The Final Journey of the Maharam of Rothenburg: Imprisoned for Seeking Freedom

A Torah Giant in Chains

The year was 1286. A modest carriage arrived at the port of Bari in southern Italy, one of many carrying weary travelers bound for Greece, Turkey, and even the Land of Israel. But the fate of this carriage's passengers would prove tragic. Two officers approached and demanded travel permits. Panic ensued, and the police escorted away an elderly rabbi, the most senior passenger.

That rabbi was none other than Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg, known as the Maharam of Rothenburg, one of the last great sages of the Tosafist era and teacher to many of the next generation's leading scholars.

Born in the historic Jewish city of Worms, also home to Rashi, Rabbi Meir studied under Rabbi Yitzchak, the author of the Or Zarua, Rabbi Yechiel of Paris, and Rabbi Shmuel of Évreux. In time, he established his own yeshiva in the town of Rothenburg, attracting future luminaries such as the Rosh (Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel), the Mordechai, Rabbi Yitzchak of Dura, the Rashbetz, and the author of Hagahot Maimoniyot.

A Forbidden Escape and a Price on His Head

At the time, under King Rudolf I of Germany, Jews were considered “serfs of the treasury,” state property forbidden to leave the country. They were seen as a financial asset to be taxed and exploited, not free citizens. Knowing that he would never be granted permission to emigrate, the Maharam set out secretly for the Land of Israel with several students.

Unfortunately, a Jewish convert betrayed him, revealing his intended destination to the authorities. The king dispatched officers to intercept him at the port. The Maharam was arrested and imprisoned in the fortress of Ensisheim. Sensing an opportunity, King Rudolf demanded a ransom of 20,000 marks, assuming the Jewish community would eagerly pay to redeem their revered leader.

His devoted disciple, the Rosh, began raising the enormous sum and proudly told his teacher of the progress. But the Maharam stunned him with a firm refusal. Citing the halachic ruling, “We do not redeem captives for more than their value,” he declined to be ransomed, fearing that yielding to the demand would set a dangerous precedent and encourage future kidnappings of Jewish leaders.

Seven Years in Captivity, and a Legacy That Endures

And so, Rabbi Meir remained imprisoned in Ensisheim Castle. At first, he was held without books or writing materials. Over time, bribes secured limited freedoms: visitors were allowed, Torah questions were answered through letters, and he was given access to a few texts. Still, many of his responses note that he lacked key sources, often writing, “If not for what Tosafot writes…”

For seven long years, the Maharam remained in captivity, continuing to teach Torah as best he could through visits and correspondence. He eventually passed away in prison. Yet even in death, his suffering continued and King Rudolf refused to release his body for burial.

It was only thanks to the extraordinary devotion of Alexander Wimpfen Ziskind, a wealthy Jew from Worms, that the Maharam was finally brought to burial. Ziskind sold all his property to redeem the rabbi’s remains. When Ziskind himself passed away, he was buried beside the Maharam. Their graves, side by side, remain intact to this day, having miraculously survived even the Nazi era. The legacy and righteousness of Rabbi Meir ben Baruch live on eternally.