Everything about Yechiel Michel Epstein totally explained
Yechiel Michel Epstein (
1829-
1908), often called "the
Aruch ha-Shulchan" (after his main work,
Aruch HaShulchan), was a
Rabbi and
posek (authority in
Jewish law) in
Lithuania. His surname is often preceded by
ha-Levi, as he descended from a family of
Levites.
Biography
Yechiel Michel Epstein was born into a family of wealthy army contractors for the
Czarist Russian army in
Babruysk (presently in
Belarus). His wife was the sister of
Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (the
Netziv), who would become the
rosh yeshiva (head) of the
Volozhin Yeshiva . (Berlin was later to marry a daughter of Epstein, after being widowed of his first wife.)
Epstein studied
Torah locally, and was encouraged to do so by the town's rabbi and his parents (the concept of an out-of-town
yeshiva was only slowly gaining ascendancy). After his marriage he received
semicha (
rabbinic ordination) and accepted his first position.
Epstein became the rabbi of
Novozypkov (east of
Minsk), a town with a large number of
Hasidic Jews, mainly adherents of
Chabad Lubavitch. He visited their
rebbe, Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (the
Tzemach Tzedek), and forged a close relationship with him; this would increase his status in Hasidic circles.
Nine years after accepting his position in Novozypkov, in
1863, Epstein was appointed as the rabbi of
Novogrudok (or Novogradok, south of Minsk), where he'd serve for 34 years, until his death. Here, he was recognised as a
posek (decisor of
Jewish law), and he was to compose most of his writings in Novogrudok.
Epstein died on 22 Adar II 5668 (1908), and is buried in Novogrudok. His son, Rabbi
Baruch Epstein, was a bookkeeper by profession but produced a number of scholarly and popular works, most notably the
Torah Temimah.
Works
- Aruch HaShulchan a work of Halakha, which traces the origins of each law and custom to its source, states the view of the Rishonim and arrives at a psak (decision) - often supported by (and sometimes in disagreement with) the Acharonim;
- Aruch HaShulchan he'Atid (Laying the Table of the Future) - a parallel work to Arukh HaShulkhan summarising and analysing the laws that will apply in Messianic times; this work became more relevant when Jewish farming communities were re-established in Israel, since many agricultural laws which apply only in Israel are covered in this work;
- Or li-Yesharim (a commentary on the classic work Sefer ha-Yashar, attributed to the Tosafist Rabbi Yaakov ben Meir, Rabbeinu Tam);
- Mical ha-Mayim - a commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud;
- Leil Shimurim - a commentary on the Haggada.
Further Information
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