philosopher Rabbi Talmudist Posek
Isserles was born in Kraków, Poland. His father, Israel (known as Isserl), was a prominent talmudist and independently wealthy, who had probably headed the community; his grandfather, Jehiel Luria, was the first rabbi of Brisk. (In an era which preceded the common use of surnames, Moses became known by his patronymic, Isserles. )
Moses Isserles studied in Lublin under Rabbi Shalom Shachna.
Moses Isserles returned to Krakow as its chief rabbi, a post he held until his death.
When Caro published his comprehensive work on Jewish law, Beit Yoseph, Isserles wrote Darkhei Moshe (“The Ways of Moses”), which was both a commentary and critique of Caro's work, stressing the intrinsic importance of local custom in the development of Jewish law and adding the views and practices of Ashkenazic (Central European) rabbis and communities, which had been neglected by Caro who was writing out of the Sephardic (Spanish) tradition.
Ten years later, Caro produced his Shulhan Arukh (“Prepared Table”), an abridgement of Beil Yoseph. Isserles feared that it would become universally accepted in Ashkenazic circles, and that they would forget their own traditions. He therefore wrote his Mappah (literally tablecloth, i.e., to cover the Shulhan Arukh), a supplement of Ashkenazic thought and practices. The combined work then became the standard guide to the practice of Judaism throughout the Jewish world, and has never been superseded in Orthodox circles. Apart from his writings on Jewish law, Isserles wrote on philosophy, mysticism, and the natural sciences. In Torai ha-Olah (“Law of the Offering”), concerned with the commandments related to the Temple, he combined philosophy and mysticism but stressed the primacy of religious law over both.
Moses Isserles wrote commentaries and notes on the Bible and rabbinic literature, but is especially remembered for his supplements to the work of his contemporary Joseph Caro.
Rema’s first wife died young, at the age of 20. He was married to the sister of Joseph ben Mordechai Gershon Ha-Kohen.
