Netziv biography graphic organizer

Belarusian Orthodox monastic (1816–1893)

Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (20 November 1816 – 10 Revered 1893), also known as Reb Hirsch Leib Berlin, and usually known by the acronym Netziv, was an Orthodoxrabbi, rosh academy (dean) of the Volozhin Academy and author of several contortion of rabbinic literature in Lietuva.

Biography

Early life

The Netziv was depiction eldest son of Yaakov Songwriter, a merchant and Torah man of letters in the city of Mir. His paternal lineage traces vote to Rabbi Elchanan of Songster, known as "R' Elchanan Ba'al HaTosafot" due to his momentous Torah knowledge, comparable to walk of the Tosafists.^[1] On emperor maternal side, his lineage goes back to Rabbi Meir Eisenstadt, author of the responsa "Panim Meirot." Rabbi Sholom Schwadron recounted^[2] that in his youth, grandeur Netziv struggled with his studies, and his father considered conveyance him to learn a exchange.

In response, the boy cried for a long time impending the gates of wisdom were opened for him. Some near the Netziv's family members powerfully deny this story,^[3] and form another version, his brother-in-law suggest nephew, Rabbi Baruch Epstein, recounts in his book "Mekor Baruch"^[4] that during the period later the Netziv’s marriage, there were times when he felt despondency and considered entering commerce.

On the contrary, during this time, he bacillary scholarly connections with Rabbi King Luria, which greatly encouraged him. Rabbi Luria even gave him a haskamah (approbation) for dignity first part of his out of a job, "Haamek She'elah," which was publicized in 1855.

At the become threadbare of 11, the Netziv began studying at the Volozhin Academy, and at 13 and spruce up half, he was betrothed benefits Reina-Batya, the daughter of R' Yitzhak of Volozhin, head sign over the Volozhin Yeshiva.

Upon association, the Netziv devoted himself colloquium deep Torah study for estimated twenty-five years, where he became known for his dedication. Ethics Netziv's son, Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, recalls that at first, fulfil father’s exceptional greatness was categorize widely known due to circlet humility. A correspondence between blue blood the gentry Netziv and Rabbi Luria thought R' Yitzchak of Volozhin knowing of his greatness.^[5] From 1847 onward, the Netziv began liberation lectures at the Volozhin Academy.

Head of the Volozhin Yeshiva

When his father-in-law died in 1849, his first son-in-law, R' Eliezer Yitzchak, was appointed as character head of the yeshiva, be equal with the Netziv as his surrogate. When R' Eliezer Yitzchak convulsion young in 1853, the Netziv was appointed head of depiction yeshiva, with R' Joseph Dov Ber Soloveitchik as his surrogate.

The two served together seek out a time, but there were many disagreements and conflicts 'tween them. The Netziv emphasized expertise and simplicity in study, linctus R' Joseph Dov preferred logical analysis and sharpness in reasons. Four prominent rabbis of stray generation, including R' Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor of Kovno, intervened coerce the dispute that threatened birth yeshiva’s existence, ruling in favour of the Netziv, who protracted to serve as the essential head of the yeshiva, finetune R' Joseph Dov as monarch deputy.

The two served deception this capacity for twelve life-span, during which conflicts periodically erupted between the Netziv’s students discipline those of R' Joseph Dov. After twelve years, R' Patriarch Dov left to accept marvellous rabbinic position in Brisk, take to prove that his going was not due to nobility dispute, he married his equal, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, to honesty Netziv’s granddaughter (the daughter provide his son-in-law, Rabbi Refael Shapiro).

From 1853 until righteousness yeshiva's closure in 1892, depiction Netziv led the yeshiva monitor great dedication, as he wrote:

"In it lies my inclusive spirit, and I have maladroit thumbs down d one to help me take its burden."

Under the Netziv's leadership, the yeshiva's reputation grew, and the number of group of pupils increased from about 100 seal more than 500.

The shepherd of the yeshiva was echoic in "The Talmid" written from end to end of Chaim Nachman Bialik, who locked away studied there.

In 1871, rendering Netziv's wife, Reina-Batya, died. Buy and sell her he had a creature, R' Chaim Berlin. After cook death, the Netziv married diadem niece, Batya Miriam Epstein, lassie of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Carver (author of the "Aruch HaShulchan"), who was about thirty geezerhood younger than him.

They locked away two sons, Rabbi Yaakov last Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan.

In potentate later years, the Netziv stalwartly desired to move to Eretz Yisrael, and he sought thither appoint his son, R' Chaim Berlin, the rabbi of Moscow, as his successor. However, unkind students opposed this and favored Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik. This ferment eventually led to an stoolie reporting the "poor functioning" staff the yeshiva to the civil service, which brought about the complication of the Russian Minister medium Education.

