Infofiles4Bibliography

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Bibliography

Biographies

  • Agus, Irving A. Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg. New York: Ktav Publishing House, Inc., 1970. (E)
  • Berle, Rabbi Dr. Leon J. Rabbi Avraham Jehoshua Heschel of Opatow: His Life , Mannerism, Narratives, Communal Work , Teaching, and Abridgement of His Book, Ohev Israel. Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook, 1984. (E)
  • Bermant, Chaim. Lord Jakobovits: The Authorized Biography of the Chief Rabbi. London: George Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Limited, 1990. (E)
  • Bick, Avraham. Rabbi Jacob Emden. Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook, 1974. (H)
  • Bindman, Yirmeyahu. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson Publishing, 1995. (E)
  • Braun, Moshe A. Sfas Emes: The Life and Teachings of Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1998. (E)
  • Brayer, Menachem. The House of Rizhin Chasidus and the Rizhiner Dynasty. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 2002. (E)
  • Bromberg, Avraham Yitskhak. Migdolei HaHasidut. Jerusalem: Hillel Press. Series on Chassidic Rabbis. (H)
    • Rabbi Haim Halberstam of Sanz, 1949
    • Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter from Ger, the Sefas Emes, 1966
    • Admorim Lebet Vorka V’Amshinov, 1954
    • Admorei Alexander, 1954
    • Rabbi Abraham Bornstein from Sochaczew, 1955
    • Rabbi Israel Friedman from Ruzhyn, 1955
    • Rabbi Tzaddok HaKohen, 1956
    • Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, 1954
    • Admorim Lebet Sanz, 1956
    • Admorim Lebet Belz, 1955
    • Rabbi Yechiel Meir Lipshitz, 1956
    • The Eiger Family, 1958
    • Rabbi Hanoch Heinoch HaKohen Levin, 1958
    • Rabbi Joseph Saul Nathanson, 1960
    • Beit Kozienice, 1961
    • HaHozeh from Lublin, 1962
    • Admorei Nesvizh Kaidanov and Nowe Minsk, 1963
    • HaGaonim from Kutno, Berzan and Chebin, 1965
    • Rabbi Abraham Mordechai Alter from Ger, 1966
    • HaAdmorim from Praga, 1966 (Rabbi Yeshaya Muszkat)
    • Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher, 1969
  • Bromberg, Avraham Yitskhak. Rebbes of Ger: Sfas Emes and Imrei Emes. Translated by Uri Kaplan from Avraham Yitskhak Bromberg's Sfas Emes and HaAdmur MiGur. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1987. (E)
  • Dalfin, Chaim and Dov Baron (ed.). The Seven Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbes. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1998. (E)
  • Drazin, Rabbi Nathan. Isaac Levinson’s Genealogy. Baltimore, MD: self-published by Saul Levinson, 1948. (E)
  • Dresner, Samuel H. The World of a Hasidic Master: Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1994.(E)
    • Update of Dresner, Samuel H. Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev: Portrait of a Hasidic Master. New York: Shapolsky Publishers, 1986.
  • Duschinsky, Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Koppel. Toldot Yaakov. London: Refael Mazin, 1918. (H)
    • The life of Rabbi Yaakov Altenkunstadt (Rabbi Koppel Charif, 1766-1835), ancestor of the Hungarian rabbinical family, Reich. [Comment by Tomer Brunner]
  • Eliach, Rabbi Dov. Reb Chaim of Volozhin: The Life and Ideals of the Visionary "Father of Yeshivos." New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1993. (E)
  • Eliahu, Yosef and Rutie. Torat HaMesmachat: Biography of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Urbach. Beit El: Sifirat Beit El, 1998. (H)
  • Epstein, Rabbi Baruch HaLevi. My Uncle the Netziv: Rabbi Baruch HaLevi Epstein Recalls His Illustrious Uncle Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1988. (E)
  • Ehrlich, S. Ateret Yehoshua. New York: Photocopied version of a pre-Holocaust publication, 1982. (H)
    • Biography and descendants of Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua of Lemberg, Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, etc. Includes considerable genealogical material. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • Ehrlich, Rabbi Salamon. Minchat Nathanel. Bilgoraj, Poland, 1936.
    • Reprinted G’nozot, Jerusalem, 1975. Writings of Rabbi Nathanel Weil (1687-1769), including Korban Nathanel. [Comment by Werner L. Frank, 2002]
  • Etkes, Immanuel. Rabbi Israel Salanter and the Mussar Movement: Seeking the Torah of Truth. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1993. (translated from the Hebrew by Jonathan Chipman) (E)
  • Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon. Five Great Lives. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1998. (E)
    • Biographies of the following five Rabbis: The Steipler, R' Yaakov Kamenetsky, R' Moshe Feinstein, R' Yehudah Zev Segal, and R' Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.
  • Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Nosson Scherman. Reb Moshe: The Life and Ideals of HaGaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1986. (E)
  • Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon. Rabbi Chaim Ozer: The Life and Ideals of Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski of Vilna. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1987. (E)
  • Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon. The Chazon Ish: The Life and Ideals of Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1989. (E)
  • Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon. The Manchester Rosh Yeshiva: The Life and Ideals of Hagaon Rabbi Yehuda Zev Segal. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1997. (E)
  • Fox, Joseph. Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk: A Biographical Study of the Chasidic Master. Brooklyn, NY: Bash Publications, Inc., 1988. (E)
  • Frenkel, Rabbi Isser. Men of Distinction: Biographies of Great Rabbis. Tel Aviv: Sinai Publishing, 1967. (originally written in Hebrew, translated into English)
    • This book presents biographical sketches of 27 great rabbis in part 1 and another 20 rabbis in part 2. As the author states in the foreword, the book "was written for young people," and, of course, that implies that we all qualify. The rabbis extolled in part 1 were mostly 19th century prominent figures. They are:

      Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michal (The Malbym)
      Abraham Jacob FRIEDMAN (The Rabbi of Sadagura)
      Israel SALANTER (The Prodigy of Salant)
      Shlomo GANZFRIED (The Abridged Shulchan Aruch)
      Lebele EIGER (The Torath Emet)
      Haim Elazar WACHS (The Nefesh Haya)
      Gershon Hanoch LAINER (The Blue Thread)
      Zeev LANDAU (Rabbi Zeev from Strykhov)
      Jacob (Yankele) WEIDENFELD (Hanochav Mi-Yaakov)
      Naftali Zvi Yehuda BERLIN (The Pillar of Wolozin)
      Yehoshua Leib DISKIN (The Rav from Brisk)
      Ariel HILDESHEIMER (The Rabbi of Berlin)
      Zadok HaCohen RABINOWITZ (The Kohen of Lublin)
      Haim Hezekia MEDINI (The Sdey Chemed)
      David Moshe FRIEDMANN (The Rabbi of Czortkow)
      Judah Arieh Leib of Ger (The Sefat Emet)
      Zvi (Hirsch) Michal SHAPIRA (Rabbi Hirsch Michal)
      Shmuel SALANT (Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem)
      Yeramiel Israel Isaac DANCYGER of Alexander (Yismach Israel)
      Abraham BORNSTEIN of Sochaczew (The Avnei Nezer)
      Eliahu Haim MAISEL (The Rabbi of Lodz)
      Haim SOLEVEITCHIK (Rabbi Haim of Brisk)
      Israel TOIB of Moditz (The Sweet Psalmist)
      Israel PERLOV (The Yanouka)
      Meir Simcha HaCohen (The Or-Sameach)
      Shimon KALISCH (The Rabbi of Skarnewitz) and
      Issachar Dov ROKEACH (Belz).

