Eliezer ben Isaac ha-Gadol

Although he was prominent in his day, little is known about the life of Eliezer ben Isaac ha-Gadol (“the great”) of Worms. Eliezer studied with Judah ben Meir ha-Kohen (ca. 970/80–1050/1055) and Rabbenu Gershom (ca. 960–1040), two of the leading figures of the talmudic academies in early eleventh-century Germany. Eliezer headed the academy in Mainz, where he taught several prominent talmudists, including Rashi’s teachers. In fact, Rashi and his students quote Eliezer’s exegetical and halakhic comments a number of times. Eliezer wrote responsa, and several piyyutim (liturgical poems) are ascribed to him as well.