- Etz Chaim Yeshiva
Etz Chaim Yeshiva is an orthodox
yeshiva located onJaffa Road close to theMahane Yehuda Market in downtownJerusalem .History
Etz Chaim Yeshiva was originally a
Talmud Torah which was established in 1855 by theChief Rabbi ofJerusalem ,Shmuel Salant . For the first two years classes were held in various rooms throughout theOld City . In 1857 the yeshiva consolidated in to a group of buildings adjacent to theHurva Synagogue , sharing the premises with theBeth Din of Jerusalem. It was at this stage that the institution was renamed “Etz Chaim Yeshiva”.The
rosh yeshiva was Rabbi Chaim Mann. His brother Yehuda Leib Mann was the sectary 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 RabbiTzvi Pesach Frank to become adayan on the Beth Din. (He went on to build theSha'arey Tzedek Medical Center and the Lemel school). As the yeshiva expanded a plot of land onJaffa Road was acquired in 1908 and subsequently akollel was established catering mainly for the alumni of the yeshiva. At the time RabbiYechiel Michel Tukichinsky , who was married to the granddaughter of Rabbi Salant, served as the rosh yeshiva.After disputes arose between the pupils and the faculty, a permanent agreement was reached by Tzvi Pesach Frank who reallocated the positions of authority.
In 1925 Rabbi
Isser Zalman Meltzer was appointed to lead the yeshiva and RabbiAryeh Levin was made the mashgiach. After the death of Rabbi Meltzer, his son-in-law RabbiAharon Kotler was appointed rosh yeshiva. In an unusual arrangement, he held this position while continuing to live in America, and visiting Jerusalem occasionally. During the periods when he resided in Israel he delivered fortnightly lectures. After his deathElazar Shach was chosen to head the yeshiva and he also delivered fortnightly lectures. Some time later RabbiYisroel Yaakov Fisher took up a position at the yeshiva.Today, Rabbi Kotler's grandson, Rabbi
Zevulun Schwartzman heads a kollel located at the yeshiva.Over time Nissan Tukichinsky, son of Yechiel Michel Tukichinsky, took over the running and ownership of the institution. A public dispute again broke out over his legitimacy. The institution’s real estate and the large funds collected from overseas donors were the main point of contention over whose authority the historical yeshiva should be under.
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 threat of demolition to make way for shops and offices. The authorities accepted an appeal for the buildings' preservation. [cite web
url = http://www.ladaat.net/article.php?do=viewarticle&articleid=392&PHPSESSID=e1d9be0df6b1b0484ffe9d66d9a56e26
title = The historic building of Yeshivat Etz Chaim will not be destroyed
accessdate = 2007-08-14
last = (Hebrew) Shmuelvitz
first = Yeruchum
date =January 16 ,2007
publisher = Ladat ] [cite web
url = http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/119478
title = Etz Chaim Yeshiva Building Saved from Destruction
accessdate = 2007-08-14
last = Fendel
first = Hillel
date =January 15 ,2007
publisher =Arutz Sheva ]References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.