Amidah-Pekudei-Restore Our Judges-Bach

The 20th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yoel (ben Shmuel) Sirkes of Cracow, (the Bach) (1561-1641), author of Bayis Chadash on the Tur, in which he traced each law to its source in the gemarah. In his youth, he studied under Rav Shlomo Leibush of Lublin and Rav Meshulam Feivush in Brisk. He had several rabbinic appointments throughout Poland, lastly as Chief Rabbi of Cracow in 1619. He was the teacher and father-in-law of Rav Dovid HaLevy, the Taz.

“These are the reckonings of the Tabernacle (Exodus 38:21).” Although we have a rule that we do not demand an accounting from tzedakah treasurers who have an established reputation, we learn from Moses that even the most trustworthy leader must offer a careful accounting. (Bach, Yoreh Deah)