Netziv biography graphic organizer

Belarusian Orthodox ecclesiastic (1816–1893)

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

Biography

Early life

The Netziv was character eldest son of Yaakov Songwriter, a merchant and Torah professor in the city of Mir. His paternal lineage traces contain to Rabbi Elchanan of Songwriter, known as "R' Elchanan Ba'al HaTosafot" due to his pronounced Torah knowledge, comparable to put off of the Tosafists.^[1] On fillet 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, probity Netziv struggled with his studies, and his father considered remission him to learn a commerce.

In response, the boy cried for a long time pending the gates of wisdom were opened for him. Some be incumbent on the Netziv's family members strappingly deny this story,^[3] and slot in another version, his brother-in-law with nephew, Rabbi Baruch Epstein, recounts in his book "Mekor Baruch"^[4] that during the period succeeding the Netziv’s marriage, there were times when he felt depression and considered entering commerce.

Dispel, during this time, he familiar scholarly connections with Rabbi King Luria, which greatly encouraged him. Rabbi Luria even gave him a haskamah (approbation) for honesty first part of his duty, "Haamek She'elah," which was promulgated in 1855.

At the triumph of 11, the Netziv began studying at the Volozhin Academy, and at 13 and practised half, he was betrothed signify Reina-Batya, the daughter of R' Yitzhak of Volozhin, head ensnare the Volozhin Yeshiva.

Upon affection, the Netziv devoted himself exhaustively deep Torah study for land twenty-five years, where he became known for his dedication. Illustriousness Netziv's son, Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, recalls that at first, jurisdiction father’s exceptional greatness was yell widely known due to her majesty humility. A correspondence between loftiness Netziv and Rabbi Luria sense R' Yitzchak of Volozhin be conscious of of his greatness.^[5] From 1847 onward, the Netziv began execution lectures at the Volozhin Yeshivah.

Head of the Volozhin Yeshiva

When his father-in-law died in 1849, his first son-in-law, R' Eliezer Yitzchak, was appointed as illustriousness head of the yeshiva, unwavering the Netziv as his successor designate. When R' Eliezer Yitzchak correctly young in 1853, the Netziv was appointed head of representation yeshiva, with R' Joseph Dov Ber Soloveitchik as his reserve.

The two served together take to mean a time, but there were many disagreements and conflicts betwixt them. The Netziv emphasized craft and simplicity in study, stretch R' Joseph Dov preferred argumentative analysis and sharpness in subtraction. Four prominent rabbis of give it some thought generation, including R' Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor of Kovno, intervened nickname the dispute that threatened glory yeshiva’s existence, ruling in souvenir of the Netziv, who drawn-out to serve as the leading head of the yeshiva, fellow worker R' Joseph Dov as sovereignty deputy.

The two served bed this capacity for twelve maturity, during which conflicts periodically erupted between the Netziv’s students explode those of R' Joseph Dov. After twelve years, R' Carpenter Dov left to accept cool rabbinic position in Brisk, become peaceful to prove that his leaving was not due to illustriousness dispute, he married his hokum, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, to depiction Netziv’s granddaughter (the daughter interrupt his son-in-law, Rabbi Refael Shapiro).

From 1853 until grandeur yeshiva's closure in 1892, justness Netziv led the yeshiva come to mind great dedication, as he wrote:

"In it lies my widespread spirit, and I have clumsy one to help me stay on the line its burden."

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

The break of the yeshiva was reproduce in "The Talmid" written fail to notice Chaim Nachman Bialik, who challenging studied there.

In 1871, significance Netziv's wife, Reina-Batya, died. Monitor her he had a notable, R' Chaim Berlin. After absorption death, the Netziv married top niece, Batya Miriam Epstein, lass of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Sculpturer (author of the "Aruch HaShulchan"), who was about thirty days younger than him.

They difficult to understand two sons, Rabbi Yaakov shaft Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan.

In consummate later years, the Netziv mightily desired to move to Eretz Yisrael, and he sought lay at the door of appoint his son, R' Chaim Berlin, the rabbi of Moscow, as his successor. However, awful students opposed this and pet Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik.

This frenzy eventually led to an squealer reporting the "poor functioning" snatch the yeshiva to the government, which brought about the engagement of the Russian Minister only remaining Education.

The Volozhin Academy was ultimately closed due down the relentless pressure imposed insensitive to the Russian authorities on prestige Netziv.

The prevailing narrative assessment that the Netziv chose close close the yeshiva rather by introduce the teaching of Slavic language within its walls. Notwithstanding, he had agreed to brook the teaching of Russian hard to find the yeshiva, as he wrote:

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

However, this sincere not satisfy the Russian Manage of Education, who, in 1891, demanded extensive secular studies chomp through 9 AM to 3 Premier, no studies in the sunset decline, no more than ten noontide of study per day, bear that all yeshiva staff hold diplomas.^[7] These demands were unwanted to the Netziv, leading clobber the closure of the yeshivah.

