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Brisk is the Yiddish name used by many Jews to refer to the town of Brest-Litovsk, located in what is now Belarus. It was the home to many great Talmudic scholars, including Rabbi Joel Sirkish (1561-1641) and much of the Soloveitchik family (discussed below). Today, "Brisk" refers to several Yeshivas in the United States and Israel founded by members of the Soloveichik family; it also refers to the general approach to Talmudic analysis favored by the Soloveitchiks.
The Soloveitchik dynasty
Rabbi Joseph Dov I. The first famous rabbi from the Soloveichik family was Rabbi Joseph Dov (HaLevi) Soloveitchik I (1820-1892). All members of the Soloveichik family are descended from the tribe of Levi and thus sometimes go by the surname 'HaLevi'. The works on the Mishnah Torah and first five books of the Hebrew Bible which Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveichik I authored were titled 'Bais HaLevi' (Hebrew for 'House of the Levites'). Many people therefore refer to him simply as the 'Bais HaLevi', which also avoids the confusion with his great-grandson, Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik II (1903-1993). Joseph Dov Soloveitchik I served as rabbi of Brisk for most of his life.
Rabbi Chaim. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik I was succeeded as rabbi of Brisk by his son, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik (1853-1918). He is most commonly known as "Rabbi Chaim Brisker" (that is, from Brisk). His primary work was 'Chidushei R' Chaim Halevi', a volume of insights on the Mishnah Torah which often would suggest novel understandings of the Talmud as well. He had two famous sons, Yitzchak Zev and Moshe.
The Brisker Rov. Rabbi Yitzchak [Isaac] Zev [Wolf] Soloveitchik succeeded his father as rabbi of Brisk. He was often known by his nickname, 'Velvel', a Yiddish nickname for 'wolf'. ('Zev' is Hebrew for 'wolf'.) He is also commonly known as the "Griz", an acronym for Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Zev (the great rabbi Isaac Wolf). He became famous enough that many people, however, refer to him simply as "the Brisker Rov" ('the rabbi of Brisk'). Like his father and grandfather, he wrote on the Mishna Torah, often suggesting novel insights on the Talmud in the process. He fled the Holocaust and moved to what is today Israel. His children and grandchildren live in Israel today, and have founded several Yeshivas there, all known as "Brisk."
The Imrei Moshe. Chaim's other son was Moshe Soloveitchik. His work on the Talmud was known as the "Imrei Moshe" (Moses' sayings). He moved to America before World War II and began teaching in a Yeshiva that would eventually become a part of Yeshiva University. His sons were the famous Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik II and Aaron Soloveichik, who moved to Chicago and founded a Yeshiva there known as "Brisk."
Philosophy
General. In contrast to the Hassidic movement, all of the Soloveichik rabbis were a part of the Lithuanian yeshiva movement (see article on Hassidic), and thus were strong believers in a tradtional Talmudic education and, to a certain degree, intellect over emotion.
Halachic. The 'Brisk dynasty' and their followers are known for a tendency towards strictness in the Halacha; if there is ever a doubt between two rabbinic opinions, the 'Brisk way' is more likely to follow the more stringent one. For example, many yeshiva students will not only grow their sideburns as required by the Torah, but will also grow a sidelock of hair above, which they tuck behind their ears. These are known as "Brisker Peyos", or "Brisk-style sideburns."
Talmudic. The Brisk style of Talmudic analysis has become very popular in the world of yeshivas today. It involves challenging existing, simpler understandings of Talmudic logic, often in very subtle ways. For example, there may be a distinction between an actual exemption in the Halacha and a scenario where the Halacha simply fails to obligate someone. Often an entire series of disagreements in the Rishonim (Talmudic commentaries from roughly the period 1000-1500) may stem back to a subtle difference in how to understand a line of Talmudic reasoning. Often what seems like one rule in the Talmud may in fact contain two separate rules for different scenarios. While the Brisk approach has won acceptance in almost all yeshivas, it has its opponents. These include Rabbi Abraham Isaiah Karelitz (1878-1953), known as the 'Chazon Ish' [1] (http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/karelitz.htm), who felt that often the existing approach to a Talmudic portion was sufficient. Additionally, the approach of those yeshivas in the United States and Israel today which stem from the yeshiva of Mir, Russia tend to stress single, unifying themes throughout Talmudic concepts, often focusing on only one Rishon if it as seen as the most 'truthful' approach to a Talmudic passage. 'Mir'-style yeshivas are thus seen generally as opposed to 'Brisk'-style yeshivas, though there is very little personal animosity.
Political. A great deal of controversy has erupted regarding the political sidings of the rabbis of Brisk. Rabbi Chaim Zev and his descendants, who live in Israel, have made their opinion clear that they oppose a secular Zionist state and thus show little support for the Israeli government. They also are generally opposed to yeshiva students having a secular college education as well. In contrast, most of the Soloveitchiks who moved to America, including Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik II and Rabbi Aaron Soloveitchik, were and are warmly supportive of the current State of Israel as well as what they perceive as a well-rounded college education. The opinions of Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik, Rabbi Chaim Brisker, and the 'Bais HaLevi' (all of whom lived before the founding of the State of Israel in 1948) on Zionism, secular education, religious feminism, and modernism in general, are topics of current debate.
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