Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik

Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik (Hebrew: משולם דוד סולובייצ'יק also known as Reb Dovid or Rav Dovid; 21 October 1921 – 31 January 2021) was a Haredi (ultra-orthodox) rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of one of the branches of the Brisk yeshivas in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Dovid Soloveitchik
Title	Rosh Yeshivas Brisk
Personal
Born	Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik 21 October 1921 Brześć, Poland
Died	31 January 2021 (aged 99) Jerusalem, Israel
Religion	Judaism
Spouse	Yehudis Shternbuch
Children	Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik (II) Asher Soloveitchik Hendel Kaplan
Parent(s)	Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik and Alte Hindl Auerbach
Denomination	Haredi[1]
Jewish leader
Predecessor	Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik
Successor	Velvel (Yitzchok Zev) Soloveitchik[2]
Position	Rosh yeshiva
Yeshiva	Brisk Yeshiva, Jerusalem
Began	12 October 1959
Ended	31 January 2021
Buried	Har Hamenuchot
Residence	Jerusalem
Dynasty	Soloveitchik

Early life

Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik was the fifth of twelve children and the third son born to Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik and Alte Hindl, daughter of Chaim Auerbach (not to be confused with Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach).^[3] His exact date of birth is unknown: some sources state his birth on 19 Tishrei 5682 which would be 21 October 1921,^[4] while others say he was born in 1922.^[5] He was named "Meshulam" after his maternal great grandfather, Meshulam Auerbach (who had also proposed the shidduch between his parents),^[6] and "Dovid" after his maternal grandmother's second husband, Dovid Mintz. Growing up in Brest-Litovsk (Brisk) where his father served as rabbi, he attended the local Talmud Torah, Mekor Chaim, but at the age of twelve, his father recognized that he was too advanced for the Talmud Torah and sent him to study in Yeshiva Toras Chesed, a yeshiva for older students led by Moshe Sokolovski [he].^[5]

Soloveitchik learned in the Kamenitz Yeshiva under Boruch Ber Leibovitz. At age 19, Soloveitchik emigrated to Mandatory Palestine with his father during World War II, and they settled in Jerusalem. He married Yehudis^[7] the daughter of Asher Sternbuch of London.^[8] He was the brother-in-law of Moshe Sternbuch, Chanoch Ehrentreu and Yitzchok Arieli.

Rosh yeshiva

Soloveitchik with students

In 1960, Soloveitchik opened his yeshiva in the Gush Shemonim section of the Givat Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem, and served there as rosh yeshiva (dean).^[9] Brisk yeshivas in Israel are attended by select young Talmudists, mainly from the United States.

He did not personally publish any works on the Talmud, but many of his works have been published by his students, especially in the Mishor prints of his father's works. He rarely gave approbations to new books.

Soloveitchik was considered by Briskers to be one of the last authentic remnants of a pre-World War II Jewish Lithuania, and is often quoted for his memories of his father's and grandfather's lives and teachings.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Family tree

v t e Brisker family tree
Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg, director of Migdal Oz (seminary) Rabbi Yitzchok Lichtenstein, Co-Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas; Rabbi Bais Avrohom, Monsey, NY Rabbi Yosef Dov (Reb Berel) Soloveichik Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveichik Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein, Co-Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion Rabbi Meshulam Dovid (Reb Dovid) Soloveichik Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveichik Rabbi Mayer Lichtenstein, Rabbi Ohel Menachem Bet Shemesh Rabbi Yosef Dov (HaLevi) Soloveichik author of Beis HaLevi Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik "Reb Chaim Brisker" Rabbi Yitzchak Zev (Reb Velvel) Soloveichik "The GRIZ" The Brisker Rov Lifsha Soloveitchik Feinstein Dr. Tovah Soloveitchik Lichtenstein Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt Rabbi Refael Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin yeshiva Lifsha Shapiro Rabbi Refoel Soloveichik Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein Tzipporah Rosenblatt Rabbi Meir Soloveichik Dr. Atarah Soloveitchik Twersky Rabbi Mosheh Twersky z"l, Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva Toras Moshe Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. (Yosef Dov) Soloveitchik "The Rav" Rabbi Dr. Isadore Twersky, Talner Rebbe of Boston Rabbi Mayer Twersky, Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk (Chicago); Rav of Kehilas Beth Sholom Ahavas Achim Peshka Feinstein Soloveichik Dr. Samuel Soloveichik Rabbi Eliyahu Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshiva at Lander College's Beis Medrash L'Talmud Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik Shulamit Soloveitchik Meiselman Rabbi Moshe Meiselman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Moshe Rabbi Yosef Soloveichik Sarah Orenshein Anne Soloveitchik Gerber Rabbi Chayim Soloveichik, Maggid Shiur at Yeshivat Reishit; Morah D’Asrah of Kehillat Ohr Shalom, Ramat Beit Shemesh Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveichik Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Soloveichik Rabbi Yitzchok Soloveichik Rabbi Yisroel Soloveichik Rabbi Yisroel Gershon Soloveichik Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Boruch Soloveichik Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Soloveichik Daughter Soloveichik
Notes: Rabbi Chaim Halevi Soloveichik (the second)