      Most part two rabbis achieved fame during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before the Holocaust. They were:
      Meir Yechiel HaLevy of Ostrobiecza (The Tzadik who fasted 40 years)
      Meir Dan PLOTZKI (The Kli Hemda)
      Joseph Haim SONENFELD (The Rabbi Joseph Haim)
      Israel Meir HaCohen (The Hafetz Haim)
      Meir SHAPIRA (The Rabbi of Lublin)
      Abraham Isaac HaCohen KOOK (Chief Rabbi Kook)
      Joseph ROZIN (The Rogatzowite)
      Haim Ozer GRODZINSKY (Rabbi Haim Ozer)
      Shlomoh of Radzyn (Death of the Righteous)
      Manachem ZAMBA (The Genius of Praga)
      Moshe Avigdor AMIEL (Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv)
      Shaul Yedidya Eliezer TAUB (The Modzitzer)
      Abraham Mordechai ALTER (The Rabbi of Ger)
      Israel FRIEDMAN (The Rabbi of Hosziatin)
      Joseph Isaac SCHNEERSOHN (The Lubavitcher Rebbe)
      Jacob Moshe HARLAP (The Holy Man from Shaarei Hessed)
      Ben-Zion Meir Hay UZIEL (The Rishon Lezion)
      Abraham Yeshayahu KARELITZ (The Chazon Ish)
      Isser Zalman MELTZER (The Superintendent of Yeshivoth)
      Shlomo David CAHANE. (The Patron of Abandoned Brides)

      The final chapter is entitled "The Heirloom," and it discusses the Shapira family of Slowieta. Many chapters start with a hand-drawn sketch of the rabbi along with the years of his life, and all contain many interesting and amusing anecdotes that illuminate each rabbi's personality and develop a great respect from the reader. Nearly every chapter discusses other rabbis with whom the subject came in contact, and thereby presents the genealogist with greater resources for his research and understanding. The book obviously reflects author Rabbi Frenkel's great love and admiration of these Men of Distinction. [Comment by Ronald Landau]

  • Feuchtwanger, O. Righteous Lives. New York: Bloch Pub. Co., 1965.(E)
  • Gelman, Aryeh Leib. HaNodah BeYehuda UMishnato Leor Piskav VeDrushav. Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook, 1960. (first edition) (H)
    • Biography of Rabbi Yehezel Landau, author of the Responsa Noda BeYuda. [Comment by Hadassah Lipsius]
  • Goldwurm, Rabbi Hersh, ed. The Early Acharonim: Biographical Sketches of the Prominent Early Sages and Leaders from the Fifteenth-Seventeenth Centuries. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications. 1989. (E)
  • Mendel, Menachem. Pillars of Fire: Episodes in the Life of the Brisker Rav, Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1992. (E)
  • Jung, Rabbi Leo, ed. Jewish Leaders, 1750-1940. New York: Block, 1953. (E)
  • Greenwald, Yisroel, and Rabbi Mendel Kaplan. Reb Mendel and His Wisdom: The Enduring Lessons of the Legendary Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Mendel Kaplan. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1999. (E)
  • Kaufmann, David.
    • Samson Wertheimer, der Oberhoffactor und Landesrabbiner (1658-1724) und seine Kinder. Wien: Friedrich Beck, 1888. 113 pp. (G)
    • Urkundliches aus dem Leben Samson Wertheimers. Budapest: Druck von Adolf Alkalay, 1891. 142 pp. (G)
    • The life and work of Rabbi Samson Wertheimer, Landesrabbiner of Austria and Hungary. [Comment by Daniel Polakovic]
    • Learn more about the author.
  • Karlinsky, Rabbi Khaim. Harishon Leshoshelet Brisk. Jerusalem, 1984. (H)
    • Biography of the first rabbi of the Brisk dynasty, Rabbi Yosef Dovber Halevy Soloveitchik. Includes material about his family and other prominent personalities in the Litvak Yeshivah world. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • Klugman, Rabbi Eliyahu Meir. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch – Architect of Torah Judaism for the modern World. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah, 1996. (E)
  • Landau, Betzalel. The Vilna Gaon. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1994. (E)
  • Lewin, Yehudah Leib. Beit Kotsk. Jerusalem, 1990. (H)
    • Biography of the Chassidic master, Rabbi Menakhem Mendel Morgenstern of Kotsk. Includes details of many of rabbis who were his students and followers. Typical of many similar books about Chassidic rabbis and their followers. [Comment by Chaim Freedman, F1]
  • Rabinowicz, Rabbi Tsvi. Chassidic Rebbes: From the Baal Shem Tov to Modern Times. Southfield, MI: Targum Press; Spring Valley, NY: Feldheim, 1989. (E)
    • It is simply written with four to five pages written about each of the following rabbis. [Comment by Judy Wolkovitch]

