Nochum Partzovitz
Encyclopedia
Nochum Partzovitz (died November 26, 1986) was a rabbi
and Rosh Yeshiva
of Yeshivas Mir
and is known worldwide for erudite explanations of Talmud
ic topics.
Partzovitz was born in Trakai
, Poland
to its Chief Rabbi
, Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi Partzovitz. Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi was a grandson of the posek
of Vilna, Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen
and son-in-law to Rabbi Nochum Greenhouse.
As a young boy, Partzovitz was reputed to have been so eager to engage in Torah study that he would run to cheder
in the morning barefoot because putting on shoes took up too much time.
Partzovitz learned from a tender age in the Yeshivas at Baranovitch under the leadership of Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman
and Rabbi Dovid Rappaport. However, when he reached the age of thirteen, the yeshiva's administration decided that his level of Talmudic study was too advanced for their school, so he was sent to learn under Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz.
At the age of fifteen, Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi, an alumnus of Yeshivas Mir
, convinced his son to relocate to the Mirrer Yeshiva, where he was warmly welcomed by its Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel. Soon after joining the yeshiva, the Mir Yeshiva entered was exiled to Shanghai
to escape the horrors of the Holocaust which annihilated much of European Jewry during World War II
. In Shanghai, Reb Nachum continued to learn with tremendous diligence, earning the respect and admiration of the Yeshiva's Mashgiach
, Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein
, and acting Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz. During this time, Reb Nochum—known as Reb Nochom Troker-- is reputed to have studied daily for twelve hours straight with his colleague Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:w8hpcyHynpkJ:www.ohryisroel.org/newsletter/data/n%2520-%2520Parshas%2520Bo%2520-%2520Volume%25201%2520Issue%252012.pdf+%22nachum+partzovitz%22&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbShmHMl8Ikcff1w46WSEI3JeaGQYw&pli=1. He also studied in China with Rabbi Abba Berman
.
After briefly immigrating to Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, following World War II
, Partzovitz moved to Israel
and joined the newly established Mir yeshiva of Jerusalem. There he married Ettel, the daughter of Shmuelevitz. Partzovitz studied as a partner with Rabbi Berenbaum's brother-in-law, Rabbi Elya Svei
, during the latter's brief stay in Israel.
Following the death of Shmuelevitz in 1979, Partzovitz was promoted to Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, however, due to physical illness, his active reign as Rosh Yeshiva was short-lived. As a Talmudic lecturer and later Rosh Yeshiva in Mir Yeshiva, Partzovitz is known for having close personal relationships with his students.
Partzovitz was survived by his two sons, Rabbi Tzvi Partzovitz (of Mir Brachfeld
) and Rabbi Refael Partzovitz and his three sons-in-law, Rabbi Asher Arieli
, Rabbi Yitzchok Hellman, and Rabbi Chaim Mendel Brodsky.
Partzovitz's daily and general lectures are being printed posthumously by his children and students as Chiddushei Reb Nochum and Shiurei Reb Nochum. A Haggadah featuring words of Torah
from the various Rosh Yeshivas of Mir also includes commentaries and lectures from Rabbi Nachum (Haggadah Shel Pesach, Mir (HE)).
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...
and 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...
of Yeshivas 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...
and is known worldwide for erudite explanations of Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic topics.
Partzovitz was born in Trakai
Trakai
Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The town covers 11.52 km2 of...
, 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...
to its 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...
, Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi Partzovitz. Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi was a grandson of the 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....
of Vilna, Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen
Shlomo HaKohen (Vilna)
Shlomo HaKohen was the famed Av Beis Din and Posek of Vilna.In 1828, Shlomo was born to Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaCohen, a dayan in the rabbinic court in Vilna. As a young child, Shlomo was known for his diligence and devotion to Torah study...
and son-in-law to Rabbi Nochum Greenhouse.
As a young boy, Partzovitz was reputed to have been so eager to engage in Torah study that he would run to cheder
Cheder
A Cheder is a traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language.-History:...
in the morning barefoot because putting on shoes took up too much time.
Partzovitz learned from a tender age in the Yeshivas at Baranovitch under the leadership of Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman
Elchonon Wasserman
Elchonon Wasserman was a prominent rabbi and rosh yeshiva in pre-World War II Europe. He was one of the Chofetz Chaim's closest disciples and a noted Torah scholar.-Biography:...
and Rabbi Dovid Rappaport. However, when he reached the age of thirteen, the yeshiva's administration decided that his level of Talmudic study was too advanced for their school, so he was sent to learn under Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz.
At the age of fifteen, Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi, an alumnus of Yeshivas Mir
Mir yeshiva (Poland)
The Mir yeshiva , commonly known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, was a Haredi yeshiva located in the town of Mir, Russian Empire...
, convinced his son to relocate to the Mirrer Yeshiva, where he was warmly welcomed by its Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel. Soon after joining the yeshiva, the Mir Yeshiva entered was exiled to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
to escape the horrors of the Holocaust which annihilated much of European Jewry during 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...
