Avigdor Nevenzahl
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Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Avigdor Nebenzahl is the former chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of the Old City of Jerusalem after handing over the post to his son Rabbi Chizkiyahu Nebenzahl
Chizkiyahu Nebenzahl
Chizkiyahu Nebenzahl is the current Rabbi of the Old City of Jerusalem.Nebenzahl is the youngest son of Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl, the previous Rabbi of the Old City. He also serves on the faculty of Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh.-References:...
who also learns in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, Rabbi of the Ramban Synagogue
Ramban Synagogue
The Ramban Synagogue , is the oldest active synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was founded by Nahmanides in 1267. Today it is located at the corner of Ha-Yehudim Street and the square in the Jewish Quarter.-Features:The foundation of the building comprises vaults resting on Romanesque and...
, a posek
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
and a noted author of weekly essays on the torah portion.He is also the senior rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh
Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh
Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh is an Orthodox yeshiva located at the Western Wall Plaza in the Old City of Jerusalem. The yeshiva, which has a Religious Zionist ideology, was founded in 2003 by the current rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Aharon Bina...
and is on the staff of Yeshivat HaKotel
Yeshivat Hakotel
Yeshivat Hakotel is a modern-Orthodox religious Zionist hesder yeshiva situated in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was built in 1857. The yeshiva overlooks the Kotel ; hence its name. The Yeshiva is famous among tourists and tour guides for its entrance to the prayer plaza at the Kotel on Sabbath...
. He has authored a commentary on the Mishnah Berurah
Mishnah Berurah
The Mishnah Berurah is a work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan , also colloquially known by the name of another of his books, Chofetz Chaim "Desirer of Life."...
in addition to writing his own books on Passover
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
, Succot, Shavuot
Shavuot
The festival of is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan ....
, and The Three Weeks
The Three Weeks
The Three Weeks or Bein ha-Metzarim is a period of mourning commemorating the destruction of the first and second Jewish Temples...
and most recently on Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
which includes laws and novel interpretations to the tractate Shabbat. He is considered by many to be foremost disciple of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach , was a renowned Orthodox Jewish rabbi, posek, and rosh yeshiva of the Kol Torah yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel...
having learned with him for over 40 years as a study partner. Rav Nebenzahl is also a former faculty member of Yeshivat Mir
Mir yeshiva (Jerusalem)
The Mir yeshiva , known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, is an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. With 6,000 students, it is the largest yeshiva in Israel. Many of the students are from the United States and Canada. It is also believed to be the largest yeshiva in the world...
having married the daughter of former mashgiach Rabbi Chaim Zev Finkel. He is a brother-in-law of its current mashgiach Rabbi Aaron Chodosh, and of Rabbi Aryeh Finkel
Aryeh Finkel
Aryeh Finkel is a Haredi rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Brachfeld branch of the Mir yeshiva. Before assuming his post at the new yeshiva branch in 2005, he served as the mashgiach at the Mir in Jerusalem for many decades.-Biography:...
, rosh yeshiva of Mir-Brachfeld
Modi'in Illit
Modi'in Illit is a Haredi Israeli settlement and a city in the West Bank, situated midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Modi'in Illit was granted city status by the Israeli government in 2008. It is located six kilometres northeast of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut and is often referred to as Kiryat...
. Rav Nebenzahl gives a special shiur in English to the overseas students in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh on Sunday nights and hosts many students in his home for kiddush
Kiddush
Kiddush , literally, "sanctification," is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify the Shabbat and Jewish holidays.-Significance:...
after Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
morning prayers.
The Rabbi spoke vociferously against the 2005 Gaza expulsion and surrender of land to Arabs. Rabbi Nebenzahl also opposes Jewish tour groups to the Temple Mount.