ר׳ שמואל יהודה קצנלנבוגן

ר׳ שמואל יהודה קצנלנבוגן (1521–1597), known as מהרשי״ק, was a leading Italian rabbi, preacher and halakhist. Born in Padua, he was the son and student of ר׳ מאיר קצנלנבוגן, the מהר״ם מפדובה, and descended through his mother from ר׳ יהודה מינץ. His scholarship and oratorical ability were recognised early, and he collaborated with his father in teaching, responsa and textual work. After his father’s death in 1565 he was chosen as rabbi of Venice, where he headed an important academy and taught numerous pupils. Authorities across Europe—including ר׳ יוסף קארו, the מהרש״ל and ר׳ משה איסרליש—treated him with respect, and several of his responsa survive within their collections. He contributed notes to the 1550 Venice edition of Maimonides’ משנה תורה and composed twelve sermons, printed by a pupil in 1594. His son ר׳ שאול וואהל became the subject of the celebrated Polish “king for a day” legend. ר׳ שמואל יהודה died on 25 March 1597; ר׳ יהודה אריה ממודנה delivered his funeral oration. A reported sculpted bust made by an admiring pupil is not securely identifiable today and is therefore not used as his image.