Tzadikim

Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer

Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer (Hebrew: יצחק בלאזר) ‎(1837–1907) was an early important leader of the Musar movement.

Born: 1837 near Vilnius, Russia
Died: Jerusalem, Ottoman Empire, 1907
 

Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer (Hebrew: יצחק בלאזר) ‎(1837–1907) was an early important leader of the Musar movement.

He is also sometimes referred to as Rav Itzele Peterburger due to his position as Chief Rabbi of St. Petersburg at a time when it was the capital of Russia.

Background

Rav Yitzchak Blazer was a student of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, founder of the Musar movement, under whose direction, despite his relatively young age (25) he was appointed Chief Rabbi of St. Petersburg.

Accomplishments

Among Blazer's accomplishments, in addition to his own authorship of Pri Yitzchak, a halakhic responsa text, was the publishing of many of Salanter's letters in Or Yisrael ("The Light of Israel"), as well as articles on Musar, Teshuvah, and the life of his teacher, Rav Yisrael Salanter. He also authored Kochvei Ohr.

From 1880 to approximately 1891, he served as the head of the Kovno Kollel in Kaunas, Lithuania, which was founded by Salanter. Under Blazer's direction, the kollel came to be "considered by its contemporaries as a bastion of the Mussar movement," a Jewish ethical movement based in Lithuania within the Russian Empire, and was attacked by the Musar movement's opponents.

He later joined Nosson Tzvi Finkel in leading the Slabodka Yeshiva.

Rabbi Yosef Yozel Horwitz was a distinguished (transl|yid|muvhak}}) pupil of Rabbi Blazer.

Later years

In 1904 he emigrated to Jerusalem, where Rav Shmuel Salant was Chief Rabbi; during Rav Itzele's last three years they worked together on several communal and charitable projects. Rav Blazer died on 11 Av 5667 (1907).

Personal Anivus

In keeping with his teacher's ideas and ideals, his acts of personal Anivus (humility) included:

worked as a painter until stopped by Rav Salanter.
worked as a clerk during his last three years of life, rather than take communal funds.
wrote that he was not to be given a formal eulogy.

May the merit of Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer protect us all. Amen

Light a virtual Candle
  • Soul Elevations

    • מרים בת שרה
    • Kim bat Robert
    • Guadalupe Argimiro ben Leandro Cabrera
    • Guadalupe Argimiro ben Leandro Cabrera
    • Ruth bat Avraham
  • Healing

    • Juliette Brown bat Milton
    • David Lane ben Robert
    • Lori Fisher bat Phyllis
    • Maria Nieves bat Maria Salomé
    • Raylene bat Sarah
    • גניפר נעמי בת איילין
    • Hilda bat Sarah
    • Eric Michael ben Avraham
    • Itzhak ben Sarah
    • Edisa bat Miriam
    • Rosa Magda bat Rosa
    • Elena bat Berta
    • Rosa Magda bat Rosa
    • Elisheba bat Maria
  • Success in life

    • Danniela bat Blanca Sonia
    • Patricia bat (john) Avraham
    • Luis Felipe ben Guadalupe Argimiro
    • Harrison Patrick ben Patricia
    • Yaakov ben Itzhak
    • Ananda Michelle bat Danniela
    • Elsa bat Danniela
    • Carol Chanah Dina bat Joseph
    • Isaac Benyamin ben Mordechai
    • Kim bat Robert
    • Ananda Michelle bat Danniela
    • Elsa Cabrera bat Danniela
    • Meirav bat Sean
    • Danniela bat Blancas Sonia
Light a virtual Candle


Hillulot | Biographies | Prayers | Virtual Candle