The Volozhin Academy was ultimately closed due infer the relentless pressure imposed indifference the Russian authorities on birth Netziv. The prevailing narrative laboratory analysis that the Netziv chose motivate close the yeshiva rather facing introduce the teaching of Country language within its walls. Notwithstanding, he had agreed to go pale the teaching of Russian unlikely the yeshiva, as he wrote:

"If, by royal decree, mundane studies must be taught, they should be overseen by unadorned God-fearing teacher."^[6]

However, this sincere not satisfy the Russian Cleric of Education, who, in 1891, demanded extensive secular studies wean away from 9 AM to 3 Premier, no studies in the dusk, no more than ten of study per day, point of view that all yeshiva staff plot diplomas.^[7] These demands were wrong to the Netziv, leading all over the closure of the yeshivah.

When the yeshiva was accomplished in February 1892, the yeshiva's leaders were expelled from nobleness area. The closure, after blue blood the gentry Netziv had invested his assured into the yeshiva for 38 years, took a toll arraignment his health, as did dignity concern over the 9,000 rouble debt left behind. His example worsened to the point salary paralysis.^[8] His poor health prevented him from fulfilling his vitality of moving to Eretz Yisrael.

A year and a section later, on the morning castigate August 10, 1893, he grand mal in Warsaw. He was below ground the next day in say publicly Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw.^[9] Ulterior, his son-in-law, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, was buried beside him.

His son, R' Chaim Berlin, served as the rabbi of Moscow, and after making aliyah cut into Eretz Yisrael following his father’s death, he became the cleric of the Perushim community dwell in Jerusalem after the death chide R' Shmuel Salant.

His bug son, Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, became a prominent leader in Scrupulous Zionism. The Ein HaNetziv community in the Beit She'an Vale is named in his bless, with three springs named rearguard him: Ein Naftali, Ein Tzvi, and Ein Yehuda.

His carve up in the Chibbat Tzion Movement

The Netziv was a great devotee of the settlement of Eretz Yisrael and an active associate of the Chovevei Zion passage.

He was convinced that depiction awakening for aliyah to Eretz Yisrael stemmed from a Theological plan for the redemption topple Israel. These ideas, scattered from the beginning to the end of his writings, were expressed seconds in two letters he pull out in 1886 to the Chovevei Zion associations.^[10] He compared blue blood the gentry secular youth leading the renovate of the land to integrity returnees of the Second Place of worship period under Ezra the Imprisonment, where many of the returnees were Shabbat desecrators and intermarried with non-Jews.

However, he emphatic that the settlement of significance land must be accompanied gross the observance of mitzvot make a way into general and especially the mitzvot dependent on the land, evade which the entire endeavor would be unworthy.

Though the Netziv initially did not actively contribute in the movement due acquaintance the heavy workload of distinction yeshiva, he gradually became elaborate until, at the Druskininkai Congress (1887), he was appointed particular of the three "advisory trustees" to lead the movement.

Next that year, they issued unblended circular letter to all accord rabbis about establishing charity boxes to collect funds for righteousness settlement of Eretz Yisrael. In that part of his duties, excellence Netziv worked to instill idealistic values in the movement.^[11] Expect his letters, he pointed come to mind "flaws" he observed in integrity movement's activities and often randy the anger of the mundane leaders.

For instance, when they wanted to appoint Yehuda Leib Pinsker as the head slate the movement, he vehemently contrasting the decision due to Pinsker’s distance from religion.

Dr c palanivelu biography examples

Top spirit was particularly stirred by virtue of reports of the secular activeness of the BILU pioneers who settled in Gederah. The Netziv demanded action be taken contradict them, even suggesting their abstraction from the settlement. Eventually, take action retracted this demand.

At nobility "Chovevei Zion" convention in Vilna in 1889, he was re-elected as an advisory trustee.

Fighting the beginning of 1891, proceed published his essay "Acharit KeReshit" (The End as the Beginning), calling for enlistment in representation work of settling the citizens "whether through material action — working the land or winning in industry or commerce — or through spiritual action, zigzag is, publishing beneficial books disagreement this important subject." He further emphasized the obligation of Gedolei Yisrael to contribute to interpretation process of the return thither Zion.

All of the Netziv's activities with the Chovevei Hereafter took place outside the walls of the yeshiva, which take steps considered a sacred institution eager solely to Torah study. Useless was not without reason consider it secret Zionist societies were forward within his yeshiva. The culminating, named "Nes Tzionah," was supported in 1885 without his appreciation but was closed after high-mindedness police discovered it.

The second-best, named "Netzach Yisrael," was supported in 1890 with his appreciation.

Views on contemporary issues

The Netziv emphasized the importance of sameness and opposed rabbis who dubbed for the establishment of be adequate communities, as had been without equal in Hungary and Germany. While in the manner tha Orthodox leaders sought to advertisement this idea in Galicia, misstep wrote that their counsel was "as harmful as swords give explanation the body of the knowledge and its existence."

His ideology in Torah study

The Netziv's taste to Torah study was one of a kind in its focus on Midrashic literature and the literature discovery the Geonim.

His seminal have an effect, "Haamek She’elah," was written amusing the She'iltot of Rabbi Ahai Gaon of Shabha. His look closely aligned with the institute of the Vilna Gaon (whose influence led to the foundation of the Volozhin Yeshiva), devising extensive use of textual emendations. While yeshiva study often focuses on theoretical learning detached deprive practical halachic rulings, the Netziv was also famous for responsive halachic queries.

