Shlomo Efrayim studied under the famed Maharal (Rabbi Yehuda Lowe) of Prague. He was one of his finest, most brilliant students.
The Maharal sent Shlomo Efrayim away to study in Pressberg and then later to Levov. Before leaving for Levov, the Maharal instructed Shlomo Efrayim to work there as a simple laborer, never revealing his true greatness.
"After my departure from this world," the Maharal explained, "a delegation will come to you with a letter from me. I want you to carry out what the letter states."
Shlomo Efrayim lived quietly and humbly in a corner of the Levov synagogue and wrote his classical work, Olilos Efrayim. He married and lived very, very simply, selling eggs by day to support his family and at night sitting and learning Torah with the greatest diligence. Shlomo Efrayim, who called himself Shlomo Olilos, was known as a simple, impoverished, but honest man. The Maharal lived to an old age. Before passing away, he called to the people of his city. "After my departure, go to the city of Levov where you will find a man called Efrayim Olilos. Give him this letter and he will be the rabbi in my place."
After the Maharal's passing, a delegation carried out his request. They thought they would come to the city of Levov and find a well-known man. However, they were in for a surprise. They arrived at an inn in Levov and stated,
"We came to take the great, learned sage, Efrayim Olilos, to be the rabbi of our city."
No one knew of an Efrayim Olilos who should command such respect. The delegation was puzzled. They searched for three days, but to no avail. When they were about to return to Prague, someone approached them. "If you are interested in Efrayim Olilos, I know a man by that name who sells eggs." The delegation went with the man to a broken-down shack where they found Shlomo Efrayim, his wife and children dressed in tatters. Shlomo Efrayim's clothes were torn, but his face was illuminated like that of a holy person.
They said to him, "Sholom Aleichem, our teacher and rabbi. We have a letter from the Maharal."
Shlomo Efrayim read the letter. The Maharal asked that he become the rabbi of Prague. "The command of my rabbi is one that I must accept, but I cannot come until six months have passed. I have to prepare with intensified prayer and Torah study in order to accept such a dignified and glorified position."
The members of the delegation left him 500 gulden so that the rabbi would be able to devote himself to his spiritual preparations over the next six months without worrying about eking out a living selling eggs. Shlomo Efrayim purchased clothing and food for his family and prepared for his new life.
At that time, a large sum of money was stolen from the house of a lord. When the people saw that Shlomo Efrayim's wife and children were no longer dressed in tatters they assumed that he had stolen the money. Shlomo Efrayim was thrown in prison without the benefit of a trial, lawyers or any opportunity to defend himself.
After the six months had elapsed and Shlomo Efrayim did not arrive in Prague, a delegation came to find out the reason for the delay. When they arrived in Levov, Shlomo Efrayim's wife explained all that had happened and the Prague delegation rushed to the city leaders to tell them of their great error. Shlomo Efrayim was immediately released.
The whole city of Levov followed the carriage in which Rabbi Shlomo Efrayim left for the city of Prague. He became one of the most colorful rabbinic leaders in his time. He wrote the famous homiletic commentary on the Bible, Klei Yakar, which is printed side by side other famous commentaries on the Bible.