Children

Soloveitchik's eldest son, Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik (II), who is the son in-law of Berel Povarsky, was a maggid shiur (lecturer) in his father's yeshiva.^[14] When Meshulam Dovid died, Yitzchok Zev became the rosh yeshiva.^[2]

Soloveitchik's daughter Hendel^[7] is married to Nechemya Kaplan, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaar HaTalmud in Jerusalem.^[15]

Death

Soloveitchik died on 31 January 2021 at the age of 99,^[16] with ten thousand mourners at his funeral.^[17] He was buried beside his father on Har Hamenuchos.^[2]

It was announced at the funeral that according to Soloveitchik's wishes his oldest son Yitzchok Zev would succeed him as rosh yeshiva of Brisk.^[2]

Works

• Chidushei Rabbeinu Meshulem Dovid Halevi (Published in part on the first anniversary of his death)
• Shiurei Rabbeinu Meshulam Dovid HaLevi (written by students):
  • Nazir
  • Arachin
  • Zevachim Part 1
  • Zevachim Part 2
  • Zevachim Part 3
• Al Hatorah (2 Vol.)
• Drashos Mussar U'Tefila
• מאמר שעת השמד [Speech Against the Impending Draft of Bnei Torah]

Notable students

• Eliezer Geldzahler (1958-2004), rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Yisroel in Brooklyn, New York.^[18]

• Yitzchok Lichtenstein, rosh yeshiva of Torah Vodaas^[19]

• Moshe Twersky (1955-2014)^[20] maggid shiur in Yeshiva Toras Moshe

• Shraga Feivel Zimmerman, av beit din of the Federation of Synagogues in London

Brisker rabbinic dynasty

v t e Brisker family tree
Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg, director of Migdal Oz (seminary) Rabbi Yitzchok Lichtenstein, Co-Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas; Rabbi Bais Avrohom, Monsey, NY Rabbi Yosef Dov (Reb Berel) Soloveichik Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveichik Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein, Co-Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion Rabbi Meshulam Dovid (Reb Dovid) Soloveichik Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveichik Rabbi Mayer Lichtenstein, Rabbi Ohel Menachem Bet Shemesh Rabbi Yosef Dov (HaLevi) Soloveichik author of Beis HaLevi Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik "Reb Chaim Brisker" Rabbi Yitzchak Zev (Reb Velvel) Soloveichik "The GRIZ" The Brisker Rov Lifsha Soloveitchik Feinstein Dr. Tovah Soloveitchik Lichtenstein Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt Rabbi Refael Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin yeshiva Lifsha Shapiro Rabbi Refoel Soloveichik Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein Tzipporah Rosenblatt Rabbi Meir Soloveichik Dr. Atarah Soloveitchik Twersky Rabbi Mosheh Twersky z"l, Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva Toras Moshe Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. (Yosef Dov) Soloveitchik "The Rav" Rabbi Dr. Isadore Twersky, Talner Rebbe of Boston Rabbi Mayer Twersky, Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk (Chicago); Rav of Kehilas Beth Sholom Ahavas Achim Peshka Feinstein Soloveichik Dr. Samuel Soloveichik Rabbi Eliyahu Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshiva at Lander College's Beis Medrash L'Talmud Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik Shulamit Soloveitchik Meiselman Rabbi Moshe Meiselman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Moshe Rabbi Yosef Soloveichik Sarah Orenshein Anne Soloveitchik Gerber Rabbi Chayim Soloveichik, Maggid Shiur at Yeshivat Reishit; Morah D’Asrah of Kehillat Ohr Shalom, Ramat Beit Shemesh Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveichik Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Soloveichik Rabbi Yitzchok Soloveichik Rabbi Yisroel Soloveichik Rabbi Yisroel Gershon Soloveichik Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Boruch Soloveichik Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Soloveichik Daughter Soloveichik
Notes: Rabbi Chaim Halevi Soloveichik (the second)

