Naftali Berlin One of the greatest rabbis of his generation. Country: Belarus

1. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin - A Biography
2. Early Life
3. Palestinian Movement and Exile
4. Marriages and Family
5. Published Works

Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin - A Biography

Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, also known as Natziv of Volozhin (1817, Mir, Minsk Governorate - 1893, Warsaw), was one of the greatest rabbis of his generation. He served as the head of the Volozhin Yeshiva, which became a spiritual center for Russian Jewry. Berlin was also a prolific writer, known for his traditional religious works, including commentaries on the Torah.

Early Life

Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin was born in the town of Mir, in modern-day Belarus, into a family of Jewish merchants and scholars. At the age of thirteen, he was married to the daughter of Rabbi Itzhak of Volozhin, the head of the Volozhin Yeshiva. After Rabbi Itzhak's death, Berlin's eldest son-in-law assumed leadership of the yeshiva. However, he passed away shortly after, and in 1853, Berlin was elected to succeed him, alongside Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveichik. The two sons-in-law co-directed the yeshiva for a while, but constant disagreements led to Rabbi Soloveichik leaving and assuming the position of rabbi in Brest-Litovsk, where he also established his own yeshiva.

Palestinian Movement and Exile

Berlin joined the Hovevei Zion movement from its inception. He urged religious Jews to follow his example and support Jewish settlements in the Land of Israel. In 1892, the Volozhin Yeshiva was closed by the authorities, and Berlin and his family were exiled. After 18 months of exile, Berlin passed away.

Marriages and Family

Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin was married twice. His first marriage was to the daughter of Rabbi Itzhak of Volozhin, and his second marriage was to his niece, the daughter of Iechiel Michel Epstein. He had a son, Rabbi Chaim Berlin, who later became the Chief Rabbi of Moscow, and three daughters from his first wife. From his second wife, he had a son named Meir Bar-Ilan.

Published Works

Some of Natziv's major works include "Chamak She'elah," a commentary on the book of Responsa by Rabbi Ahai Gaon, "Chamak Dabar," a commentary on the Torah, and "Mermey Sadeh," a commentary on the Talmud.