Mendel Zaks
Encyclopedia
Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Yosef Zaks (1898-1974) (commonly known as Rabbi Mendel Zaks) is best known for being the Rosh Yeshiva
in Raduń Yeshiva
and being the son-in-law to Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
, the Chofetz Chaim.
Rabbi Zaks was born in Siluva
. Before joining the Yeshiva in Radun, Rabbi Zaks studied in the Yeshiva Beis Yitzchok (while it was still in Slabodka, before it moved to Kaminetz). He was forced to leave Radun during World War I
and then studied under Rabbi Reuven Dov Dessler
, the father of Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler
and brother-in-law to Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski
. He also studied under Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk
whose Meshech Chochmah he had helped print.
After the war, he returned to Radun where he studied with his future father-in-law. In 1922, he married the daughter of the Chofetz Chaim. By doing so, he joined the Chofetz Chaim as leader of the yeshiva and in all other communal affairs. Rabbi Zaks was immediately recognized for his teaching and leadership abilities. His vast knowledge of Talmudic Law, coupled with a photographic memory and unending hours spent with his students attracted even more students to the Radin Yeshiva at that time http://www.flora-and-sam.com/finalversion/finishedversion/pages/RadinHistory.htm.
In 1925, Rabbi Zaks incorporated the Yeshiva in the United States in an effort to raise money there for the operation of the Yeshiva and its charities.
Upon the death of Naftoli Trop
in 1928, Rabbi Mendel Zaks was appointed Rosh Yeshiva in the Yeshiva in Raduń
, Poland
. The outbreak of World War II
forced the Yeshiva
to transfer to Vilna, and eventually Rabbi Zaks re-established the Yeshiva in 1943 at New York City
. In 1941 he moved to New York. In 1946, he accepted the position of rosh yeshiva and bochen (examiner) at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
. Following his retirement, he died in Jerusalem in 1974.
Rabbi Zaks had an extraordinary memory, a pure mind, and was an expert in the Talmud and its commentaries. http://www.yu.edu/riets/index.aspx?id=24114&ekmensel=51b41ad4_2186_2194_23718_2&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
He is survived by his son Rabbi Hillel Zaks, Rav
in Kiryat Sefer and Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivas Knesses Hagdolah. His son, Rabbi Gershon Zaks, died in 1989 and his daughter, Rivka Wiesenfeld, died in 2008 http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=13601
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...
Menachem Mendel Yosef Zaks (1898-1974) (commonly known as Rabbi Mendel Zaks) is best known for being the 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...
in Raduń Yeshiva
Radun Yeshiva
Raduń Yeshiva, originally located in Raduń, Poland , was established by the Chofetz Chaim in 1869.-Origins:In 1869 when the Chofetz Chaim returned from Vashilyshok to Raduń his first action was to establish a group to whom he could spread the knowledge of Torah...
and being the son-in-law to Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir Poupko , known popularly as The Chofetz Chaim, was an influential Eastern European rabbi, Halakhist, posek, and ethicist whose works continue to be widely influential in Jewish life...
, the Chofetz Chaim.
Rabbi Zaks was born in Siluva
Šiluva
Šiluva is a small town of less than 1,000 inhabitants in Lithuania. It is located in the region of Samogitia.Šiluva was first mentioned in 1457 in relation to the building of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Bartholomew by the Lithuanian...
. Before joining the Yeshiva in Radun, Rabbi Zaks studied in the Yeshiva Beis Yitzchok (while it was still in Slabodka, before it moved to Kaminetz). He was forced to leave Radun during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and then studied under Rabbi Reuven Dov Dessler
Reuven Dov Dessler
Reuven Dov Dessler was a rabbinic leader of the Musar movement and the director of the Kelm Talmud Torah from 1918 until 1931.He was born in 1863 in the city of Liepāja in Courland, Latvia. His parents were strong supporters of the Musar movement and especially of the efforts of Rabbi Simcha...
, the father of Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler
Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler
Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler was an Orthodox rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and Jewish philosopher of the 20th century. He is known as mashgiach ruchani of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Israel and through collections of his writings published posthumously by his pupils.-Lithuania:Eliyahu Dessler Eliyahu Eliezer...
and brother-in-law to Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski
Chaim Ozer Grodzinski
Chaim Ozer Grodzinski was a pre-eminent Av beis din , posek , and Talmudic scholar in Vilnius, Lithuania in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. He also studied under Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk
Meir Simcha of Dvinsk
Meir Simcha of Dvinsk was a rabbi and prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. He was a kohen, and is therefore often referred to as Meir Simcha ha-Kohen...
whose Meshech Chochmah he had helped print.
After the war, he returned to Radun where he studied with his future father-in-law. In 1922, he married the daughter of the Chofetz Chaim. By doing so, he joined the Chofetz Chaim as leader of the yeshiva and in all other communal affairs. Rabbi Zaks was immediately recognized for his teaching and leadership abilities. His vast knowledge of Talmudic Law, coupled with a photographic memory and unending hours spent with his students attracted even more students to the Radin Yeshiva at that time http://www.flora-and-sam.com/finalversion/finishedversion/pages/RadinHistory.htm.
In 1925, Rabbi Zaks incorporated the Yeshiva in the United States in an effort to raise money there for the operation of the Yeshiva and its charities.
Upon the death of Naftoli Trop
Naftoli Trop
Rabbi Naftoli Trop was the Rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Raduń, Poland. He was a renowned Talmudist and Talmid Chacham.-Early years:...
in 1928, Rabbi Mendel Zaks was appointed Rosh Yeshiva in the Yeshiva in Raduń
Radun
Radun is a township in Belarus, in the Voranava district, Hrodna Voblast.It is famous for being the home of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, known as the Chofetz Chaim, and his Raduń Yeshiva....
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
forced the Yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
to transfer to Vilna, and eventually Rabbi Zaks re-established the Yeshiva in 1943 at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1941 he moved to New York. In 1946, he accepted the position of rosh yeshiva and bochen (examiner) at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary , or Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, is the rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University, located in Washington Heights, New York. It is named after Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, who died the year it was founded, 1896...
. Following his retirement, he died in Jerusalem in 1974.
Rabbi Zaks had an extraordinary memory, a pure mind, and was an expert in the Talmud and its commentaries. http://www.yu.edu/riets/index.aspx?id=24114&ekmensel=51b41ad4_2186_2194_23718_2&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
He is survived by his son Rabbi Hillel Zaks, Rav
Rav
Rav is the Hebrew word for rabbi. For a more nuanced discussion see semicha. The term is also frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to one's own rabbi....
in Kiryat Sefer and Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivas Knesses Hagdolah. His son, Rabbi Gershon Zaks, died in 1989 and his daughter, Rivka Wiesenfeld, died in 2008 http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=13601