      R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov
      R. Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezhirichi
      R. Yaacov Yosef of Polonnoye
      R. Yitskhak of Drohobycz
      R. Aaron the Great of Karlin
      R. Nachum of Chernobyl
      R. Pinchas of Korecz
      R. Elimelech of Lizensk
      R. Nachman of Bratslav
      R. Levi Yitskhak of Berdichev
      R. Shneur Zalman of Liady
      R. Yisrael, the Maggid of Kozinitz
      R. Yaacov Yitskhak, the Yehudi Ha-Kadosh
      R. Simchah Bunem of Przysucha
      R. Yehoshua Heschel, the Ohev Yisrael
      R. Naftali of Ropszyce
      R. Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
      R. Dov Ber of Lubavitch
      R. Eizik of Kalev
      R. Sholem Rokeach of Belz
      R. Yissachar Baer of Radoszyce
      R. Yitskhak Kalish of Warka
      R. Moshe Teitelbaum
      R. Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch
      R. R. Chanoch Heinich Levin of Alexander
      R. Elimelech of Dinov
      R. Yisrael Friedman of Ruzhin
      R. Shraga Feivel Danziger of Alexander
      R. Yitskhak Meir of Ger
      R. Chaim Halberstam of Zanz
      R. Yechezkel Sharaga Halberstam of Sieniawa
      R. Yechiel Meir Pilschitz of Gostynin
      R. Yehoshua Rokeach of Belz
      R. Leibele Eger
      R. Yechiel Danziger of Alexander
      R. Yaakov Aryeh of Radzymin
      R. Gershon Heinich Leiner
      R. Zadok Ha-Kohen Rabinowicz
      R. Yehuda Leib Alter of Ger
      R. Avraham Bornstein of Sochaczew
      R. Yosef Meir Weiss of Spinka
      R. Shlomoh Spiro, the Shem Shlomoh
      R. Yissachar Dov Rokeach of Belz
      R. Yitskhak Yaakov Rabinowicz of Biala
      R. Meir Yechiel Halstock of Ostrowiec
      R. Shmuel Engel of Radomysl
      R. Avraham Mordechai Alter of Ger
      R. Meir Shapiro
      R. Alter Yisrael Shimon Perlow of Novominsk
      R. Yitskhak Zelig Morgenstern of Sokolow
      R. Moshe Twersky of Brisk
      R. Bentzion Halberstam of Bobow
      R. Yosef Yitskhak Schneersohn
      R. Moshe Friedman of Boyan
      R. Yisrael Alter of Ger
      R. Menachem Ziemba
      R. Kalonymous Kalman Shapiro of Piaseczno
      R. Yehudah Leib Ashlag
      R. Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar
      R. Itamar Rosenbaum of Nadvorna
      The Biala Rebbe of London