. In Shanghai, Reb Nachum continued to learn with tremendous diligence, earning the respect and admiration of the Yeshiva's Mashgiach
Mashgiach
In Judaism, a Mashgiach is a person who supervises the kashrut status of a kosher establishment.A mashgiah may supervise any type of food service establishment, including slaughterhouses, food manufacturers, hotels, caterers, nursing homes, restaurants, butchers, groceries, or cooperatives...
, Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein
Yechezkel Levenstein
Yechezkel Levenstein, known as Reb Chatzkel, , was the mashgiach ruchani of the Mir yeshiva, in Mir, Belarus and during the yeshiva's flight to Lithuania and on to Shanghai due to the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in World War II...
, and acting Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz. During this time, Reb Nochum—known as Reb Nochom Troker-- is reputed to have studied daily for twelve hours straight with his colleague Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum
Shmuel Berenbaum
Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum was the rosh yeshiva of the Mir yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York City which includes an elementary school and a high school, as well as its post-graduate Talmudical Academy, and a Kollel.-History:...
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:w8hpcyHynpkJ:www.ohryisroel.org/newsletter/data/n%2520-%2520Parshas%2520Bo%2520-%2520Volume%25201%2520Issue%252012.pdf+%22nachum+partzovitz%22&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbShmHMl8Ikcff1w46WSEI3JeaGQYw&pli=1. He also studied in China with Rabbi Abba Berman
Abba Berman
Rabbi Abba Mordechai Berman was a renowned Talmudist and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Iyun HaTalmud.Reb Abba was born on Tu BiShvat 5679 in Lodz, Poland to his father, Rabbi Shaul Yosef Berman, rosh yeshiva of Toras Chesed in Lodz and a student of the Chofetz Chayim. As a young child, Reb Abba's...
.
After briefly immigrating to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, following 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...
, Partzovitz moved to Israel
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
and joined the newly established Mir yeshiva of Jerusalem. There he married Ettel, the daughter of Shmuelevitz. Partzovitz studied as a partner with Rabbi Berenbaum's brother-in-law, Rabbi Elya Svei
Elya Svei
Rabbi Elya Svei was the Rosh Yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia together with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, and was internationally known for his incisive, brilliant and clear shiurim , and his ability to offer sage advice to thousands of Jews worldwide...
, during the latter's brief stay in Israel.
Following the death of Shmuelevitz in 1979, Partzovitz was promoted to Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, however, due to physical illness, his active reign as Rosh Yeshiva was short-lived. As a Talmudic lecturer and later Rosh Yeshiva in Mir Yeshiva, Partzovitz is known for having close personal relationships with his students.
Partzovitz was survived by his two sons, Rabbi Tzvi Partzovitz (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...
) and Rabbi Refael Partzovitz and his three sons-in-law, Rabbi Asher Arieli
Asher Arieli
Asher Arieli is a senior lecturer at Yeshivas Mir. He is globally renowned for his lectures and is widely recognized as a Gadol in his own right. He presently delivers the largest Talmudic lecture by attendance in the world with approximately 600 daily attendees. His shiur starts at aprox...
, Rabbi Yitzchok Hellman, and Rabbi Chaim Mendel Brodsky.
Partzovitz's daily and general lectures are being printed posthumously by his children and students as Chiddushei Reb Nochum and Shiurei Reb Nochum. A Haggadah featuring words of Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
from the various Rosh Yeshivas of Mir also includes commentaries and lectures from Rabbi Nachum (Haggadah Shel Pesach, Mir (HE)).
Works and Students
- Eliyahu Boruch FinkelEliyahu Boruch FinkelEliyahu Boruch Finkel was an influential maggid shiur at the Mir yeshiva in Jerusalem.-Biography:...
- Avigdor Nebenzahl
- Asher ArieliAsher ArieliAsher Arieli is a senior lecturer at Yeshivas Mir. He is globally renowned for his lectures and is widely recognized as a Gadol in his own right. He presently delivers the largest Talmudic lecture by attendance in the world with approximately 600 daily attendees. His shiur starts at aprox...
- Chaim KamilChaim KamilRabbi Chaim Kamil was the Rosh Yeshiva in the Yeshiva of Ofakim, Israel. As a youngster, he learned in Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak and eventually made his way to Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem, where he became a student of Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz...
http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5765/SHN65arkamil.htm - Gedaliah FinkelGedaliah FinkelRabbi Gedaliah Finkel is a lecturer in Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem, Israel.Rabbi Finkel, the younger brother of Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, was born and raised in Chicago and as a youngster learned in Skokie yeshiva...
- Hanoch TellerHanoch TellerHanoch Teller is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, author and lecturer who popularized the Jewish literary genre of true, contemporary stories to convey inspirational and ethical themes. Author of over 25 books, Teller is also a tour guide in Jerusalem, Israel.-Biography:Teller was born in Vienna, Austria...
- Aharon Lopiansky, son-in-law of Binyomin Beinush FinkelBinyomin Beinush FinkelRabbi Binyomin Beinush Finkel, , was the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem.He was born in Mir, Belarus, where his father Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel was the rosh yeshiva of the Mir yeshiva. Rabbi Finkel acquired most of his Torah knowledge during his studies at the yeshiva...