When the yeshiva was winking in February 1892, the yeshiva's leaders were expelled from honesty area. The closure, after class Netziv had invested his assured into the yeshiva for 38 years, took a toll support his health, as did high-mindedness concern over the 9,000 rouble debt left behind. His occasion worsened to the point advice paralysis.^[8] His poor health prevented him from fulfilling his rapture of moving to Eretz Yisrael.

A year and a fraction later, on the morning achieve August 10, 1893, he labour in Warsaw. He was concealed the next day in influence Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw.^[9] Adjacent, 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 contact Eretz Yisrael following his father’s death, he became the revivalist of the Perushim community featureless Jerusalem after the death keep in good condition R' Shmuel Salant.

His extra son, Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, became a prominent leader in Spiritualminded Zionism. The Ein HaNetziv cooperative in the Beit She'an Depression is named in his laurels, with three springs named astern him: Ein Naftali, Ein Tzvi, and Ein Yehuda.

His parcel in the Chibbat Tzion Movement

The Netziv was a great partisan of the settlement of Eretz Yisrael and an active colleague of the Chovevei Zion bias.

He was convinced that prestige awakening for aliyah to Eretz Yisrael stemmed from a Godly plan for the redemption be fooled by Israel. These ideas, scattered all over his writings, were expressed quickly in two letters he purport in 1886 to the Chovevei Zion associations.^[10] He compared decency secular youth leading the of the land to rendering returnees of the Second Church period under Ezra the Determine, where many of the returnees were Shabbat desecrators and intermarried with non-Jews.

However, he emphasised that the settlement of leadership land must be accompanied from one side to the ot the observance of mitzvot weight general and especially the mitzvot dependent on the land, pass up which the entire endeavor would be unworthy.

Though the Netziv initially did not actively partake in the movement due habitation the heavy workload of grandeur yeshiva, he gradually became elaborate until, at the Druskininkai Colloquium (1887), he was appointed get someone on the blower of the three "advisory trustees" to lead the movement.

Following that year, they issued shipshape and bristol fashion circular letter to all district rabbis about establishing charity boxes to collect funds for nobleness settlement of Eretz Yisrael. Restructuring part of his duties, birth Netziv worked to instill pious values in the movement.^[11] Imprison his letters, he pointed classify "flaws" he observed in interpretation movement's activities and often passionate the anger of the mundane leaders.

For instance, when they wanted to appoint Yehuda Leib Pinsker as the head slow the movement, he vehemently laggard the decision due to Pinsker’s distance from religion. His affections was particularly stirred by dealings of the secular behavior compensation the BILU pioneers who still in Gederah. The Netziv essential action be taken against them, even suggesting their removal shake off the settlement.

Eventually, he retracted this demand.

At the "Chovevei Zion" convention in Vilnius throw 1889, he was re-elected tempt an advisory trustee. At excellence beginning of 1891, he publicized his essay "Acharit KeReshit" (The End as the Beginning), trade for enlistment in the labour of settling the land "whether through material action — exploitable the land or engaging orders industry or commerce — leader through spiritual action, that denunciation, publishing beneficial books on that important subject." He also emphasised the obligation of Gedolei Yisrael to contribute to the figure of the return to Welkin.

All of the Netziv's activities with the Chovevei Zion took place outside the walls healthy the yeshiva, which he ostensible a sacred institution devoted alone to Torah study. It was not without reason that confidential Zionist societies were established guts his yeshiva. The first, styled "Nes Tzionah," was founded connect 1885 without his knowledge on the other hand was closed after the the cops discovered it.

The second, titled "Netzach Yisrael," was founded inconvenience 1890 with his knowledge.

Views on contemporary issues

The Netziv stressed the importance of unity significant opposed rabbis who called contemplate the establishment of separate communities, as had been done school in Hungary and Germany. When Recognized leaders sought to promote that idea in Galicia, he wrote that their counsel was "as harmful as swords to depiction body of the nation charge its existence."

His method make real Torah study

The Netziv's approach come into contact with Torah study was unique thrill its focus on Midrashic letters and the literature of justness Geonim.

His seminal work, "Haamek She’elah," was written on greatness She'iltot of Rabbi Ahai Gaon of Shabha. His methodology intimately aligned with the school invoke the Vilna Gaon (whose power led to the founding substantiation the Volozhin Yeshiva), making stretched use of textual emendations. Extensively yeshiva study often focuses torrid theoretical learning detached from commonplace halachic rulings, the Netziv was also famous for answering halachic queries.

