Yehezkel Abramsky: Encyclopedia - Yehezkel Abramsky

Yehezkel Abramsky

Rabbi Yehezkel Abramsky (1886–1976) was one of the world's most eminent Orthodox rabbis of the 20th century.

He was born in Lithuania and studied at the yeshivas of Telz, Mir, Slabodka and Brisk, becoming a rabbi at the age of 17. He served the communities of Smolyan, Smolevich and Slutzk.

Following the Russian Revolution, he was at the forefront of opposition to Communist attempts to repress the Jewish religion and culture. In 1928, he started a Hebrew magazine, Yagdil Torah ("Make Great [the] Torah"), but the authorities closed it after two issues appeared. In 1929, he was arrested and sentenced to five years hard labor in Siberia. However, in 1931 he was rescued by the German government, who exchanged him for six communists they held.

He emigrated to London in 1932, becoming a rabbi there. Chief rabbi Joseph H. Hertz persuaded him to become the senior dayan of the London Beth Din, holding the post until he retired to Jerusalem in 1951.

He produced a massive commentary on the Tosefta, called Hazon Yehezkel (24 volumes, 1925–1975), which was acclaimed by both rabbis and secular scholars.

He was the father of Professor Chimen Abramsky and grandfather of Professor Samson Abramsky and Jenny Abramsky.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Yehezkel Abramsky", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki