Rav Elazar of Worms (the Roke’ach) was born in Magentzia in 1160. He received his Torah education from his father. When he moved to Metz, he studied under Rebbi Eliezer, the author of the Yereim. Afterwards, he moved to Shpera. There, he learned the secrets of the Torah (Kabbalah) from Rebbi Yehuda HaChassid.
Later in his life, he settled in Worms and established a yeshiva there. Many of the Torah giants of that generation were among his students. One of such students was Rav Yitzchak of Vienna, author of the Ohr Zaru’ah. The Roke’ach past away in Worms in 1230, and was buried there. It’s fascinating that his study hall still stands to this day! It is known as Rashi's Beit Medrash.
Although he is primarily known for his halachic work - i.e., the “Roke’ach”, Rav Elazar was a prolific writer on all parts of Torah. Among the subjects for his commentary are the Talmud, Tanach, Midrash, the Siddur and liturgy. He also wrote ethical and Kabbalistic works, as well as many piyutim. His commentary on the Siddur was published in two volumes as Perushei Sidur HaTefilah LaRokeach by Rabbi Moshe Hershler and his son Rabbi Yehuda Alter Hershler (Jerusalem 1992).
Among the prominent works authored by the Roke’ach is set of works entitled Sodei Razei, Sefer HaShem (a commentary on Sefer Yetzirah), and Chochmas HaNefesh. The first part of Sodei Razei is also known as Sefer Alpha Beta, or Sod Ma’aseh Bereshit, which contains an index of Kabbalistic topics in alphabetical order. It is apparently one of the primary sources of Megaleh Amukos of R' Moshe Natan Nota Shapira of Krakow, and of Yalkut Reuveni.
These three works were published from manuscript in a single volume by R. Aharon Eisenbach, under the aegis of Machon Sodei Razya, Jerusalem 5764 (2004).
