ISRAEL ISSERL BEN ISAAC SEGAL

ISRAEL ISSERL BEN ISAAC SEGAL (end 17th–early 18th century), rabbi (probably in Poland) descended from the family of Moses b. Israel isserles . His work Asefat Ḥakhamim (Offenbach, 1722) – the printing of which he personally supervised – is a collection of sermons arranged according to the weekly portions of the Torah, with additional sermons for the major festivals. Most deal with ethical problems; some, however, also include halakhic material. After presenting a quotation from the Bible, followed by one from the Talmud or Midrash, Israel usually proceeds to raise problems – which are sometimes quoted from other sources – and to supply their solutions. He quotes not only many ethical works written in Eastern Europe at his time, but oral statements of his contemporaries, including his teacher, R. Abraham broda . -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Steinschneider, Cat Bod, 1165, no. 5458; Ben-Jacob, Oẓar, 46, no. 490. (Joseph Dan)