[1][2] Born in about 1110 in Regensburg, Germany, in his early years, he studied under Isaac ben Mordecai and Isaac ben Asher ha-Levi, later moving to France to study under Rabbeinu Tam of whom he was an early student.
Of apparent remarkable keenness of perception, Rabbi Ephraim refused to recognize, either in the theoretical or in the practical field, any post-Talmudic authority, and often, therefore, came into conflict with his teachers and colleagues.
However Rabbi Ephraim is probably best known for abrogating established customs and religious regulations which had been long regarded as inviolable, because he saw no reason for their existence to be found in the Talmud.
Over thirty two of his piyyutim are extant, many of which reflect the hardships suffered by the Jews of Germany in the Regensburg massacre of 1137 and during the Second Crusade.
He also apparently wrote "Arba Panim" a commentary on Seder Nezikin.