ASHER ẒEBI BEN DAVID:

Ḥasidic rabbi of Koretz, Volhynia, and later "maggid" (preacher) of Ostrowo, government of Lomza in Russian Poland; flourished at the beginning of the nineteenth century. He was a pupil of Israel Baal-Shem's successor, Baer of Meseritz. Asher is the author of "Ma'aynha-Ḥokmah" (Spring of Wisdom), Korets, 1817 —containing cabalistic homilies on the Pentateuch and other books of the Bible. Zweifel in his work in defense of Ḥasidism ("Shalom al-Yisrael," pp. 81, 82) quotes aphorisms from this work; but is fair enough to conclude with one that shows Asher's contempt for those who study the laws of nature or secular science.

Bibliography:
  • Sefer Seder ha-Dorot mi-Talmide ha-Besht, p. 30b.
L. G. P. Wi.
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