ISRAEL BRUNA BEN ḤAYYIM:

By: Gotthard Deutsch

German rabbi of the fifteenth century. He was at first rabbi of Brünn, and after the expulsion of the Jews from that city (1454) he settled at Ratisbon, where he opened a yeshibah against the wishes of Rabbi Anshel, who considered this an encroachment upon his rights. Israel Bruna was upheld by the leading rabbis of his time, e.g., Jacob Weil and Israel Isserlein of Wiener-Neustadt, who spoke very highly of him. In 1474 he was thrown into prison on some charge—possibly one of ritual murder-brought against him by his enemies, and was held, most likely for blackmail. After having spent thirteen days in prison Israel was liberated. There is some confusion in regard to details, and some think that he was twice in prison. Israel Bruna wrote a volume of responsa (Salonica, 1798; Stettin, 1860).

D.