. R' Aharon S. SCHLACKENWERH Sch.M. 60
  11. R' Baruch NEUSTÄDTL (NASCH) Sch.M. 60
  12. R' Jacob ben Gershon BRANDES Sch.M. 60
  13. R' Israel DUSCHENES Sch.M. 58
  14. R' Leib R. G. KARPELES Sch.M. 55
  15. R' Naftali Gershon BRANDES Sch.M. 55
  16. R' Simha PIK Sch.M. 55
  17. R' Zalman YT BONDI Sch.M. 55
  18. R' Zanwil TACHI Sch.M. 55
  19. R' Chajim Faubers TAUSK Sch.M. 55
  20. R' David R. Michael WIEN Sch.M. 55 Source: Extracts from property tax ledger, SÚA Praha, NM P-1/7/1

"Die Grabschriften des alten Judenfriedhof in Wien" - Dr. Bernhard Wachstein, Band I pg. 404 Double Tombstone of Landrabbi Aron Simon Spiro, who died in Prague in November/ December 1680, and his wife Chayah nee Neuhaus, who died in Prague on the 31 Dezember 1676. Hock Tombstone 944, 1676 On the 26 0f Tevet, Chavah, wife of our Gaon, our teacher Shimon, head of the Beth Din, daughter of his honour Shimon Neuhaus' died. Tombstone 944 Hock 1680 In the month of Kislev 1680, the Gaon, our teacher Aharon Shimon Spiro, head of the Beth Din and head of the Yeshiva, of the holy congregation of Prague, son of out teacher Benjamin Wolf Spiro and grandson of the Gaon , our teacher Yehiel Michal Spiro, who was 80, died. Footnote. Aaron Simon Spiro was already living in Prague in the year 1644. His wife's Tombstone adds: Tombstone of Chayah Neuhaus, wife of Landrabbi Aharon Shimon Spira, who died in Prague in 1676 and is found in Hock on page 225, amongst the Neuhaus Stones. Tombstone 944 1676 Chayah, daughter of Rabbi Shimon Neuhaus, wife of the Gaon, our teacher Shimon Spira, head of the beth din and head of the Yeshiva, died. See note 1: He was the Gaon Rabbi Aharon Shimon Spira, who died on Sunday the 29th of Kislev 440 in the short counting, corresponding to Friday the 20th of December 1680.



Has been added to the Missing Links Project. November 2020.

About Rabbi Aaron Shimon Spira Wedeles, Chief Rabbi of Prague and Bohemia (עברית)

אב"ד פראג נפטר כ"ט כסלו ת"ם

 "איש אלקים קדוש" (שם הגדולים להחיד"א, מע"ג אות קל"ח)
 "זקן ויושב בישיבה יותר מחמישים שנה" (אליה רבה, סי' נ"ה ס"ק ה') . 

https://www.academia.edu/88074658/%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%A9%D7%99_%D7%94%D...

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Rabbi Aaron Shimon Spira Wedeles, Chief Rabbi of Prague and Bohemia's Timeline

1599
1599
Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
1628
1628
Kraków, Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
1640
1640
Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
1679
December 3, 1679
Age 80
Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic
1679
Age 80
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