Rav Eybeshutz was born in Cracow, Poland. At the age of 21 he became the Rosh Yeshiva of the Prague yeshiva. He authored many works in areas of halacha as well as kabbalah. Thirty of his works in the area of halacha have been published. His works include Urim V'tumim, Kereisi Ufleisi, Yaaros Dvash, and Ahavas Yehonasan (a commentary on the weekly haftorahs). Rav Eybeshutz is also famous for writing kameyos (amulets with holy writings) for women who were soon to give birth.
Devar Torah on the Parsha from Rav Eybeshutz
תַּחַּת אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָבַּדְתָ אֶׁת ה' אֱלֹקיךָ בְשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב מֵרֹב כֹל. - Because you did not serve Hashem, your G-d, with joy and with a good heart, while you had abundance of everything. -- Devorim 28:47
In Ya’aros D’vash (part 1, drush 11) Rav Eybeshutz expounds on this verse, and in the name of the Arizal, Rav Eybeshutz writes that each Jew needs to have joy when doing any mitzva. Rav Eybeshutz then gives an advice of how to reach that joy: Before performance of a mitzva think how it is such an incredible honor that the Master of the Universe asked you personally to do this action for Him.
