ELIJAH BA'AL SHEM OF CHELM:
Polish rabbi; born in 1550; died at Chelm. About 1565 he entered the yeshibah of Rabbi Solomon Luria of Lublin, and, after receiving the rabbinical ordination, became rabbi of Chelm, which position he held until his death. Elijah Ba'al Shem was one of the most eminent Talmudists of his generation. Together with his teacher he signed the "pisḳe dinim" (laws) relative to the 'Agunah. He also studied Cabala, and, according to his grandson Ẓebi Ashkenazi, he was able to create a golem by means of Cabalistic agencies.
Bibliography:
- Friedberg, Luḥot Zikkaron, p. 32, Drohobycz, 1897;
- Emden, Megillat Sefer, p. 4, Warsaw, 1896;
- Horodetzky, Kerem Shelomoh, p. 33, Drohobycz, 1896;
- Ha-Meassef, p. 157, St. Petersburg, 1902.
