Rabbi Moshe Isserles, the great codifier, author of additions to Rabbi Yosef Caro’s Shulchan Aruch, reflecting the laws and customs of Ashkenazi Jewry, lived and taught in Cracow, where he was born. He died there in 1572 on the thirty-third day of the Omer (18th of Iyar).
Until the extinction of the Polish Jewish community during World War II many thousands of Jews from far and near would visit the tombs of the Rema (acronym of Rabbi Moshe Isserles) on the anniversary of his death.
The Hillula observed in Cracow on Lag Ba’Omer was different from that taking place on the same day in Meron in the Upper Gallillee at the graves of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Eleazar.
One scholar regarded the Hillula in Cracow as the renewal of a custom prevalent in the Talmudic era, about which were told by the Geonim: On the anniversary of the death of a great man, scholars and other people from the area gather at his tomb to study.*
It was customary to deliver on La BaOmer a scholarly discourse at the Rema Synagogue which is adjacent to the old Jewish cemetery in Cracow. The lecturer would speak in praise of the Rema, discuss his decisions and defend his views.
The following is a free translation of a report about the Hillula, which appeared in the Cracow Hebrew periodical HaMaggid HeChadash on Iyar 29, 5653 (1893), almost one hundred years ago.
“Cracow, this year, like every year thousands of Jews visited on Lag Ba’Omer the old cemetery. They came out of reverence for our teacher Rabbi Moshe Isserles, who died on that day three hundred and twenty-one years ago. On that day candles are lit, prayers are recited and people study in memory of his soul…. Those who go to the tomb of the Rema also visit the graves of other great and saintly men buried there, the last resting places of Rabbi Nathan Natan Spira (author of Megalleh Amukkot), Rabbi Yoel Sirkes (author of Bayit Chadash), Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel b. Yosef (author of Meginnei Shlomo and responsa Penei Yehoshua) Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller (Tosefot Yom Tov) The Rebbe Reb Heshel…. It is an old custom for the rabbi and head of the rabbinical court of the city to deliver on that day in the Rema Synagogue a public lecture discussiעn the greatness of Rabbi Moshe Isserles.”
The writer of the report, H. P. Anisfeld, adds that because the post of head of the rabbinical court has been vacant since the demise of Rabbi Shimon Sofer, the officers of the Chevra Kaddisha now decide who is to deliver the public discourse at the Rema Synagogue on Lag BaOmer. “In the past they conferred the honor on Rabbi Akiva Kornitzer, the son-in-law of Rabbi Sofer who took Rabbi Sofer’s place. This year- Rabbi Kornitzer, too having departed from this world… the offices of the Chevra Kaddisha designated Reb Bunim Sofer to take the place of his father and brother-in-law in eulogizing Rabbi Moshe Isserles. His fine lecture was well received by the large audience. The masterful presentation of the Rema’s greatness made a profound impression on all present.”
Rabbi Shimon Sofer– a son of Rabbi Moshe Sofer, the Chatam Sofer — served as rabbi and head of the rabbinical court of Cracow from 1861 until his death in 1883. His printed sermons first published in 1952 by Rabbi Yosef Naftoli Stern under the title Michtav Sofer-– include abridged versions of four discourses he delivered in honor of Rabbi Moshe Isserles.
Rabbi Akiva Kornitzer, the son-in-law of Rabbi Shimon Sofer, who was chosen to occupy Rabbi Sofer’s place as rabbi of the city, served in this position until his death in 1892.
The discourses he delivered in honor of the Rema in the years 1880-1883 and 1886-1891 appear in his responsa and novellae, which were first published three years ago. The editor of the volume – Rabbi Shulem A. Kornitzer of Brooklyn – a great grandson of Rabbi Akiva Kornitzer- notes that although Rabbi Shimon Sofer was still alive in 1880, 1881 and 1882, Rabbi Akiva delivered the Lag Ba’Omer discourses in his place. Rabbi Shimon Sofer was then in Vienna participating in the sessions of the Austrian Parliament, to which he had been elected in 1879.
The Hillula of Rabbi Moshe Isserles was observed until the outbreak of World War II with the participation of many thousands of Jews from all parts of Poland.
Rabbi Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer – a son of Rabbi Akiva Kornitzer — served as rabbi of Cracow from 1925 until his death in 1933. Like his father and grandfather before him, he delivered the traditional discourse on the Rema. Some of these discourses as well as notes from them are found in Derashot Rabbenu Yosef Nechemiah (edited by Rabbis Shabse Frankel and Shulem A. Kornitzer, Bnei Brak, 1987).
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*Rashi, Yevamot 122a. See Kodesh Hillulim by Yosef Kohen Zedek (Altona, 1873), a lecture delivered on the occasion of the Hillulot of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and Rabbi Moshe Isserles on Shabbath 32nd day of the Omer at the Bnei Emunah Synagogue in Cracow (pp. 16-17).
May 1994 page 7, American Jewish Times