26 Shevat – The Taz1 min read

26 Shevat is the yahrzeit of Rav Dovid (ben Shmuel) Halevi Segal zy”a, author of Turei Zahav – Taz, one of the primary commentaries on the four sections of Shulchan Aruch. He also wrote a super-commentary on Rashi to Chumash. He was a son-in-law of the Bach.

In his introduction to Yoreh Deah, the tzaddik writes that he called the work טורי זהב, because טורי alludes to the Tur and Shulchan Aruch, the works he explicates, and זהב is equal to his name, דוד. Perhaps we may add that the word זהב spelled out ­- זין הי בית – is exactly equal in gematriya to דוד בן שמואל הלוי.

The Taz passed away the Sunday of Parshas Terumah, where it says ונתתה אתה על ארבעה עמודי שטים מצפים זהב וויהם זהב על ארבעה אדני כסף (26:32). These words may be seen as alluding to the Taz.

The words ארבעה עמודי שטים – “four pillars of shittim wood,” may allude to the four sections of Shulchan Aruch which he wrote on, as the first letters of עמודי שטים are the initials of שלחן ערוך.

The words מצפים זהב – “covered the gold,” allude to this that the four sections of Shulchan Aruch are covered with the commentary of Turei Zahav, alluded to by זהב.

The words אדני כסף, are equalin gematriya to טורי. Combined with זהב על ארבעה, these words form: טורי זהב על ארבעה.

Zechuso Yagein Aleinu!