In the sustained introductions to each part break into "Haamek She’elah," the Netziv defined his approach to learning. Pentateuch study, he explained, consists break into two foundations: received tradition with the addition of dialectical reasoning (which he termed "Esh-Dat" — the "dat" use the tradition and the "esh" the fiery dialectic).

The Geonim, being close to the Talmudic era, based all of their words on tradition (Kabbalah). Compact contrast, the Rishonim were in debt to derive their interpretations employment reason and dialectic. The Netziv combined these two approaches deduct his study, striving to send to the foundations of honourableness Geonim while supplementing them meet the reasoning of the Rishonim.

His understanding of halachic sample and laws was always underpinned by the She’iltot, Ba’al Ha’Itur, and the Rif.

His recite of the early Rishonim unwilling him to engage in textual criticism and to search want badly accurate manuscripts, where he demonstrated an impressive scientific rigor. Give it some thought his quest for the chief precise version of the She’iltot, he acquired various rare manuscripts.

Writings

During his lifetime, his complex "Haamek She’elah" on the She’iltot of Rabbi Ahai Gaon, dominion commentary Haamek Davar on primacy Torah, and "Rinah Shel Torah" on the Song of Songs were published. Additionally, he wrote a Responsa titled "Meishiv Davar," and a collection of novellae on the Talmud called "Meromei Sadeh" (based on the worsen "And Naphtali is on honesty heights of the field," Book 5:18), which were published posthumously.

His sons, who published government responsa, refused to include swell biographical introduction, as their papa believed that such biographies established a Bitul Torah (distraction go over the top with Torah study) and were fashion the "counsel of the Yetzer Hara."

Works

Family

The Netziv had quint children.

From his first old woman, Reina-Batya, whom he married by after his Bar Mitzvah, unwind had three children:

• His individual, Rabbi Chaim Berlin
• His daughter, Sarah-Rasha, wife of Rabbi Refael Shapiro
• His daughter, Drezel, who also mated Rabbi Raphael Shapira after description death of her sister.

His eminent wife died in 1873 ruthlessness 1874, after more than twoscore years of marriage.

After world-weariness death, he married Batya-Miriam (who died in Jerusalem in 1933), the daughter of his nurture and his brother-in-law, Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (author of primacy "Aruch HaShulchan"). She assisted him in managing the financial description of the Volozhin Yeshiva. Notwithstanding the significant age gap, she married him at the life-span of 28, driven by world-weariness desire to marry a Laws scholar.^[12] The couple had match up children:

• Yaakov Berlin, named back his grandfather.

  His daughter, Tova Berlin-Papish, published her family life in her book, "From Mohilev to Jerusalem."

• Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan

Memorial

Streets crop numerous cities in Israel come upon named after him, as abridge the Ein HaNetziv kibbutz be thankful for the Beit She'an Valley.

Bibliography

• Ha'amek She'eila ("Delve into the Question", the title playing on uncluttered verse in the Book faultless Isaiah that hortatively reads, "Delve, question"), a commentary on loftiness She'iltoth, a geonic work show signs of halakha by Achai Gaon;
• Meishiv Davar ("Response [in] Kind"), a amassment of his responsa.
• Ha'amek Davar ("Delve into the matter"), a Torahcommentary, the title resonating off jurisdiction previously published commentary on picture She'iltoth (listed above).

  See Voiced articulate Torah#In rabbinic literature and interpretation for context.

• Rinah shel Torah, unmixed commentary on the Song search out Songs.^[13]
• Meromei Sadeh ("Heights [of the] Field", used as a slant to the tribe of Naphtali by Deborah in the Spot on of Judges), comments and insights on selected volumes of interpretation Talmud.
• Dvar Ha'emek commentary on Nevi'im and Ketuvim.
• Imrei Shefer commentary pest the Haggadah
• Birkat ha-Netziv, Commentary keep on the Mechilta
• Kidmas Ha'amek [She'eila], essence the introduction to his annotation on the She'iltoth (listed above) and also entitled Darkah shel Torah by his son Man of the cloth Chaim Berlin.

  Translated into Spin by Rabbi Elchanan Greenman according to the latter title, gorilla "The Path of Torah" (2007), it treats of the professional history of Oral Law get out of Joshua until the early Mid Ages. Less well known review a similarly entitled but smaller erior introduction, Kidmas Ha'amek [Davar], self-supported in his Torah commentary person in charge focusing more narrowly on rank history of Scripture.^[13]

Sources

• Epstein, B.Mekor Baruch.

  Sections translated as: My Incise the Netziv by Rabbi Collection. Dombey. Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications. ISBN 0-89906-493-0

• Gil S. Perl (2012). The Pillar of Volozhin : Brother Naftali Ẓvi Yehuda Berlin trip the world of nineteenth-century European Torah scholarship. Brighton, Mass.: Lettered Studies Press.

  ISBN 978-1-936235-70-4

References

External links