Day of Hilula
The Maharal of Prague
י״ח באלול
Prague, Bohemia (Czechia)
In Jewish tradition, the day of a tzadik's passing — the 'Hilula' — is not a day of mourning, but a day of spiritual elevation and awakening. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, on this day the soul of the tzadik ascends to a higher realm, and their light and merits shine upon the world. Many Jews mark the day through Torah study, reciting Tehillim, lighting a memorial candle, and good deeds for the elevation of the soul — to connect with the tzadik's path and qualities.
His Life and Legacy
The legacy of the Maharal is felt in every field of Torah and thought. His works of Jewish thought — chief among them Tiferet Yisrael, Netzach Yisrael, Netivot Olam, Gevurot HaShem, Be'er HaGolah, and Derech Chaim — are a foundation of modern Jewish thought, and influenced the Musar movement, Zionism, and Jewish thought throughout the generations. His commentary Gur Aryeh on Rashi is a foundation of biblical exegesis. His works on aggadah opened a window to understanding the aggadot of the sages in philosophical depth, and made the aggadah an inseparable part of the Torah of Israel. His thought on the eternity of Israel and on redemption — chief among them the saying 'All redemptions came only through self-sacrifice' — influenced generations of thinkers and leaders. The legend of the Golem of Prague became one of the most famous legends in Jewish history, and his tomb in Prague became a pilgrimage site. Streets, Torah institutions, and educational movements in Israel and around the world are named for him.
"All redemptions came only through self-sacrifice"