Mendel Zaks

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Yosef Zaks (1898-1974) (commonly known as Rabbi Mendel Zaks) is best known for being the Rosh Yeshiva in Raduń Yeshiva and being the son-in-law to Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, the Chofetz Chaim.

Rabbi Zaks was born in Siluva. Before joining the Yeshiva in Radun, Rabbi Zaks studied in the Yeshiva Beis Yitzchok (while it was still in Slabodka, before it moved to Kaminetz). He was forced to leave Radun during World War I and then studied under Rabbi Reuven Dov Dessler, the father of Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler and brother-in-law to Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. He also studied under Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk whose Meshech Chochmah he had helped print.

After the war, he returned to Radun where he studied with his future father-in-law. In 1922, he married the daughter of the Chofetz Chaim. By doing so, he joined the Chofetz Chaim as leader of the yeshiva and in all other communal affairs. Rabbi Zaks was immediately recognized for his teaching and leadership abilities. His vast knowledge of Talmudic Law, coupled with a photographic memory and unending hours spent with his students attracted even more students to the Radin Yeshiva at that time [1].

In 1925, Rabbi Zaks incorporated the Yeshiva in the United States in an effort to raise money there for the operation of the Yeshiva and its charities.

Upon the death of Naftoli Trop in 1928, Rabbi Mendel Zaks was appointed Rosh Yeshiva in the Yeshiva in Raduń, Poland. The outbreak of World War II forced the Yeshiva to transfer to Vilna, and eventually Rabbi Zaks re-established the Yeshiva in 1943 at New York City. In 1941 he moved to New York. In 1946, he accepted the position of rosh yeshiva and bochen (examiner) at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Following his retirement, he died in Jerusalem in 1974.

Rabbi Zaks had an extraordinary memory, a pure mind, and was an expert in the Talmud and its commentaries. [2]

He is survived by his son Rabbi Hillel Zaks, Rav in Kiryat Sefer and Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivas Knesses Hagdolah. His son, Rabbi Gershon Zaks, died in 1989 and his daughter, Rivka Wiesenfeld, died in 2008 [3]

External links

• Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim (Rabbi Zaks' Yeshiva)
• A Picture of Reb Mendel

Persondata
Name	Zaks, Mendel
Alternative names
Short description	American rabbi
Date of birth	1898
Place of birth
Date of death	1974
Place of death

This biographical article about an American rabbi is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Lithuanian Orthodox rabbis American Orthodox rabbis Yeshiva University rosh yeshivas 1898 births 1974 deaths American rabbi stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат? Mendel Weinbach Mendeleyeva Look at other dictionaries: Raduń Yeshiva — Raduń Yeshiva, also known as Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, originally located in Raduń, Poland, was established by the Chofetz Chaim in 1869. OriginsIn 1869 when the Chofetz Chaim returned from Vashilyshok to Raduń his first action was to establish a… …   Wikipedia J. David Bleich — J. (Judah) David Bleich (born 24 August 1936, Tarrytown, New York[1]) is an authority on Jewish law and ethics, including Jewish medical ethics. He is rabbi of Cong. B nei Jehuda. He is a professor of Talmud (rosh yeshiva) at the Rabbi Isaac… …   Wikipedia Norman Lamm — Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm Rabbi Lamm, 2007 Position Rosh Yeshiva Yeshiva RIETS Position …   Wikipedia Dovid Lifshitz — Rabbi Dovid Lifshitz Rabbi Dovid Lifshitz (1906–1993) was a distinguished Rosh yeshiva in the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) for almost fifty years. He was appointed upon the invitation of Rabbi Samuel Belkin in 1944. He was… …   Wikipedia Nisson Alpert — Rabbi Nisson Alpert Position Rabbi Synagogue Agudath Israel of Long Island Position Rosh Yeshiva Yeshiva RIETS …   Wikipedia Meir Simcha of Dvinsk — Born 1843 (1843) Butrimonys, Lithuania Died 1926 (1927) …   Wikipedia Bernard Revel — Bernard (Dov) Revel (September 17, 1885 1940) was an Orthodox rabbi and scholar. He served as the first President of Yeshiva College from 1915 until his death in 1940. The Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University, as… …   Wikipedia Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary — (RIETS), or Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan , is the most important yeshiva component of Yeshiva University and a preeminent seminary for the training of Orthodox rabbis. It is named after Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, who died the year it …   Wikipedia Moshe David Tendler — Rabbi Dr. Moshe David Tendler Courtesy of Yeshiva University Position Rabbi Synagogue Community Synago …   Wikipedia Moshe Soloveichik — Moshe Soloveitchik (1879–1941), was an Orthodox rabbi. He was the second son of renowned rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik and grandson of the Beis HaLevi. He married Pesya Feinstein, daughter of the renowned Rabbi of Pruzany, Rabbi Eliyahu Feinstein, and …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”