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Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik
Title	Rabbi
Personal life
Born	(1853-03-25)March 25, 1853 Volozhin, Russian Empire
Died	July 30, 1918(1918-07-30) (aged 65) Otwock, Kingdom of Poland
Nationality	Belarusian
Children	Moshe Soloveichik, Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik, Yisroel Gershon Soloveichik
Parents	Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (father) Lifsha Shapiro (mother)
Religious life
Religion	Judaism
Denomination	Orthodox Judaism

Chaim (Halevi) Soloveitchik (Yiddish: חיים סאָלאָווייטשיק, Polish: Chaim Sołowiejczyk), also known as Chaim Brisker (1853 – 30 July 1918), was a rabbi and Talmudic scholar credited as the founder of the Brisker method of Talmudic study within Judaism. He was also a member of the Soloveitchik dynasty, the son of Yosef Dov Soloveitchik.

He is also known as the Gra"ch (Hebrew: גר״ח), an abbreviation of "HaGaon Reb Chaim."

Biography

Soloveitchik was born in Volozhin on March 25, 1853, where his father, Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik was a lecturer in the Volozhiner Yeshiva. The family moved away from Volozhin, and after a few years his father was appointed as a rabbi in Slutsk, where Chaim was first educated.

He joined the faculty of the Volozhiner Yeshiva in 1880, and later became assistant rosh yeshiva for a short time, until the Russian Empire forced the yeshiva to close, when he moved to Brisk, Belarus and succeeded his father as the rabbi there.

He died on July 30, 1918 after seeking medical treatment in Warsaw and was buried in the Jewish Cemetery there.

Works

He is considered the founder of the "Brisker method" (in Yiddish: Brisker derech; Hebrew: derekh brisk), a method of highly exacting and analytical Talmudical study that focuses on precise definition/s and categorization/s of Jewish law as commanded in the Torah. His works would have particular emphasis on the legal writings of Maimonides.

Soloveitchik's primary work was Chiddushei Rabbeinu Chaim, a volume of insights on Maimonides' Mishneh Torah which often would suggest novel understandings of the Talmud as well. Based on his teachings and lectures, his students wrote down his insights on the Talmud known as Chiddushi HaGRaCh Al Shas. This book is known as "Reb Chaim's stencils" and contains analytical insights into Talmudic topics.

Views

Soloveitchik worked with Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, the fifth rebbe of the hasidic dynasty of Lubavitch, in counteracting antisemitic decrees by the czarist regime. He expanded the definition of who represented Amalek, claiming that all who sought to destroy the Jewish people were ideological descendants of the Jewish enemy.

Soloveitchik was an opponent of Zionism and viewed it as a movement to destroy traditional Judaism and replace it with nationalism.

Family

A member of the Soloveitchik-family rabbinical dynasty, he is commonly known as Reb Chaim Brisker ("Rabbi Chaim Brisk").

He married the daughter of Refael Shapiro, who was also the granddaughter of Berlin. Reb Chaim had four children, R. Yisrael Gershon, R. Moshe, Sara (Glickson), and R. Yitchak Zev (also known as Rabbi Velvel Soloveitchik). R. Moshe moved to the United States and subsequently served as a rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Yitzchak Elchonon (YU/RIETS) in New York and who was in turn succeeded by his sons Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993) and Ahron Soloveichik (1917-2001). R. Yitzchak Zev moved to Israel and his sons led prominent yeshivas.

v t e Brisker family tree
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg, director of Migdal Oz (seminary) Rabbi Yitzchok Lichtenstein, Co-Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas; Rabbi Bais Avrohom, Monsey, NY Rabbi Yosef Dov (Reb Berel) Soloveichik Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveichik Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein, Co-Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion Rabbi Meshulam Dovid (Reb Dovid) Soloveichik Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveichik Rabbi Mayer Lichtenstein, Rabbi Ohel Menachem Bet Shemesh Rabbi Yosef Dov (HaLevi) Soloveichik author of Beis HaLevi Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik "Reb Chaim Brisker" Rabbi Yitzchak Zev (Reb Velvel) Soloveichik "The GRIZ" The Brisker Rov Lifsha Soloveitchik Feinstein Dr. Tovah Soloveitchik Lichtenstein Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt Rabbi Refael Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin yeshiva Lifsha Shapiro Rabbi Refoel Soloveichik Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein Tzipporah Rosenblatt Rabbi Meir Soloveichik Dr. Atarah Soloveitchik Twersky Rabbi Mosheh Twersky z"l, Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva Toras Moshe Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. (Yosef Dov) Soloveitchik "The Rav" Rabbi Dr. Isadore Twersky, Talner Rebbe of Boston Rabbi Mayer Twersky, Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk (Chicago); Rav of Kehilas Beth Sholom Ahavas Achim Peshka Feinstein Soloveichik Dr. Samuel Soloveichik Rabbi Eliyahu Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshiva at Lander College's Beis Medrash L'Talmud Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik Shulamit Soloveitchik Meiselman Rabbi Moshe Meiselman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Moshe Rabbi Yosef Soloveichik Sarah Orenshein Anne Soloveitchik Gerber Rabbi Chayim Soloveichik, Maggid Shiur at Yeshivat Reishit; Morah D’Asrah of Kehillat Ohr Shalom, Ramat Beit Shemesh Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveichik Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Soloveichik Rabbi Yitzchok Soloveichik Rabbi Yisroel Soloveichik Rabbi Yisroel Gershon Soloveichik Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Boruch Soloveichik Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Soloveichik Daughter Soloveichik
Notes: Rabbi Chaim Halevi Soloveichik (the second)

