ר׳ משה אלשיך

ר׳ משה אלשיך (1508–1593), known as האלשיך הקדוש, was one of sixteenth-century Safed’s foremost preachers, biblical commentators and halakhic authorities. Born in Adrianople, he studied in Salonika under ר׳ יוסף טאיטאצאק and ר׳ יוסף קארו. He settled in Safed around 1535, served on its rabbinical court, led academies and received the renewed semikhah from ר׳ יוסף קארו. His pupils included ר׳ חיים ויטאל and ר׳ יום טוב צהלון. The Alshich’s celebrated biblical commentaries grew from weekly sermons: they combine close textual questions with midrash, ethics and religious philosophy, while generally avoiding overtly technical kabbalah. His Torah commentary, תורת משה, became so influential that it is commonly called simply “the Alshich.” Around 1590, during Safed’s economic decline, he travelled as a communal emissary through Syria and Ottoman lands, perhaps reaching Persia. A Damascus court document proves that he was still active in 1593. Sources disagree whether he died that year or closer to 1600 and whether his last days were in Damascus or Safed; this record follows the standard 1593 chronology and does not turn later tradition into certainty.