Tzadikim

Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin

Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin (Hebrew: שלמה יוסף זווין) was one of the most prominent Orthodox, Religious Zionist rabbis of the 20th century. He founded the Encyclopedia Talmudit, a Hebrew Halachic Encyclopedia, of which he was chief editor until his death.

Born: 1888 Kazimirov Belarus
Died: Jerusalem, Israel, 1978
 

Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin (Hebrew: שלמה יוסף זווין) (born 1888; died 28 February 1978) was one of the most prominent Orthodox, Religious Zionist rabbis of the 20th century. He founded the Encyclopedia Talmudit, a Hebrew Halachic Encyclopedia, of which he was chief editor until his death.

Rabbinate and scholarship


Shlomo Yosef Zevin was born in 1888 in Kazimirov (near Minsk), where his father, Aharon Mordechai, served as rabbi. The younger Zevin’s education was a combination of both “Litvishe” (Lithuanian) and Hasidic influences; he studied first in the Yeshiva of Mir under Rabbi Eliyahu Baruch Kamai (where he was the study partner of Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg) and then in Bobruisk, under Rabbi Shemaryahu Noach Schneerson, then leader of the Kapust branch of the Chabad hasidic dynasty. Zevin was ordained by Rabbi Schneerson, Rabbi Yosef Rosen (the Rogatchover Gaon), and Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (author of Aruch Hashulchan).

At a young age Rabbi Zevin was appointed rabbi of his birthplace, Kazimirov, and served as editor of the journal "Shaarei Torah." He later served as rabbi of Klimon and Novozybkov. He took an active role in the underground struggle to preserve Jewish observance in Soviet Russia after the Communist Revolution; this effort was headed by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. Beginning in 1921, he edited a Torah journal, Yagdil Torah, together with Rabbi Yehezkel Abramsky of Slutsk; for this crime he was imprisoned by the Communist authorities. He founded Orthodox Jewish journals that dealt with problems of the time.

At the age of 18, Rabbi Zevin began corresponding with leading sages, including the Rogatchover Gaon and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. He also began at a young age to serve Russian Jewry in various communal capacities. During the brief period of Ukrainian independence after World War I, Rabbi Zevin served as a member of the Ukrainian parliament. He also served as a member and officer of the parent body of Jewish communities in Ukraine.

In 1935, Rabbi Zevin settled in the Land of Israel and began teaching at the Mizrachi-affiliated Bet Midrash L’morim. He also served as a member of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate Council.

He held religious zionist views and would eat a festive meal on Israeli independence day.

In 1947 the first volume of the Encyclopedia Talmudit was published under his editorial oversight. Zevin continued to serve as editor-in-chief until his death in 1978. This multi-volume work continues today.

Rabbi Zevin frequently corresponded with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whom he had met for the first time in Russia in the mid-1920s. Part of this correspondence is printed in the Igrot Kodesh series. He was also among the influential scholars to encourage Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson to accept the leadership over the Chabad movement after the passing of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, in 1950. He used concepts in Chabad philosophy to clarify halachic principles.

 

Awards

  • In 1959, Rabbi Zevin received the Israel Prize for Rabbinical literature.
  • In 1967, he received the Yakir Yerushalayim (Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem) award, the year of the award's inauguration.

Published works

  • Encyclopedia Talmudit - a Talmudic / Halachic encyclopedia; he founded the encyclopedia together with Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan and edited the volumes that were released in his lifetime;

Additionally, Zevin authored nine other works,including;

  • L’Ohr Ha’halachah – essays on both practical and abstract halachic topics, including a halachic analysis of the legal and moral questions presented in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice;
  • Ha’moadim Be’halachah – halachic studies of the Jewish festivals;
  • Ishim Ve’shitot – biographies of selected 19th and 20th century sages with analyses of their individual methods of study;
  • La’Torah Ve’la’moadim – essays on the Torah and the festivals; and
  • Sippurei Chassidim – Chassidic tales arranged by parsha and festival.
  • Sofrim U'Sefarim – reviews of Torah literature

