R' Avraham Gombiner

Early Acharonim·ashkenazi·16331683 CE(53935443)
1725 opinions492 topics

R' Avraham Gombiner (1633-1683) was a leading Ashkenazi halakhic authority and author of the Magen Avraham, a comprehensive gloss on the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim. His work became one of the most influential commentaries in Jewish law, systematically addressing halakhic questions and offering both stringent and lenient interpretations. He served as rabbi of Kalisz, Poland, and his scholarship profoundly shaped Ashkenazi halakhic practice.

Works & Contributions (16)

  • Authored the Magen Avraham, a foundational gloss on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim
  • Bayit Chadash
  • Binyamin Ze'ev, Siman 153
  • Biur Halacha (cited source)

Origin

SlovakiaCzechia

Kalisz, Poland

1633–1683 CE (5393–5443)

Historical Context

1000120014001600180020001633-1683

Decisional Profile

Opinions recorded by category

Shabbat
636
Prayer
369
Blessings
235
Pesach
124
Daily Life
81
Tzitzit & Tefillin
80
Holidays
70
Rosh Hashanah
30
Sukkot
24
Fasts & Mourning
21
Yom Kippur
21
Purim
20
Hanukkah
14

Topic Coverage

Each square represents a topic. Darker squares indicate more opinions recorded in that topic.

Shabbat

Daily Life

Prayer

Blessings

Tzitzit & Tefillin

Pesach

Rosh Hashanah

Yom Kippur

Sukkot

Hanukkah

Purim

Holidays

Fasts & Mourning

Rulings (1725)

Rising in the Morn…

Is one obligated to pray at specific times when the angels change their watches (guardian shifts)?

The kabbalists elaborate greatly on midnight (chatzot). The proper time for seeking mercy on behalf …

Rising in the Morn…

Should one recite the passage of the Binding of Isaac, the manna passage, the Ten Commandments, and the sacrifice passages in the morning?

It is not enough merely to recite the passage of the Binding; one must understand and explain it, re…

Rising in the Morn…

When may one recite the passages of the sacrifices (Korbanot)?

The passages of the basin and ash removal may be said before daylight (because these services occurr…

Rising in the Morn…

Should one recite 'May it be Your will' (Yehi Ratzon) after reading the passages of voluntary sacrifices?

In the name of Maharsh'al, one may recite Yehi Ratzon even after sin and guilt offerings, but using …

Rising in the Morn…

Should one recite the passages of the basin, ash removal, daily offering, and spice offering in the morning?

After the daily offering should come the incense offering, because the incense was offered after the…

How to Tie Tzitzit

Is a garment with more than four corners obligated in tzitzit?

There are those who exempt a five-cornered garment (יש פוטרין)

Kavvanah in Prayer

Must one articulate the words of prayer with one's lips, or can one pray silently in one's heart?

One who prayed only in the heart (hirhur) has not fulfilled the obligation of prayer. Although praye…

Kavvanah in Prayer

What is the proper voice level for reciting the Amidah — should one hear one's own voice?

There is no proof from the Zohar that one should not hear one's own voice. The Zohar's intent is tha…

Kavvanah in Prayer

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, may one pray the Amidah aloud even in a congregation?

According to the Zohar's reasoning, it would be forbidden to raise one's voice even on Rosh Hashanah…

Kavvanah in Prayer

May one pray the Amidah in a language other than Hebrew?

The Sefer Chassidim writes that it is better to pray in a language one understands if one does not u…

Kavvanah in Prayer

May one pray the Amidah in a language other than Hebrew?

The angels understand all languages; they simply do not attend to Aramaic because it is degraded in …

Not Passing Before…

Is one permitted to sit within four cubits if engaged in Torah study not related to prayer?

Torah study is permitted to sit next to the praying person only if one actually pronounces the words…

Not Passing Before…

Are there any mystical or kabbalistic sources that modify the standard halakhic rules?

In the Zohar, Chayey Sarah (page 313), it states that on any side is prohibited to pass within four …

Bodily Needs Durin…

If one passes gas during prayer and the smell lingers, where does one resume prayer after the smell dissipates?

One resumes from the point of interruption, even if one delayed after the smell dissipated, because …

Bodily Needs Durin…

If one urgently needs to pass gas during prayer and cannot hold back, must one walk backward four cubits before doing so?

When in a congregation, one does not retreat; since one is not retreating, the 'Master of the World'…