Born in 1583 (his exact date of birth is unknown), Natan Spira, an outstanding Kabbalist, preacher, expert in Talmudic and philosophical literature, chairman of the rabbinical court in Krakow, died on 20th July 1633. Interestingly, Spira was the son-in-law of a member of the Kraków kehilla, Mojżesz Jakubowicz, who provided him with support and resources to let him continue his studies. Natan Spira was considered a saint by his contemporaries. He preached that the dispersion of the Jewish nation (diaspora) and the transmigration of souls (gilgul neshamot), through successive incarnations, were the punishment for the contamination of Israel with sin. He dedicated all his fortune to charity and science.
Acording to Henry Halkowski, starting from 1617, Spira was the rector of the Krakow yeshiva, where he taught Torah, Talmud and commentaries according to the rules of practical Kabbalah by Ari, the most outstanding modern mystic. According to the legend, Spira “spent all nights in his university and studied Kabbalistic writings”, while the candle in his window was in the Jewish city of Kazimierz “like a lighthouse on a dark sea”.
He was the author of the commentary on the Torah: Megale Amukot, which is considered his greatest work. He also wrote the voice for the Sefer Ha-Halachos law code of Rabbi Isaac Alfasi. In addition, he is the author of about 15 works: responsa, liturgical and occasional poetry, elegies related to the persecution of the Jews and many other works, most of which have not been published.
According to Majer Bałaban, Natan Spira showed his extraordinary abilities at a young age, and while being occupied with the study of the Talmud, he also delved into philosophy, especially Kabbalah, which was taught by his predecessor Moses Margulies (…) In 1617, he took over the leadership of the kahal yeshiba in Krakow and since then exerted a direct influence on the youth as well as on the elderly. As rector, he lectured his students on the Talmud and commentaries, while sermons imbued with mysticism and practical Kabbalah were preached for the people. These sermons had a huge influence on his listeners. People believed that Elijah the prophet appeared to the speaker every night, crieed with him at the fall of the Jewish nation and prayed with him and the angels in heaven for the resurrection of Israel.

Natan Spira was buried at the Remah cemetery at Szeroka Street, where the front plate of his tombstone from the 17th century has been fragmentarily preserved to this day. A new replacement tombstone was made after the end of WW II. The inscription on it says that “he spoke with the prophet Elijah face to face”, however, the original inscription was “Here rests a man of God, holy from the forefathers, revealing secrets and what is deeply hidden, he about whom they say that Elijah spoke with him prophet face to face, scholar, rabbi, rector Natan Spira, son of Rabbi Salomon Spira, bp. He died on the 13th of ab (Av) 5393”

Based on: Krakowianie. Wybitni Żydzi krakowscy XIV-XX w., Krakow 2006 and Majer Bałaban, Historia Żydów w Krakowie i na Kazimierzu 1304-1868, Krakow 1936
Picture of Natan Spira’s tomb (GWŻ – Jewish Religious Comminuty)