POLACHEK, SOLOMON

POLACHEK, SOLOMON
POLACHEK, SOLOMON (1877–1928), talmudic scholar and teacher. Polachek was early recognized as a precocious youngster and became widely known as the illui ("prodigy") of Meitshet where he studied. He entered the Volozhin yeshivah at the unusually early age of 12 and his bar-mitzvah was celebrated at the home of the head of the yeshivah, Naphtali Ẓevi Judah Berlin . After the yeshivah was closed by the czarist government in 1892, Polachek studied with Ḥayyim Soloveitchik in Brest-Litovsk and became "R. Ḥayyim's" most beloved pupil. Polachek also studied in the Slobodka yeshivah and at the "kibbutz" of Ḥayyim Ozer Grodzenski in Vilna. Polachek mastered secular studies and modern Hebrew on his own and acquainted himself with the literature and problems of his time. In 1905, I.J. Reines appointed him head of the Talmud department in the newly organized Lida yeshivah where the curriculum also included secular studies. After Reines' death in 1915 the entire burden of the yeshivah fell on Polachek. Shortly afterward, as a result of World War I, Polachek and the yeshivah were compelled to move to central Russia, where the   school continued for five more years. During the war Polachek lost the notes he had amassed on over 1,500 different talmudic topics. After the war and the Bolshevik revolution, Polachek succeeded in escaping to Poland, where he became head of the Talmud department of the Taḥkemoni Rabbinical Seminary in Bialystok. In 1922 Polachek emigrated to America and accepted the position of senior rosh yeshivah in the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (the forerunner of yeshiva university ). He was enthusiastically received by American Orthodoxy since he was the first renowned European talmudist who agreed to remain in the U.S. for the purpose of teaching Talmud in an advanced yeshivah. While in the U.S., he was a member of the union of orthodox rabbis and was active in the mizrachi movement. Polachek's Ḥiddushei ha-Illui me-Meitshet was published posthumouly in 1947. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: A. Rothkoff, in: Jewish Life, Nov.–Dec. 1967, 29–35; O. Feuchtwanger, Righteous Lives (1965), 119–21; O.Z. Rand (ed.), Toledot Anshei Shem (1950), 94; Yahadut Lita, 1 (1960), index S.V., 3 (1967), 75f. (Aaron Rothkoff)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • POLACHEK, SENDER — (also known as Sender Minsker; 1786–1869), Polish cantor. Born in Gombin, Polachek received instruction from Cantor Nahum Leib Weintraub, brother of solomon weintraub . For over 30 years Polachek was cantor in Minsk (hence his additional name)… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Shlomo Polachek — Rabbi Shlomo Polachek (1877 1928) was born in Sinichinitz, near Meitchet, Grodna. He was an important Talmudic scholar and one of the earliest rosh yeshivas in America. He entered the Volozhin yeshiva when he was only twelve years old, and… …   Wikipedia

  • MUSIC — This article is arranged according to the following outline: introduction written sources of direct and circumstantial evidence the material relics and iconography notated sources oral tradition archives and important collections of jewish music… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Bernard Revel — Bernard (Dov) Revel (September 17, 1885 1940) was an Orthodox rabbi and scholar. He served as the first President of Yeshiva College from 1915 until his death in 1940. The Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University, as… …   Wikipedia

  • Moshe Soloveichik — Moshe Soloveitchik (1879–1941), was an Orthodox rabbi. He was the second son of renowned rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik and grandson of the Beis HaLevi. He married Pesya Feinstein, daughter of the renowned Rabbi of Pruzany, Rabbi Eliyahu Feinstein, and …   Wikipedia

  • Norman Lamm — Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm Rabbi Lamm, 2007 Position Rosh Yeshiva Yeshiva RIETS Position …   Wikipedia

  • Chaim Volozhin — (also known as Chaim ben Yitzchok of Volozhin or Chaim Ickovits; born January 21, 1749 died June 14, 1821)[1] was an Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist, and ethicist. Popularly known as Reb Chaim Volozhiner or simply as Reb Chaim , he was born in Volozhin …   Wikipedia

  • J. David Bleich — J. (Judah) David Bleich (born 24 August 1936, Tarrytown, New York[1]) is an authority on Jewish law and ethics, including Jewish medical ethics. He is rabbi of Cong. B nei Jehuda. He is a professor of Talmud (rosh yeshiva) at the Rabbi Isaac… …   Wikipedia

  • Moshe David Tendler — Rabbi Dr. Moshe David Tendler Courtesy of Yeshiva University Position Rabbi Synagogue Community Synago …   Wikipedia

  • Moshe Shatzkes — (Left to right) Rabbi Shlomo Shapira, Professor Setsuzo Kotsuji (Abraham Kotsuji), the Amshinover Rebbe and Rabbi Moshe Shatzkes, in Japan Moshe Shatzkes (1881–1958) was a renowned rabbi, Talmudic scholar and noted genius, commonly known as the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”