References

1. Gefen, Yehonasan (Jun 29, 2020). "Parshat Chukat: The Importance of Forgiveness". aishcom. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
2. ^ Schloss, Chaim (2002). 2000 Years of Jewish History: From the Destruction of the Second Bais Hamikdash Until the Twentieth Century. Feldheim Publishers. ISBN 978-1-58330-214-9.
3. ^ Wolkenfeld, David. "Rabbi Hayyim Soloveitchik of Brisk". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
4. Zevin, S. Y. (1966). Ishim v'Shittos. Tel Aviv: A. Tsiyoni. p. 43. OCLC 19197943.
5. The Bones of Brisk
6. Tercatin, Rossella (July 22, 2020). "Unexploded Nazi mortar uncovered in 'Warsaw Ghetto' Jewish cemetery". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
7. Similarities in Criticism of the Methods and Responses. Vol. 7–8. San Diego: University of San Diego School of Law. 2005. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
8. ^ Rubin, Eli; Rubin, Mordechai. "Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk - Marking 100 Years Since His Passing". www.chabad.org. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
9. Zakon, Nachman (2002). The Jewish Experience--2000 Years: A Collection of Significant Events. Shaar Press. ISBN 978-1-57819-496-4.
10. BERGER, DAVID (2011), "THE USES OF MAIMONIDES BY TWENTIETH-CENTURY JEWRY", Cultures in Collision and Conversation, Essays in the Intellectual History of the Jews, Academic Studies Press, pp. 190–202, doi:10.2307/j.ctt21h4xrd.10, ISBN 978-1-936235-24-7, JSTOR j.ctt21h4xrd.10, retrieved 2020-08-07
11. Butman, Shmuel (March 19, 2020). "The 'Rambam Of Chassidus'". Retrieved 2020-08-08.
12. Firestone, Reuven (2012-07-02). Holy War in Judaism: The Fall and Rise of a Controversial Idea. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-997715-4.
13. Shapiro, Rabbi Yaakov (2018). The Empty Wagon. NY: Primedia. pp. 217–219. ISBN 978-1642555547.
14. "Rabbi Chaim "Brisker" Soloveitchik". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2020-08-05.

External links

• Understanding Reb Chaim, Rabbi Yonoson Hughes, June 2010

v t e Volozhin Yeshiva
Faculty	Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin Eliezer Fried Refael Shapiro Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (Beis Halevi) Chaim Soloveitchik Chaim of Volozhin Yitzchak Volozhin	Location Valozhyn, Belarus
Alumni	Shmuel Alexandrov Meir Bar-Ilan Zelig Reuven Bengis Micha Josef Berdyczewski Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin Hayim Nahman Bialik David Cohen Israel Davidson Alter Asher Droyanov Baruch Epstein Moshe Mordechai Epstein Chaim Ozer Grodzinski Abraham Harkavy Shmuel Yitzchak Hillman Jacob Joseph Nachum Kaplan Chaim Mordechai Katz Abraham Isaac Kook Moyshe Kulbak Moshe Landyski Boruch Ber Leibowitz Aryeh Levin Isser Zalman Meltzer Samuel Mohilever Shlomo Polachek Yitzhak Isaac Halevy Rabinowitz Yitzchak Yaacov Reines Mnachem Risikoff Zundel Salant Refael Shapiro Shimon Shkop Chaim Soloveitchik Zalman Sorotzkin Elchonon Wasserman Kalman Zev Wissotzky
See also: Valozhyn, Belarus

