Yaakov Mazeh

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Rabbi Yaakov Mazeh (1859–1924)[1] served as the government-appointed chief rabbi of Moscow.

Biography

The family name is an acronym stating that they are Kohanim: MiZera Aharon Hacohen (from the seed of Aaron the Priest).

Born 1859 in Mogilev, Belarus, he was raised by his maternal grandfather following the early passing of his father. His education was both religious and secular, including graduating from Moscow University's law school and, for a while, practicing law.

Mazeh was appointed by the Russian government to be the Rabbi of Moscow

Moscow, Russia
.

His son Saadiah (Sadi in the U.S.) was imprisoned 4 years after Rabbi Mazeh's passing for attending Zionist meetings but, due to outside pressure, was released with permission to leave Russia along with his wife Vera and their children.[4][5]

Beilis case testimony

Rabbi Mazeh was called by the defense in the Beilis Blood Libel as an expert witness, and was quite thorough in his 1913 testimony.[6][7] Somewhat later, his court presentation was serialized in a Hebrew-language weekly newspaper.[8][2]

Other interests

His interest in Zionism was cut short by the 1917 revolution; he barely escaped arrest.[1]

Rabbi Mazeh's interest in the Hebrew language included serving as a contributor to a publication named HaMeLits

Habima Theater.[9]

Written work

Aside from his journalistic works, in both Hebrew and Yiddish,[10] he left (published posthumously in 1936) a four volume set, Zikhronos.[11][1]

Photos

  • [[:ru:%25D0%25A4%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B9%25D0%25BB:Yakov Maze.jpg|Rabbi Mazeh]]
  • [[:he:%25D7%25A7%25D7%2595%25D7%2591%25D7%25A5:Mazeh.jpg|another photo of Rabbi Yaakov Mazeh]]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Avraham Greenbaum. "Maze, Iakov Isaevich". YIVOencyclopedia.com.
  2. ^ a b "In Defense of Chassidism".
  3. ^ a b Adam Soclof (December 19, 2012). "Profile of Chief rabbi of Moscow Jacob Maze". JTA.org.
  4. ^ "ONE OF THE MOST SACRED MOMENTS OF MY LIFE". 20 March 2015. along with his wife and family, out of Russia.
  5. ^ "Mazeh, son of Moscow chief rabbi leaves Soviet Russia". May 11, 1928.
  6. ^ Blood Accusation: The Strange History of the Beiliss Case, Samuel, Maurice, Alfred A. Knopf, 1966.
  7. ^ HaTzeFiRah
  8. ^ Yiddish
  9. ^ and the above-mentioned Beilis trial testimony, which was subsequently serialized,
  10. ^ remembrances