May the merit of Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin protect us all. Amen

Light a virtual Candle
  • Soul Elevations

    • רבי יחיאל הלל בן רבי יעקב
    • Yoel ben Hannah Shifra
    • María Oralia Hernández Garza bat María de Jesús Garza Hernández
    • William Yady ben Avraham
    • Lucia bat Jose
    • MERCEDES YOLANDA CABRERA GARCIA bat Mercedes García
    • Zalman ben Sarah
    • Shlomo Yitzchak ben Sarah
    • Ruchel bat Kayla
    • Ester bat Abraham bat Abraham Avinu
    • DAVID GIDALEVSKIY ben Avraham
    • GUADALUPE ARGIMIRO CABRERA GARCIA ben Leandro Cabrera
    • ZLATA KHAZINA bat Sarah
    • Kayla bat Peppi
    • VELVEL ROYTMAN ben Avraham
    • Malka bat Sarah
    • שיינה מינדל בת ר' יחיאל הלל
    • Heather Kroamer bat Ruth
    • Moshe Yitzchak ben Malka
  • Healing

    • Isaac Benyamin ben Chanah Hinda
    • Miriam bat Sarah
    • Shmuel ben Manya
    • Oneida Yanira bat Milila
    • Yolanda bat Olga
    • Robert Eugene ben Marie
    • Leah Yehudis bat Tziporah Rochel
    • Sarah bat Luiza
    • MARTHA ELOINA GOMEZ HERNANDEZ bat ROSA
    • Sarah bat Myriam
    • Esther bat Monica
    • Luiz ben Maria
    • Jackie bat Bertha
    • SPYRIDON ben VICTORIA
    • Efrat bat Ziona
    • יהושע פאליק בן הרב יחיאל הלל
    • Yehoshua ben Hannah
    • Sarah bat Luiza
    • Sean ben Gloria
    • Ruth bat Carmen
    • Zalman ben Ruchel
    • Avrohom Yaakov ben Rochel
    • Melissa Lewis bat Barbara Indra
  • Success in life

    • Elisheba bat William Yady
    • ELSA CABRERA DE LA GARZA bat DANNIELA
    • Isaac Benjamin ben Mordechai
    • Amir ben Shlomo
    • Frances bat Fransico
    • Sarita Mazal, Bastien Benyamin, Jonah Yehiel, Isla Bib Chanah bat Moshe Jacob and Carol Chanah Dinah Leibel and Shanah
    • Debbie bat Ralph
    • Aryeh Izthak ben David
    • Ingrid bat Horst
    • Arik ben John Ambrose
    • Moshe Wolf aka Jetro da Silva ben Matilda
    • Sarita Mazal bat Moises Jacobo
    • SPYRIDON DIAMANTIDIS ben ADAMANDIOS
    • ANANDA MICHELLE CABRERA DE LA GARZA bat DANNIELA
    • Rivka bat Joseph
    • Augusto ben Salvador R. Hernandez
    • Elton ben Marshall
    • Luiz ben Lino
    • Wanda Jean bat Glen
    • Mishpacha Rochel bas Zahava bas Molly/Milka/Malka bas Devora Gelia bat Dovid ben Yoseph v Rochel
    • GRACIELA bat ISMAEL
    • Sarah Hannah ben Moshe
    • Sarah bat Primo
    • Oneida Yanira bat Milila
    • Carol Chanah Dinah bat Joseph
    • אסתר בת אברהם
    • Tzivia Gallegos bat Dionicio
    • Erika Olsen ben Howard William Cooley
    • NSAMA ben CHAMA
    • Florrie Sésé bat Kae
    • ELSA CABRERA DE LA GARZA bat DANNIELA
    • Carol Cari Chanah Dinah, Isaac Benyamin and family ben Joseph and Mordechai
Light a virtual Candle


Hillulot | Biographies | Prayers | Virtual Candle