v t e Pre–World War II European Yeshivos
Lithuania	Yeshivos Kelm Talmud Torah Ponevezh Yeshiva Ramailes Yeshiva Slabodka Yeshiva Telshe Yeshiva Notable roshei yeshiva Avraham Yitzchak Bloch Yosef Leib Bloch Moshe Mordechai Epstein Nosson Tzvi Finkel Eliezer Gordon Shlomo Heiman Tzvi Hersh Levitan Israel Salanter Yitzchak Isaac Sher Notable mashgichim Leib Chasman Meir Chadash Dov Tzvi Heller Ben Zion Kranitz Yeruchom Levovitz
Belarus	Yeshivos Baranovich Yeshiva Grodno Yeshiva Kaminetz Yeshiva Kobrin Yeshiva Mir Yeshiva Novardok Yeshiva Pinsk Yeshiva-Novardok Radin Yeshiva Slonim Yeshiva Slutsk-Kletsk Yeshiva Volozhin Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Notable roshei yeshiva Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin Eliezer Yehuda Finkel Yosef Yozel Horwitz Yisrael Meir Kagan Elya Baruch Kammai Aharon Kotler Moshe Landynski Boruch Ber Leibowitz Isser Zalman Meltzer Pesach Pruskin David Rappoport Shimon Shkop Chaim Soloveitchik Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik Chaim Leib Tiktinsky Naftoli Trop Chaim of Volozhin Yitzhak of Volozhin Elchonon Wasserman Shabsi Yogel Notable mashgichim Shlomo Harkavy Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky Yosef Leib Nenedik Zalman Dolinsky Sheftel Kramer
Poland	Yeshivos Keser Torah Radomsk Lomza Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva Mesivta of Warsaw Novardok Yeshiva Notable roshei yeshiva Aryeh Tzvi Frumer Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky Meir Dan Plotzky David Moshe Rabinowicz Meir Shapiro Avraham Yoffen Notable mashgichim Moshe Rosenstain Yehuda Leib Nekritz
Slovakia	Yeshivos Nitra Yeshiva Pressburg Yeshiva Notable roshei yeshiva Akiva Sofer Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer Moses Sofer Simcha Bunim Sofer Shmuel Dovid Ungar
Western Europe	Yeshivos Gateshead Yeshiva Heide Yeshiva Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary Manchester Yeshiva Montreaux Yeshiva Torah Lehranstalt Yeshivas Chachmei Tzorfas Notable roshei yeshiva Eliyahu Botchko Solomon Breuer Joseph Breuer Chaim Yitzchok Chaiken Azriel Hildesheimer David Zvi Hoffmann Avrohom Eliyahu Kaplan Nachman Dovid Landinski Moshe Yitzchak Segal Shraga Feivel Shapiro Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg
Related articles	Yeshivas in World War II Vaad HaYeshivos
Category

v t e Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Europe World Agudath Israel	Past members Avraham Mordechai Alter Meir Arik Dovid Bornsztain Shlomo Zalman Breuer Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky Meir Simcha of Dvinsk Moshe Mordechai Epstein Avraham Yaakov Friedman Chaim Ozer Grodzinski Yisrael Meir Kagan Aharon Kotler Yitzchak Zelig Morgenstern Meir Dan Plotzky Yitzhak Yaakov Rabinovich Sholom Dovber Schneersohn Meir Shapiro Chaim Soloveitchik Zalman Sorotzkin Yehuda Leib Tsirelson Shmuel Dovid Ungar Elchonon Wasserman Menachem Ziemba
Israel Agudat Yisrael Degel HaTorah	Past members Pinchas Menachem Alter Simcha Bunim Alter Yisrael Alter Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Yosef Shalom Eliashiv Aryeh Finkel Nosson Tzvi Finkel Avraham Yaakov Friedman Avraham Yaakov Friedman Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi Yisroel Moshe Friedman Levi Yitzchak Horowitz Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz Isser Zalman Meltzer Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Yitzchok Scheiner Elazar Menachem Shach Yitzchak Isaac Sher Yochanan Sofer Zalman Sorotzkin Dov Yaffe Shabsi Yogel Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman Gershon Edelstein Baruch Weisbecker Present members Yaakov Aryeh Alter Nachum Dov Brayer Menachem Mendel Hager Yisroel Hager Zvi Elimelech Halberstam Mayer Alter Horowitz Yissachar Dov Rokeach Moshe Hillel Hirsch Dov Lando Baruch Dov Povarsky Yitzchok Zilberstein Eliezer Yehuda Finkel
United States Agudath Israel of America	Past members Dovid Feinstein Moshe Feinstein Mordechai Shlomo Friedman Mordechai Gifter Refael Reuvain Grozovsky Shlomo Heiman Levi Yitzchak Horowitz Yitzchok Hutner Yaakov Kamenetsky Chaim Mordechai Katz Aharon Kotler Shneur Kotler Avraham Yaakov Pam Yaakov Perlow Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman Gedalia Schorr Eliezer Silver Joseph B. Soloveitchik Baruch Sorotzkin Yisrael Spira Elya Svei Mendel Zaks Aaron Schechter Present members Elya Brudny Hillel David Aharon Feldman Yosef Chaim Frankel Aharon Dovid Goldberg Yaakov Horowitz Shmuel Kamenetsky Malkiel Kotler Shlomo Miller Yerucham Olshin Yosef Harari Raful Yitzchok Sorotzkin Shimon Yehuda Svei
Category

• 1853 births
• 1918 deaths
• People from Valozhyn
• People from Oshmyansky Uyezd
• Belarusian Orthodox rabbis
• Soloveitchik rabbinic dynasty
• Talmudists
• Anti-Zionist Orthodox rabbis
• Volozhin rosh yeshivas
• 19th-century rabbis from the Russian Empire
• 20th-century Russian rabbis
• Volozhin Yeshiva alumni