Löwenstamm, Saul

Rabbi and Talmudist; born at Rzeszow 1717; died at Amsterdam June 19, 1790. He is known as the author of "Binyan Ariel" (Amsterdam, 1778), which title he chose as a pun on "Ben Aryeh." As he tells in the preface, he was appointed rabbi at  (Lakacz, Hungary?), and afterward at Dubno in succession to his father-in-law, Abraham Kahana (d. 1749); and in 1755 at Amsterdam, on the death of his father, Levi Saul Löwenstamm.

Besides "Binyan Ariel," Saul Löwenstamm wrote: annotations on Niddah (Amsterdam, 1765), on the Shulḥan 'Aruk (ib. 1765), on the Pentateuch (ib. 1768-1777), on the Mishnah (ib. 1775), and many approbations and poems (1766-78). His "Binyan Ariel" is divided into three parts: (1) annotations on the Pentateuch; (2) on the Five Rolls; and (3) on some passages from the Talmud.

Löwenstamm devoted much attention to the bet ha-midrash founded by his father. The generosity of the members of the community enabled him to build a new home, which he occupied June 22, 1778.

Some of the memorial addresses delivered on his death have been published. He was succeeded by his son Jacob Moses Löwenstamm.

Bibliography:

  * Landshuth, Toledot Anshe Shem, pp. 70, 118, Berlin, 1884;
  * Buber, Anshe Shem, p. 39, Cracow, 1895;
  * She'erit Yisrael (transl. Polak), p. 617;
  * Wagenaar, Een Oud Gebouw, Amsterdam, 1881;
  * Koenen, Geschiedenis der Yoden in Nederland, p. 369.



D. E. Sl.