The Torah Giant Who Escaped Through a Sewage Pipe

The gaon Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe (1530–1612), known as the author of the Levush or the author of the Levushim, was one of the greatest Torah scholars of his generation. A leading rabbi in Bohemia and Poland and one of the classic commentators on the Shulchan Aruch, his halachic works continue to be studied centuries later.

Here are nine fascinating facts about this remarkable Torah giant, including an inspiring story of extraordinary courage.

1. He Came From a Distinguished Family of Torah Scholars

Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe was born in Prague to his father, Rabbi Avraham Yaffe, who served as the rabbi of Bohemia. He came from a family of renowned Torah scholars whose lineage was traced back to Rashi.

2. He Studied Under the Rema

As a young man, Rabbi Mordechai traveled to Krakow, Poland, to study in the yeshiva of Rabbeinu Rabbi Moshe Isserles, the renowned Rema, one of the greatest halachic authorities of his time.

3. Exile Shaped His Life

After marrying, Rabbi Mordechai returned to Prague, where he established a yeshiva and served as its head.

His plans were interrupted in 1561, when the Jews were expelled from Prague and all of Bohemia. Forced into exile, he settled in Italy, where he remained for approximately ten years.

4. He Combined Halacha and Kabbalah

During his years in Italy, Rabbi Mordechai also devoted himself to the study of Kabbalah.

At a time when this approach was uncommon, he skillfully incorporated insights from the hidden teachings into his halachic writings, giving his works a unique depth.

5. He Led Some of Europe's Greatest Jewish Communities

Throughout his life, Rabbi Mordechai served as the rabbi of several major Jewish communities, including Horodna, Lublin, Kremenets, and Prague.

He also headed the Council of the Three Lands, a leadership body representing Jewish communities across Poland and parts of Russia. Through his efforts, the communities of Lithuania later joined, transforming it into the famous Council of the Four Lands.

6. He Dedicated His Life to Teaching Torah

Wherever Rabbi Mordechai lived, he established a yeshiva or gathered students around him.

He taught with warmth, patience, and devotion, nurturing generations of outstanding Torah scholars who carried his teachings forward.

7. He Chose Holiness Over Everything Else

The Chafetz Chaim recounts a remarkable story about Rabbi Mordechai in his youth.

Before becoming widely known, Rabbi Mordechai earned his livelihood by selling jewelry. One day, a Christian duchess invited him to her home, claiming she wished to purchase some of his merchandise.

When he arrived, she locked the door and attempted to entice him into sin.

Unable to escape through the normal exits, Rabbi Mordechai made an extraordinary choice. Rather than compromise his holiness, he fled through the bathroom's sewage pipe, ruining his clothing and risking his own safety.

The Chafetz Chaim writes that, in reward for this tremendous act of self sacrifice, Heaven granted Rabbi Mordechai the merit of authoring the ten volumes of the Levushim.

8. His Famous Levushim Became Classic Torah Works

Rabbi Mordechai named his series of books after the verse describing Mordechai the Jew in Megillat Esther:

"And Mordechai went out from before the king in royal garments of turquoise and white..."

His collection became known as Levush Malchut and includes:

• Levush HaTechelet on Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim through the laws of Shabbat.
• Levush HaChur on the remainder of Orach Chaim.
• Levush Ateret Zahav on Yoreh De'ah.
• Levush HaButz Veha'Argaman on Even HaEzer.
• Levush Ir Shoshan on Choshen Mishpat.

He also authored several important works in other areas of Torah, including:

• Levush HaOrah, on the commentaries of Rashi and the Re'em on the Torah.
• Levush Pinat Yikrat, a commentary on the Rambam's Moreh Nevuchim.
• Levush Ader HaYakar, on the Rambam's laws of sanctifying the new month and Rabbi Avraham ben Chiya HaNasi's Tzurat HaAretz.
• Levushei Even HaYekarah, a commentary on the Torah teachings of Rabbi Menachem Recanati according to the hidden teachings.

The final three works were later published together under the title Levush Or Yekarot.

Another work, Levush Sasson VeSimchah, a collection of sermons, is known to have been written by Rabbi Mordechai but has never been printed.

His books spread rapidly throughout the Jewish world and were warmly embraced by Torah scholars. During his lifetime alone, they were printed in four editions. One reason for their popularity was that they presented the rulings of both Maran, the author of the Shulchan Aruch, and the Rema, while also explaining the reasoning behind each halachic ruling.

9. His Legacy Lives On

Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe passed away on the 3rd of Adar II, 5372 (1612), in Poznań, where he is buried.

More than four hundred years later, his Levushim remain foundational Torah works, and his life continues to inspire generations through both his scholarship and his unwavering commitment to holiness.