Shlomo Yosef Zevin

Shlomo Yosef Zevin (1888-1978) was one of the most eminent Orthodox rabbis of the 20th century. He founded the Encyclopedia Talmudit, a Hebrew Halachic Encyclopedia.

Rabbinate and scholarship

Rabbi Zevin was a 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. R’ Zevin was ordained by Rabbi Schneerson, Rabbi Yosef Rosen (the Rogatchover Gaon), and Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (author of Aruch Hashulchan). [Hapardes, Nissan 5738, pp. 25-26.]

At a young age Rabbi Zevin was appointed rabbi of his birthplace, Kazimirov, and served as editor of the journal "Shaarei Torah"." [Hapardes, Shevat 5719, p. 46] He later served as rabbi of Klimon and Novozybkov. [ibid.] 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. [Hapardes, Nissan 5738] He founded Orthodox Jewish journals that dealt with problems of the time.

At the age of 18, Rabbi Zevin began corresponding with leading sages. 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.

Rabbi Zevin frequently corresponded with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe; this correspondence is printed in the Igrot Kodesh series. He used concepts in Chabad philosophy to clarify halachic principles.

In 1959 he received the Israel Prize for Torah literature.

Works

Rabbi Zevin is best known for his written works, including:

*"Encyclopedia Talmudit" - a Talmudic encyclopedia; he founded the encyclopedia together with Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan and arranged the volumes that were released in his lifetime;
*"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

References