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Rabbi Yechezkel ben Yehuda Landau (8 October 1713-29 April 1793) was an influential 18th century authority in halakha (Jewish law).
Biography
He was born in Opatow, Poland, and attended yeshiva at Vladimir and Brody. In Brody, he was appointed dayan (rabbinical judge) in 1734, and in 1745 he became rabbi of Jampol. While in Jampol, we mediated between Jacob Emden and Jonathan Eybeschütz in a debate that had disrupted Jewish communal life for many years.
In 1755, he was appointed rabbi of the large community in Prague. In addition to his rabbinical tasks, he interceded with the government on various occasions when anti-Semitic measures had been introduced.
His son Elazar succeeded him as rabbi of Prague; he is best known as the author of the responsa "Teshuvah me-Ahavah".
Works
His main work of responsa, titled Nodah bi-Yehudah ("Known in Judah"), is one of the principal sources of Jewish law of his age. Famous decisions include those limiting autopsy to prevent a clear and present danger in known others.
Other works include Dagul Mervavah on the Shulkhan Arukh and Tziyun le-Nefesh Chayah (abbreviated as Tzelach) on the Talmud.
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