Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (Beis Halevi)

Russian Rabbi, first of Brisk dynasty From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yosef Dov[a] Soloveitchik (born 1820 in Nesvizh, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire; died 1 May 1892 in Brest-Litovsk, Grodno Governorate, Russian Empire) was the author of Beis Halevi, by which name he is better known among Talmudic scholars. He was the great-grandson of Chaim Volozhin.[2]

Born1820
Nesvizh, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire
Died1 May 1892(1892-05-01) (aged 71–72)
Brest-Litovsk, Grodno Governorate, Russian Empire
Quick facts Rabbi, Personal life ...
Rabbi
Yosef Dov Soloveitchik
Personal life
Born1820
Nesvizh, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire
Died1 May 1892(1892-05-01) (aged 71–72)
Brest-Litovsk, Grodno Governorate, Russian Empire
BuriedBrest, Belarus
ChildrenChaim Soloveitchik
DynastySoloveitchik dynasty
Religious life
ReligionJudaism
DenominationOrthodox Judaism
Jewish leader
Yahrtzeit4 Iyar 5652
DynastySoloveitchik dynasty
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Early years

Yosef Dov Soloveitchik was born to Rivka, a granddaughter of Chaim Volozhin. His father was Yitschok Ze'ev.[3]

Rosh yeshiva

Soloveitchik was reputed to have one of the great minds of his time. In 1854, he was considered a candidate for rosh yeshiva of Volozhin yeshiva, over Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (the Netziv). Ultimately, Berlin would be selected for the position,[4] with Soloveitchik becoming his assistant. Together, they led the yeshiva until 1865.[5][6]

Rabbinate

In 1865, Soloveitchik became rabbi of Slutsk.[6]

He was a fierce opponent of the Maskilim, as a result of which he left Slutsk in 1874. He then moved to Warsaw where he lived in poverty. When the rabbi of Brisk, Yehoshua Leib Diskin left for the Land of Israel in 1877, Soloveitchik was offered the rabbinate of Brisk.[6][7] He is buried in Brest, Belarus.[8]

Works

Soloveitchik composed works on Jewish law (responsa) called Shu"t Beis Halevi, as well as a commentary on the first book and part of the second book of the Bible (Beis Halevi al Hatorah).[7]

Family tree

Soloveitchik was the great-grandfather of the eponymous Joseph B. Soloveitchik and another descendant, Berel Soloveitchik who moved to Israel, both of whom are also known as "Yosef Dov Soloveitchik."

See also

Notes

  1. Soleveitchik signed his own name "יוסף דובער", "Yosef Dovber", a common tautological name combining "Dov" and its Yiddish equivalent "Ber".[1]

References

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