Eliezer ben Isaac

Eliezer ben Isaac was a Czech Hebrew printer who plied his trade for several decades in the second half of the sixteenth century in eastern Europe and the Middle East. Eliezer was active in Lublin, Constantinople, and Safed, and was the first to print books in Erez Israel.

Eliezer was born in Prague and in partnership with others he printed Hebrew books in Lublin from 1557 to 1573. For a short while he printed from Konska Wola, near Lublin. In 1574 Eliezer went to Constantinople and set up press in partnership with David b. Elijah Kashti. Partnership lasted for a year but Eliezer continued to print in Constantinople until 1576. After Constantinople, Eliezer went to Safed where he entered into partnership with Abraham b. Isaac, and he two of them established the first press in Ereẓ Israel. The press produced three works in the years 1577–79. Later Eliezer returned to Constantinople, and again entered in partnership with Kashti. In 1587, Eliezer returned to Safed where he continued his business.