  • Rosenblum, Yonason. Rav Dessler: The Life and Impact of Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler the Michtav MeEliyahu. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 2000. (E)
  • Rosenblum, Yonason. Reb Yaakov: The Life and Times of HaGoan Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1993. (E)
  • Rosensweig, Bernard. Ashkenazic Jewry In Transition. Waterloo, Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1975. (E)
    • Period historical review, Middle Ages, focusing on Rabbi Jakob Weil (1385-1456). [Comment by Werner L. Frank]
  • Schlossberg, Rabbi David J. Reb Elyah: The Life and Accomplishments of Rabbi Elyah Lopian. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1999. (E)
  • Schochet, Elijah Judah. Bach: Rabbi Joel Sirkes. New York: Feldheim Publishing, 1971. (E)
  • Shlesser, Shimon. Sefer Otsar Harebi R. Heschil. Jerusalem: self-published, 1996.(H)
    • Family genealogy, biography of R. Abraham Yehoshua Heschel (1596-1663). [Comment by Werner L. Frank , 2002]
  • Shulman, Yaacov Dovid. Rashi: The Story of Rabbi Shlomo Yitskhaki. New York: C.I.S. Publishers, 1993. (E)
  • Shulman, Yaacov Dovid. The Chasam Sofer: The Story of Rabbi Moshe Sofer. New York: C.I.S. Publishers, 1992. (E)
  • Shulman, Yaakov Dovid. The Maharal of Prague, The Story of Rabbi Yehudah Loew. New York: C.I.S. Publishers, 1992. (E)
  • Sinason, Jacob H. The Gaon of Posen: A Portrait of Rabbi Akiva Guens-Eger. Jerusalem, New York: Feldheim Publishers, 1889, 1991. (E)
  • Sofer, Rabbi Moshe. Pressburg Under Siege: Autobiographical Account. New York: CIS Publishers, 1991. (E)
  • Sorasky, Rabbi Aharon. Chazon Ish: A Biography of Rabbi Abraham Isaiah Karelitz. Tel Aviv: Netzach Publishers, 1971. (E)
  • Sorasky, Rabbi Aharon. Rabbi Elchonon: The Life and Ideals of Rabbi Elchonon Bunim Wasserman of Baranovich. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1982. (E)
  • Teich, Shmuel, Rabbi Hersh Goldwurm, ed. The Rishonim: Biographical Sketches of the Prominent Early Sages and Leaders from the Tenth-Fifteenth Centuries. New York: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, 1982. (E)
  • Teomim, Abraham. Sefer Evel gadol: al petirat moreinu ve-rabeinu Yisrael me-Rizin. Brooklyn, NY, 1992-1993. (H)
    • Biography of Israel Friedmann of Ruzhin (1797-1850), Hasidic Rabbi, great-grandson of Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezhirech.
  • Wein, Rabbi Berel.
    • Echoes of Glory: The Story of the Jews in the Classical Era, 350 BCE-750 CE. Brooklyn, NY: Shaar Press, Distributed by Mesorah Publications, 1996. (E)
    • Herald of Destiny: The Story of the Jews in the Medieval Era, 750-1650. Brooklyn, NY: Shaar Press, Distributed by Mesorah Publications, 1996. (E)
    • Triumph of Survival: The Story of the Jews in the Modern Era, 1650-1990. Brooklyn, NY: Shaar Press, Distributed by Mesorah Publications, 1999. (E)
    • A noted historian, Rabbi Berel Wein, has written several books in English on Jewish history that concentrate on rabbinical influences throughout the ages. These books are available in many libraries and are literally a treasure trove of information regarding noted rabbis. [Comment by Rabbi Mordechai Schlanger]
  • Who's Who. New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who's Who.
  • Yosher, Rabbi Moses M. The Chafetz Chaim: The Life and Works of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin. (translated from Hebrew by Charles Wengrov). Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah, 1997. (E)
  • Zaidman, Dr. Hillel. Eishim Shehikarti. Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook, 1970. (H)
    • Biographies of several rabbis who lived before World War II, several of them murdered by Nazis. Photographs are in the back of the book. These are very valuable historical recollections. [Comment by Hadassah Lipsius]

4Information on rabbinical genealogy published on the Internet may be found separately in the extensive Links section of the Rav-SIG web site. See: Links Index.

FOOTNOTES

1. All comments by Chaim Freedman are used with permission from his book, Beit Rabbanan: Sources of Rabbinic Genealogy. Petah Tikva, Israel: self-published, 2001.

2. Einsiedler, David. "Are You a Descendant of King David? A Look at Rabbinic Sources." Roots-Key: Journal of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles. Spring, 1988.

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