Bookstamp of Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michael Malbim

Bookstamp of Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michael Malbim

Malbim, Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michael, 1809-1879

This is the bookstamp of Meir Loeb (also Leibush) ben Jehiel Michael Malbim (1809-1879), a Russian rabbi and Hebraist. He was born Meir Leibush (Löb) ben Jehiel Michael Wisser. The name Malbim is an acronym derived from the initials of his name.

Malbim was educated in Hebrew and Talmud by his father and stepfather. He served as the rabbi of Wreschen in Posen from 1838 until 1845 when he became rabbi of Kempen. Malbim remained in Kempen until 1860 when he became chief rabbi of Bucharest, Romania.

He was often involved in disputes with the wealthy German Jews of Bucharest, who sought to promote Reformed Judaism (Malbim adhered to traditional Orthodoxy). He was eventually arrested and later exiled from Romania.

In 1866 he assumed the post of his deceased father-in-law in Kalisz. Subsequently he served as rabbi at Kherson and later Moghilev, from which he was eventually expelled (once again due to religious disputes). He then served as rabbi at Dnieper and later Konigsberg, but again faced harassment from the German Jews there. Eventually he left for Krementchug but fell ill and died on the way in Kiev.

Malbim was an accomplished author and wrote many commentaries on the Torah. His bookstamp features his name in Hebrew along with his title, Head of the Court of the Jewish Community in Bucharest. Around the edge of the stamp, written in Romanian, is Malbim's name and title as Rabbi of Bucharest, followed by the year (which is illegible). In the center of the stamp is a crowned eagle facing dexter, a symbol of the historical and geographical region of Wallachia, Romania.

Malbim, Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michael, 1809-1879

Jewish Encyclopedia

Jewish Virtual Library

Digital Image: Washington University in Saint Louis

Ink

Hebrew, Romanian

Bookstamp

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