 Israel was the author of "Haggahot Asheri," notes on Rabbeinu Asher's Talmudic compendium, printed with the text.Grätz identifies Israel of Krems with the Israel whom Emperor Rupert appointed, by a decree of May 3, 1407, chief rabbi of all the German communities ("Hochmeister über alle Rabbinen"), giving him a certificate declaring him to be a great Talmudic scholar and a good man.But as Israel's functions included the civil control of the Jews, and especially the collection of the taxes, the German rabbis opposed his appointment.