Zalman Sorotzkin

Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin (1881-1966) was a famous Orthodox Rabbi. He is also known as the "Lutzker Rav", since he served as the Rabbi of Lutsk, Poland.

Rabbi Sorotzkin was born in Zachrina, Lithuania in 1881. Initially, he studied with his father, Rabbi Ben-Zion Sorotzkin who was the town's Rabbi. He then studied in the yeshivas of Volozhin and Slabodka.

Rabbi Sorotzkin was a son in law of the Telzer Rav and Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Eliezer Gordon. When Rabbi Gordon died in 1910, Rabbi Sorotzkin was offered the position as Rabbi and rosh yeshiva in Telz. He did not accept the position and was shortly after appointed as Rabbi to Voronova, near Vilna. This enabled him to establish a close relationship with Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski. In Voronova, Rabbi Sorotzkin established a yeshiva ketana. After two years in Voronova, Rabbi Sorotzkin moved to Zhetel where he served as Rabbi for eighteen years. Since Zhetel was the birthplace of the Chofetz Chaim, the Chofetz Chaim would affectionately refer to Rabbi Sorotzkin as "my" rav.

In 1914, owing to the German invasion, Rabbi Sorotzkin moved to Minsk and became a close friend of the Chazon Ish, who rented a room from Rabbi Sorotzkin. Upon the end of the war, Rabbi Sorotzkin returned to Zhetel.

In 1930 he was appointed Rabbi in Lutsk, where he remained until World War Two. During the early days of the war, when many yeshivas had to relocate, Rabbi Sorotzkin served as the head of the Vaad Hayeshivos, at the behest of Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski. Rabbi Sorotzkin managed to flee the war and escape to Israel.

When the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages) of the Agudath Israel was founded in Israel, Rabbi Sorotzkin was appointed vice chairman. In 1953, the Chinuch Atzmai was formed and Rabbi Sorotzkin was chosen to head it.

Rabbi Sorotzkin authored the works "Oznaim LaTorah", a commentary on the Torah, and "Moznaim LaTorah", on the festivals. His son Rabbi Baruch Sorotzkin served as a Rosh Yeshiva at the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland.

Rabbi Sorotzkin died in Israel on Monday June 27th (9th Tammuz) 1966.

He was survived by his five sons, Rabbi Elchonon Sorotzkin, author of leman achai verai and leader of the chinuch atzmai. Rabbi Baruch Sorotzkin, Rosh Hayeshiva of Telz Yeshiva in cleveland, Rabbi Eliezer Sorotzkin, founder of Kiryas Telshe Stone in Israel, Rabbi Yisrael Sorotzkin, Rosh Hayeshiva in Lomza and Av Beis Din in Petach Tikva, and Rabbi Benzion Sorotzkin leader of Chinuch Atzmai.