Aryeh Leib ben Asher Gunzberg

Aryeh Leib ben Asher Gunzberg (c. 1695–June 23, 1785), also known as the Shaagas Aryeh (Hebrew: אריה ליב גינסבורג), was an Ashkenazi rabbi and author.

Born in Lithuania, c. 1695, he was a Rabbinical casuist. At one time Gunzberg was rabbi in Pinsk, and then later founded a yeshivah in Minsk. Here however he engaged in hostile dispute with the Gaon Yechiel Halpern, whose supporters eventually drove Gunzberg from the city.

His most famous book Shaagas Aryeh (Hebrew, שאגת אריה, for 'Roar of the Lion') was first published in Frankfurt am Main in 1755 and is still frequently quoted in rabbinical debate, as are many of his responsa. After its publication he became known as "the Shaagas Aryeh" after his book.

He became rabbi in Metz in France in 1765, but an early argument with his congregation led to him refusing to enter the synagogue except to give four sermons a year. Despite this he retained his post until his demise, and died at in Metz on June 23, 1785.

Prior to his becoming Rabbi of Metz he was a Judge in a Rabbinical Court that was adjudicating a monetary dispute. One of the parties to the dispute influenced the local governor to take his side in the dispute. So the governor sent one of his men to the Sha'agas Aryeh ordering him him in the name of the governor to find in favor of one party. The Sha'agas Aryeh replied that had he is prohibited by the Torah to allow himself to be influenced in his decision by threats as it says in Deuteronomy 1:17 "Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's" and that he will decide the case on its merits.

When he issued his ruling he ruled against the party that the governor was advocating for. When the governor heard that the Sha'agas Aryeh dared to defy his orders he flew into a rage and he ordered his men to bring him the hand of the man who used that hand to issue an order in defiance of his commands. Instead of taking back his decision the Sha'agas Aryeh went on the run for a few years, traveling throughout central and eastern Europe, staying in homeless shelters of the Jewish communities and on occasion in the homes of rabbis and keeping on the move to elude the forces of that governor. Only after he became the rabbi of Metz which was in France and thus beyond the jurisdiction of that governor was he safe from those who were hunting him.

A legend exists of his death. During his studies a book-case fell on him, covering him with books. His students were able to rescue him after an hour or so and he related to them that he had been covered by the books of the authors with whom he had quarreled. He had asked forgiveness from all of them and they all complied save for one, Mordecai Yoffe (known as the Levush) who refused. He knew therefore that he was not long for this world, and pronounced the verse in Hebrew "Aryeh shoag mi loi yiroh"; i.e. that Aryeh (the lion, meaning himself) shoag (roars), but mi (an acronym of Mordecai Yoffeh, but can also mean 'who') loi yiroh (is not afraid).

It is very likely that this legend is the source of the urban myth surrounding the death of the French-Jewish composer Charles-Valentin Alkan, whose family originated from Metz. As for the Sha'agas Aryeh himself, he lived happily ever after this episode of the bookcase falling on him.

Another legend is told of him. When he accepted the position of rabbi in Metz in 1765 he was already 70 years old. The leaders of the community expressed doubts because he was already an old man. He told them that i guarantee that i will be able to serve for at least twenty years - and indeed he died twenty years later in 1785, when he was ninety years old.

Works

• Shaagas Aryeh
• Gevuras Ari
• Turei Even

References

• Article in Jewish Encyclopedia
• Shagas Aryeh Research Project - With a focus on Genealogy