JOSEPH BEN MORDECAI GERSHON HA-KOHEN:
Polish Talmudist; born at Cracow 1510; died 1591. He began his studies in the Talmud at an early age, and became the head of a yeshibah founded for him by his father-in-law. The many pupils who attended this school soon made him famous for his scholarship; and his views on religious questions were widely sought. Solomon Luria was one of his correspondents.
Joseph was the author of "She'erit Yosef" (Cracow, 1590), containing responsa and discussions on various rabbinical subjects, as well as a commentary on the "Mordekai," treating Neziḳin, Berakot, and Mo'ed. In the preface the author states that he published this work at the request of his sons, Tanḥuma and Aaron Moses, who were members of theJewish community of Cracow. He also corrected the manuscript from which was printed the "Aggudah" of Alexander Suslin ha-Kohen of Frankfort.
- I. M. Zunz, 'Ir ha-Ẓedek, p. 23, Lemberg, 1874;
- Rabinowitz, Ha'arot we-Tiḳḳunim, p. 6, Lyck, 1875;
- Dembitzer, Kelilat Yoft, p. 4b, Cracow, 1888;
- B. Friedberg, Gesch. der Hebräischen Typographie in Krakau, p. 8, ib. 1900.
