EPHRAIM SOLOMON BEN AARON OF LENCZIZA:
Rabbi and popular preacher at Prague; born probably at Lencziza, Poland; died at Prague March 3, 1619. After having filled the office of rosh yeshibah at Lemberg, he was appointed in 1604 rabbi of Prague, and remained in this position until 1618.
Ephraim was the author of the following works: "'Ir Gibborim," in three parts, the first, entitled "Petiḥot u-Shẹ'arim," containing a rhetorical introduction and an ethical treatise, and the second and the third being homilies on the Pentateuch, Basel, 1580; "'Olelot Efrayim," ethical sermons based upon Bible and Talmud, in four parts, Lublin, 1590; "Keli Yeḳar," annotations on the Pentateuch, ib. 1602; "Sifte Da'at," forming the second part of the preceding work and containing homilies on the Pentateuch, Prague, 1610; "Oraḥ le-Ḥayyim," two ethical sermons, one for the Sabbath between New-Year and the Day of Atonement ("Shabbat Teshubah"), and the other for Passover, Lublin, 1595; "'Ammude Shesh," sermons, Prague, 1617; "Ribebot Efrayim," homilies on the Pentateuch (mentioned in the introduction to his work "Oraḥ le-Ḥayyim").
Ephraim was also the author of three liturgical poems celebrating Adar 2 (Feb. 15), 1611, on which date a hostile army that had entered Prague was defeated.
- Moritz Grünwald, Rabbi Salomo Efraim Luntschitz, Prague, 1892;
- Zunz, Literaturgesch. p. 421;
- Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. col. 904;
- Zedner, Cat. Hebr. Books Brit. Mus. p. 240;
- Michael, Or ha-Ḥayyim, No. 501.