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Rabbi Chaim (Halavi) Soloveitchik (1853 - July 30, 1918) of Brisk was a scholar of the Talmud and is credited as the founder of the "yeshiva" approach to Talmudic study. He is from Brest (Brisk in Yiddish), then in Imperial Russia, now in Belarus, and is considered the founder of the "Brisker derech", a method of Torah study that focuses on precise definition and categorization of Jewish law as commanded in the Torah. A member of the Soloveitchik Rabbinical Dynasty of Brisk, 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. He is often remembered for his staunch anti-Zionist opinions.
Father of Brisker Rav, Rabbi Velvel Soloveichik (1886-1960).
Grandfather of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (1903-1993).
Quotes
- "If you intend to give a coin to the Jewish National Fund, give it to another idolatry, but not to the Zionists, since this idolatry is worse then any other."
- "The Jewish people have suffered many (spiritual) plagues -- the Sadducees, Karaites, Hellenisers, Shabbatai Zvi, Enlightenment, Reform and many others. But the strongest of them all is Zionism."
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