Etz Chaim Yeshiva
Etz Chaim Yeshiva (Hebrew: ישיבת עץ חיים, Yeshivat Etz Hayyim, lit. "Tree of Life") is an orthodox yeshiva located on Jaffa Road close to the Mahane Yehuda Market in downtown Jerusalem.
History
Etz Chaim Yeshiva was originally a
The head teacher was Rabbi Chaim Mann. His brother Yehuda Leib Mann was the secretary who also served as a teacher. They were the sons of Rabbi Yaakov Mann, who was a prominent scholar who had declined the invitation of Rabbi
As the yeshiva expanded, Tucazinsky acquired a plot of land on Jaffa Road in 1908 for it, though the yeshiva maintained an ownership claim on the Hurva complex. After the opening of the Jaffa Road location, a kollel was subsequently established, catering mainly to the alumni of the yeshiva.
After disputes arose between the pupils and the faculty, a permanent agreement was reached by Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank, who reallocated the positions of authority.
In 1925, Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer was appointed to lead the yeshiva and Rabbi Aryeh Levin was made the mashgiach. After the death of Rabbi Meltzer, his son-in-law, Rabbi Aharon Kotler, was appointed rosh yeshiva. In an unusual arrangement, he held this position while continuing to live in the United States, and visited Jerusalem on occasion. During the periods when he resided in Israel, he delivered fortnightly lectures.
After the death of Rabbi Kotler, Rabbi Elazar Shach was chosen to head the yeshiva, and he also delivered fortnightly lectures. Some time later, Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Fisher took up a position at the yeshiva. A grandson of Rabbi Aharon Kotler, Rabbi Zvulun Schwartzman, has served as one of the primary leaders.
A great-grandson of Rabbi Salant, Rabbi Nissan Tikochinsky, the son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky, served as head and director of the institution until his death in 2012.[3] For many years he traveled to the United States and South Africa to raise money to keep the institution functioning.
Threat of demolition
Although the yeshiva building on Jaffa Road is registered on Jerusalem's List of Protected Monuments, in 2007 the building was under the threat of demolition to make way for shops and offices. The authorities accepted an appeal for the buildings' preservation.[4][5]
Notable students
- Bar Ilan University
- Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910-1995)
- Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman
References
- ^ url=http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/Miedzyrzec_Podlaski/mie077.html#Page79
- ISBN 0-87306-879-3.
- ^ Benari, Elad (January 12, 2012). "Video, Photos: Funeral of Rabbi Nissan Aharon Tikochinsky". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ (Hebrew) Shmuelvitz, Yeruchum (January 16, 2007). "The historic building of Yeshivat Etz Chaim will not be destroyed". Ladat. Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
- ^ Fendel, Hillel (January 15, 2007). "Etz Chaim Yeshiva Building Saved from Destruction". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 2007-08-14.