David Luria

David Luria (1798–1855) was a rabbi, commentator, and linguist, one of the greatest Torah scholars in his generation. He authored commentaries on the Babylonian Talmud and Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer.

Biography He was born to a wealthy family in Bykhov in the Russian Empire (now in eastern Belarus). His family was descended from Solomon Luria (Maharshal), which claimed descent from Rashi and thence to King David. At age 12 he moved to study in Vilna, in connection with an arranged marriage which he entered at age 13. At age 18 he returned to Bykhov and contributed to the establishment of a yeshiva there.

He was known for his great memory, which allowed him to compose works including comparisons of various textual variants of the Talmud and midrashic works.

At age 40 he fell victim to a libel. Letters from him, and passages in his commentary to Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, were forged indicating a supposed call to rebellion against the Russian Empire. He was jailed for six months in the Shlisselburg prison, after which his name was cleared. The motivation for the libel is speculated to be a dispute between various families in Bykhov. Kochavei Or Responsa