References

1. Leiman, Sid (10 March 2016). "A Picture and its One Thousand Words: The Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery Revisited". Defending History. Retrieved 22 December 2019. [Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik] was a leader of the Haredi community in Israel.
2. "BARUCH DAYAN HaEmes: HaGaon HaRav Dovid Soloveitchik, Z'TL, Thousands Attend Levaya". the Yeshiva World.com. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
3. Freund, Rabbi Tuvia. "Exploring the Pesach Preparations of the Brisker Rav, zt"l". Hamodia. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
4. Meller, pp. 134–135.
5. Broide, Avrohom (5 February 2021). "Rav Dovid's Early Life & Hatzolah from Nazis". Yated Ne'eman. 33. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
6. Meller, pp. 115–116.
7. "Hagaon Harav Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik, Zt"l, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk". Hamodia. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
8. "Marrying Soloveitchik".
9. S. Baruchi (21 May 2003). "HaRav Yechiel Michel Feinstein, zt'l". Dei'ah veDibur. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
10. Weinstock, Yair (June 1999). Tales for the Soul: A famous novelist retells classic stories with passion and spirit. Vol. I. Mesorah Publications. p. vii. ISBN 1-57819-286-2.
11. Parkoff, Eliezer; Linas, Eliezer (2002). Trust me: An anthology of emunah and bitachon. Feldheim Publishers. p. 31. ISBN 1-58330-531-9.
12. Shtern, Mosheh Aharon; Goldstein, Yitzchok Meir (2000). From a Pure Fire. Feldheim Publishers. p. 12. ISBN 1-58330-448-7.
13. Shain, Ruchoma (2001). All for the Boss: The life and impact of R' Yaakov Yosef Herman, a Torah Pioneer in America. Feldheim Publishers. p. 359. ISBN 1-58330-470-3.
14. Meller, Shimon Yosef (2007). The Brisker Rav: The Life and Times of Maran Hagaon HaRav Yitzchok Ze'ev HaLevi Soloveichik : Including Stories of the Great City of Brisk from Its Establishment as a Torah Center Until Its Destruction During the Holocaust. Feldheim Publishers. ISBN 9781583309698.
15. Shimon Yosef Meller (2007). The Brisker Rav: The Life and Times of Maran HaGaon Yitzchok. Volume 1. Feldheim Publishers. ISBN 9781583309698.
16. Brisk Yeshiva head, Rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik, passes away at 99
17. TOI STAFF (31 January 2021). "For 2nd time in day, thousands attend funeral of rabbi, flouting lockdown rules". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
18. "Today's Yahrtzeits and History – 8 Kislev". Matzav.com. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
19. "Rav Yitzchok Lichtenstein Inaugurated as Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Torah Vodaath". YeshivaWorld.com. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
20. Berman, Yehoshua. "Tribute to Rabbi Moshe Twersky 2". Chazaq.org. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

Sources

• rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik Stories about his father with reb yonatan shtencel
• Meller, Rabbi Shimon Yosef (2007). The Brisker Rav: The life and times of Maran HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Ze'ev HaLevi Soloveichik, zt"l. Feldheim Publishers. ISBN 978-1-58330-969-8.