ר׳ מאיר בן יהודה לייב פאפירש

ר׳ מאיר בן יהודה לייב פאפירש (c.1628–1662) was a Polish-born kabbalist whose editorial work shaped the European reception of Lurianic Kabbalah. Born into a prosperous Kraków family, he reached Jerusalem while young and studied in the circle of ר׳ יעקב צמח and other transmitters of ר׳ חיים ויטאל’s manuscripts. He became known not primarily for an independent mystical system but for arranging a difficult manuscript tradition into usable compilations. His recension divided Lurianic teaching into דרך עץ חיים, פרי עץ חיים and נוף עץ חיים; this arrangement became exceptionally influential in Poland and Germany and helped establish the textual form through which generations encountered the Ari’s teachings. Around 1649 he travelled back toward Poland carrying manuscripts, contributing directly to their circulation in Europe, before returning to Jerusalem. He also composed אור זרוע, a mystical alphabetic work, and other kabbalistic writings. He died young in Jerusalem in 1662. Conflicting older accounts of his birthplace and birth year are retained in the date note rather than presented as certainty.