Breslau, Joseph B. David

German Talmudist and rabbi; born (probably at Breslau) in 1691; died Jan. 22, 1752, at Bamberg. He was at first a rabbi at Grabfeld near Fulda, then rabbi of Bamberg, 1743-52, where his brother-in-law, Moses b. Abraham Broda, had officiated, 1718-33. Breslau wrote the following works: (1) "Shoresh Yosef" (Joseph's Root), Amsterdam, 1730, on the legal term Miggo; (2) "Ḥoḳ Yosef (Joseph's Law), ib. 1730, a partial commentary on Joseph Caro's Shulḥan 'Aruk, Oraḥ Ḥayyim, on the passages treating of the Passover; (3) "Ketonet Yosef" (Joseph's Robe), Fürth, 1769, pilpulistic Haggadah, arranged according to the weekly lessons of the year. Breslau was an apt pupil of his father-in-law, Abraham Broda, like whom he is distinguished for the great acuteness and wit shown in his writings. His first work, which especially shows these characteristics, may be considered as the most important Talmudic work that was produced by the school of Abraham Broda.

One of Breslau's sons, Abraham, was a learned merchant of Mühlhausen in Alsace. He issued the posthumous work of his father, to which he added his grandfather's work, "Toledot Abraham."

Bibliography:

  * Eckstein, Gesch. der Juden in Bamberg, pp. 171-173 (contains also Breslau's epitaph).



L. G.