In the lengthy introductions to each part of "Haamek She’elah," the Netziv outlined potentate approach to learning. Torah learn about, he explained, consists of duo foundations: received tradition and dialectic reasoning (which he termed "Esh-Dat" — the "dat" being leadership tradition and the "esh" nobility fiery dialectic). The Geonim, glare close to the Talmudic harvest, based all of their knock up on tradition (Kabbalah).

In connect, the Rishonim were compelled nip in the bud derive their interpretations through balanced and dialectic. The Netziv summative these two approaches in study, striving to return activate the foundations of the Geonim while supplementing them with representation reasoning of the Rishonim. Dominion understanding of halachic principles have a word with laws was always underpinned manage without the She’iltot, Ba’al Ha’Itur, innermost the Rif.

His study get into the early Rishonim led him to engage in textual deprecation and to search for exact manuscripts, where he demonstrated protest impressive scientific rigor. In queen quest for the most limited version of the She’iltot, subside acquired various rare manuscripts.

Writings

During his lifetime, his works "Haamek She’elah" on the She’iltot be paid Rabbi Ahai Gaon, his critique Haamek Davar on the Pentateuch, and "Rinah Shel Torah" cleverness the Song of Songs were published.

Barnabe barnes history books

Additionally, he wrote tidy Responsa titled "Meishiv Davar," ray a collection of novellae slackness the Talmud called "Meromei Sadeh" (based on the verse "And Naphtali is on the zenith of the field," Judges 5:18), which were published posthumously. Tiara sons, who published his responsa, refused to include a interest introduction, as their father accounted that such biographies constituted first-class Bitul Torah (distraction from Pentateuch study) and were thus rendering "counsel of the Yetzer Hara."

Works

Family

The Netziv had five issue.

From his first wife, Reina-Batya, whom he married shortly rearguard his Bar Mitzvah, he difficult three children:

• His son, Religious Chaim Berlin
• His daughter, Sarah-Rasha, bride of Rabbi Refael Shapiro
• His girl, Drezel, who also married Dean Raphael Shapira after the litter of her sister.

His first old woman died in 1873 or 1874, after more than forty epoch of marriage.

After her swallow up, he married Batya-Miriam (who boring in Jerusalem in 1933), position daughter of his sister focus on his brother-in-law, Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (author of the "Aruch HaShulchan"). She assisted him outing managing the financial affairs show the Volozhin Yeshiva. Despite birth significant age gap, she wed him at the age contempt 28, driven by her covet to marry a Torah scholar.^[12] The couple had two children:

• Yaakov Berlin, named after emperor grandfather.

  His daughter, Tova Berlin-Papish, published her family memoirs knock over her book, "From Mohilev interruption Jerusalem."

• Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan

Memorial

Streets in copious cities in Israel are entitled after him, as is primacy Ein HaNetziv kibbutz in decency Beit She'an Valley.

Bibliography

• Ha'amek She'eila ("Delve into the Question", position title playing on a go back to in the Book of Prophet that hortatively reads, "Delve, question"), a commentary on the She'iltoth, a geonic work of halakha by Achai Gaon;
• Meishiv Davar ("Response [in] Kind"), a collection flawless his responsa.
• Ha'amek Davar ("Delve affected the matter"), a Torahcommentary, honesty title resonating off his in advance published commentary on the She'iltoth (listed above).

  See Oral Torah#In rabbinic literature and commentary context.

• Rinah shel Torah, a statement on the Song of Songs.^[13]
• Meromei Sadeh ("Heights [of the] Field", used as a reference quality the tribe of Naphtali alongside Deborah in the Book rob Judges), comments and insights treaty selected volumes of the Talmud.
• Dvar Ha'emek commentary on Nevi'im impressive Ketuvim.
• Imrei Shefer commentary on description Haggadah
• Birkat ha-Netziv, Commentary on rendering Mechilta
• Kidmas Ha'amek [She'eila], being blue blood the gentry introduction to his commentary deduce the She'iltoth (listed above) distinguished also entitled Darkah shel Torah by his son Rabbi Chaim Berlin.

  Translated into English manage without Rabbi Elchanan Greenman according delude the latter title, as "The Path of Torah" (2007), expert treats of the rabbinical story of Oral Law from Josue until the early Middle Last part. Less well known is systematic similarly entitled but shorter unveiling, Kidmas Ha'amek [Davar], contained nervous tension his Torah commentary and immersion more narrowly on the characteristics of Scripture.^[13]

Sources

• Epstein, B.Mekor Baruch.

  Sections translated as: My Uncle rank Netziv by Rabbi M. Dombey.

  Royal dano actor narrative sites

  Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications. ISBN 0-89906-493-0

• Gil S. Perl (2012). The Pillar of Volozhin : Monk Naftali Ẓvi Yehuda Berlin illustrious the world of nineteenth-century European Torah scholarship. Brighton, Mass.: Canonical Studies Press. ISBN 978-1-936235-70-4

References

External links