Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky

Not to be confused with RabbiDavid ben Solomon ibn Abi Zimra,known as the Radvaz.

Ridvaz Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky
Title	Rabbi
Personal
Born	(1845-02-07)February 7, 1845 Kobrin,Russia
Died	October 2, 1913(1913-10-02)(aged 68)
Religion	Judaism
Nationality	Russian
Denomination	Orthodox Judaism
Position	founder
Yeshiva	Slutsk-Kletsk Yeshiva

RabbiYaakov Dovid Wilovsky(February 7, 1845 – October 2, 1913), known by the acronymRidvazorRidbaz,was a renowned rabbi,Talmudiccommentator and educator.

Biography

Wilovsky was born inKobrin,Russiaon February 7, 1845.

Wilovsky held Rabbinic posts inIzabelin(1874),Bobruisk(1876), andVilna(1881). Finding that the Vilna position distracted him from his studies, he resigned, and chose to serve as rabbi in a smaller community such asPolotsk(1883) andVilkomir(1887).

In 1890, he became chief rabbi ofSlutsk,where he established a notedyeshivain 1896.He took general supervision, appointing RabbiIsser Zalman Meltzeras principal.

Title page from Teshuvos haRidvaz

Wilovsky freely used a copy of theTalmud Yerushalmiwhich theVilna Gaonhad annotated. After studying the Talmud Yerushalmi for thirty years and working steadily on his commentaries for seventeen years, Wilovsky began the publication of an edition of the Talmud Yerushalmi which included, besides his own, all the commentaries incorporated in former editions.

Since the subscription fund for his publication was exhausted before the fourth orderNezikinwas completed, Wilovsky travelled to the United States in 1900, where he succeeded in securing subscriptions for many sets of the work. Returning to Russia, he dedicated the Nezikin order to his American patrons.

From 1903 to 1905, Wilovsky returned to the United States. This time, he dropped his former name of Willowsky/Willovsky and assumed the name "Ridvaz" (RabbiYaakovDavidbenZe'ev ").

TheUnited Orthodox Rabbis of America,at their annual meeting inPhiladelphiain August 1903, elected Ridvaz as theirzekan haRabbanim(elder rabbi), and on September 8, 1903, Ridvaz was elected chief rabbi of the Russian-American congregations inChicago.

He was critical of the absence of moral education received by traditional Jews in America's public schools and the emphasis on sports. He advocated for the creation of full time Jewish day schools that would integrate religious studies with English language and literature and American history. At the time there were no full time Jewish parochial schools in the country. He gained the critical support of RabbiBernard L. Levinthalduring the August 1903 meeting in Philadelphia.

He tried to introduce order into the religious services of his congregations, but met obstruction and opposition on the part of a former rabbi and his followers. Unable to withstand the persistent opposition, Ridvaz resigned his position ten months later. Thereafter, he traveled extensively throughout the United States, lecturing and preaching. On returning toNew York,he endeavored to establish a yeshiva based on the European model, but found little encouragement.

In 1905, Ridvaz left America and moved toSafed,where he established a yeshiva,Toras Eretz Yisrael.In 1909, he entered into controversy with RabbiAvraham Yitzchak Kookover the proper observance of theShemittah year,and, in particular, use of the "sale permit" known as theHeter mechira.

Works

Ridvaz's most notable works were two commentaries on the Talmud Yerushalmi:

• Chiddushei Ridvaz,modelled onRashi's commentaries to theTalmud Bavli,explained the literal meaning of the text;
• Tosfoth haRid(Piotrków,1899–1900), modeled on theTosafot.It compared and contrasted the significance of the text in question with other Talmudic andHalachictexts.

Ridvaz's other works include:

• Migdal Oz(1874)
• Migdal David(1874),novellaeon both Talmuds;
• Chana David(1876), commentary on TractateChallah;
• Teshuvoth haRidvaz(1881), responsa;
• Nimmuké Ridvaz(1904), commentary on theTorah;
• Beth Ridvaz,explanation of RabbiYisrael of Shklov's workPe'ath Hashulchan.

Family

Abramsky family

• Grandfather-in-law of Belarus-born RabbiYehezkel Abramskywho influentially headed the London Beth Din for 17 years. Wilovsky's daughter was married to Rabbi Yisroel Yehonasan Yerushamski; their daughter Hindl Reizel married Abramsky.
• Great-grandfather ofChimen AbramskyProfessor of Jewish Studies at University College London and expert on rare Jewish books and socialist literature. Chimen was son of Yehezkel.
• Great-great-grandfather of DameJenny Abramsky,who as Director of Audio and Music was the most senior female employee of theBBCand currently serves as chairman of the UK'sNational Heritage Memorial Fund.Jenny is the daughter of Chimen.
• Great-great-grandfather of computer scientist and lecturerSamson Abramsky.
• Great-great-great grandfather of journalist and authorSasha Abramsky.Sasha is the son of Chimen's son Jack.

Konvitz family

• Father-in-law of RabbiJoseph Konvitz,who was president of theUnion of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of Americain the 1930s and played an instrumental role in ending a kosher butcher strike.
• Grandfather ofPhilip Konvitzwho was indicted for being deeply involved in New Jersey organized crime.Philip was a son of Joseph.
• Grandfather ofMilton R. Konvitz,a founder ofCornell University'sSchool of Industrial and Labor Relations.Milton was a son of Joseph.
• Great-grandfather of Josef W. Konvitz, historian and diplomat who served as Division Head of Urban Affairs and of Regulatory Policy at theOECD,1992–2011.

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Singer, Isidore;et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Ridbaz (Willowski), Jacob David b. Zeeb".The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
• Hebrew Printing in America1735–1926, A History and Annotated Bibliography, by Yosef Goldman.
• The House of Twenty Thousand BooksbySasha Abramsky,London: Halban, 2014ISBN9781905559640

External links

• Chanah David- free scanned version in PDF format
• Kuntres haShmittah- free scanned version in PDF format
• Nimukei Ridvaz- free scanned version in PDF format
• Migdal David- free scanned version in PDF format
• Teshuvos haRidvaz- free scanned version in PDF format