Avraham Yitzchak Bloch
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Bloch (1891 – 1941) was the Chief Rabbi
and Rosh Yeshiva
of the Telz Yeshiva in Lithuania
, and one of the greatest pre-Holocaust Rabbinic figures.
Rabbi Bloch was born in 1891 and was the second son of Rabbi Yosef Leib Bloch, the Chief Rabbi
and Rosh Yeshiva
of Telz
. He represented the third generation of family leadership in Telz, as his grandfather Rabbi Eliezer Gordon
was also Chief Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva in Telz.
Rabbi Bloch was educated by both his father and grandfather and on account of his brilliance and intellectual ability, was appointed to the faculty of the Telz Yeshiva when he was only thirty five years old.
and Rosh Yeshiva
of Telz, as was the custom in many communities. At the funeral of Rabbi Yosef Leib, however, Rabbi Zalman Bloch announced that the positions should be filled by his younger brother, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak.
At the young age of 38, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Bloch succeeded his father in the dual role of Chief Rabbi
and Rosh Yeshiva
of Telz, which was one the largest and most prestigious yeshiva
s in Europe.
Serving in these capacities, Rabbi Bloch understood the diverse points of view of community members, while, simultaneously, upholding the Torah perspective. Sensitive to the material as well as the spiritual needs of his students, he traveled to the United States in 1928 on a successful fundraising campaign.
Rabbi Bloch continued to develop the educational methodology pioneered by his father. This method is known as the Telzer Derekh, a unique analytical approach to Torah
study.
Rabbi Bloch was also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
of the Agudath Israel
and participated at the third Knessia Gedolah of the Agudath Israel
at Marienbad, Austria
in 1937.
was forced to surrender its main building for use as a Red Army barracks. The yeshiva
students, however, remained in Telz, where they rented accommodation from local townsfolk. This, however, also changed, when the Soviets forbade the renting out of rooms to yeshiva
students. Rabbi Bloch responded by dispersing the yeshiva
to five surrounding towns and arranging for members of the faculty to travel from town to town and deliver classes to the students.
On Tuesday July 15, 1941 (20th Tammuz), Nazi forces and local Lithuanian sympathizers massacred the male population of Telz, including Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Bloch and the faculty of the yeshiva
.
Three of Rabbi Bloch's daughters survived the Holocaust. One married Rabbi Baruch Sorotzkin
who joined the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland and later served as the Rosh Yeshiva
. Another married Rabbi Aizik Ausband, a student of Telz in Lithuania who is also a Rosh Yeshiva
at the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland. The third daughter married Yosef Yehudah Leib Kleiner, together they escaped Europe during World War II and fled to Israel.
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
and Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of the Telz Yeshiva in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, and one of the greatest pre-Holocaust Rabbinic figures.
Rabbi Bloch was born in 1891 and was the second son of Rabbi Yosef Leib Bloch, the Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
and Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Telz
Telšiai
Telšiai , is a city in Lithuania with about 35,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of Telšiai County and Samogitia region, and it is located on Lake Mastis.-Names:...
. He represented the third generation of family leadership in Telz, as his grandfather Rabbi Eliezer Gordon
Eliezer Gordon
Eliezer Gordon also known as Reb Laizer Telzer, served as the Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva of Telz, Lithuania.-Early years:...
was also Chief Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva in Telz.
Rabbi Bloch was educated by both his father and grandfather and on account of his brilliance and intellectual ability, was appointed to the faculty of the Telz Yeshiva when he was only thirty five years old.
Telzer Rav and Rosh Yeshiva
Upon the death of Rabbi Yosef Leib Bloch in 1929, it was widely assumed that Rabbi Yosef Leib's oldest son, Rabbi Zalman Bloch would succeed his father as Chief RabbiChief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
and Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Telz, as was the custom in many communities. At the funeral of Rabbi Yosef Leib, however, Rabbi Zalman Bloch announced that the positions should be filled by his younger brother, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak.
At the young age of 38, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Bloch succeeded his father in the dual role of Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
and Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Telz, which was one the largest and most prestigious yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s in Europe.
Serving in these capacities, Rabbi Bloch understood the diverse points of view of community members, while, simultaneously, upholding the Torah perspective. Sensitive to the material as well as the spiritual needs of his students, he traveled to the United States in 1928 on a successful fundraising campaign.
Rabbi Bloch continued to develop the educational methodology pioneered by his father. This method is known as the Telzer Derekh, a unique analytical approach to Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
study.
Rabbi Bloch was also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah refers to the supreme rabbinical policy-making council of any of several related Haredi Jewish organizations....
of the Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel can refer to any of several related organizations, including:*World Agudath Israel, an international movement*Agudath Israel of America, an American organization*Agudat Yisrael, an Israeli political party...
and participated at the third Knessia Gedolah of the Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel can refer to any of several related organizations, including:*World Agudath Israel, an international movement*Agudath Israel of America, an American organization*Agudat Yisrael, an Israeli political party...
at Marienbad, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 1937.
World War II
In 1940, the town of Telz was invaded by Soviet forces. Shortly thereafter, the yeshivaYeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
was forced to surrender its main building for use as a Red Army barracks. The yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
students, however, remained in Telz, where they rented accommodation from local townsfolk. This, however, also changed, when the Soviets forbade the renting out of rooms to yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
students. Rabbi Bloch responded by dispersing the yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
to five surrounding towns and arranging for members of the faculty to travel from town to town and deliver classes to the students.
On Tuesday July 15, 1941 (20th Tammuz), Nazi forces and local Lithuanian sympathizers massacred the male population of Telz, including Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Bloch and the faculty of the yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
.
Three of Rabbi Bloch's daughters survived the Holocaust. One married Rabbi Baruch Sorotzkin
Baruch Sorotzkin
Rephoel Baruch Sorotzkin was the Rosh Yeshiva of the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland and among American Jewry's foremost religious leaders.Sorotzkin was born on February 5, 1917 in Zhetl, Lithuania...
who joined the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland and later served as the Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
. Another married Rabbi Aizik Ausband, a student of Telz in Lithuania who is also a Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
at the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland. The third daughter married Yosef Yehudah Leib Kleiner, together they escaped Europe during World War II and fled to Israel.
Published works
Rabbi Bloch was both a prolific writer and speaker, however, many of his writings were lost during the Holocaust. Some writings, however, were saved and some of Rabbi Bloch's students who escaped the Holocaust had notes of his lectures. Subsequently, Rabbi Bloch's family published:- Shiurei HaGrai Bloch on the Talmudic Tractates of Chullin and Yevamos.
- Shiurei Daas - A collection of essays on a variety of topics viewed from the unique Telz method of analysis.