Elul 6

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller (1579-1654), author of Tosfot Yom Tov, one of the classic commentaries on the Mishnah. At age 13, Heller went to study in Prague with the famed sage, Maharal, and at 18 he was appointed a member of the Maharal's rabbinical court, a position he held for 27 years. He also authored Tzurat HaBayit, a detailed explanation of the Third Temple as described in Ezekiel, chapters 40-43. He later served as Chief Rabbi of Vienna, and then as Chief Rabbi of Prague. In 1629, some members of the Jewish community -- angry at Rabbi Heller for determining how a federal tax should be paid -- had him framed and thrown in prison. Forty days later he was released, penniless, and was forbidden from practicing as a rabbi. The ban was later lifted and he went on to become rabbi of Krakow, Poland. He is buried in the Krakow cemetery, in the section devoted to the poor and needy.