Meir Arik
Encyclopedia
Rabbi
Meir Arik (1855-1926) is a famous Galician Torah
scholar.
Rabbi Arik was so highly respected by the leading Rabbis of his generation, that following the death of Rabbi Schwadron, the Belzer Rov
directed all halachik questions to Rabbi Arik in his place.He was the posek
of the Galician town Buchach
(in present-day Ukraine
. However, during World War I
, Arik fled to the Austria
n city of Vienna
. Upon his return to Galicia after the war, Arik assumed the post of Chief Rabbi of Tarnów
. In addition to his insights on various tractates of both the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmud and his halachic responsa, he also arranged and published a volume with the title of 'Chidushei HaraMaL' (Kolomye 1890).
and Rabbi Meir Shapiro
who were acknowledged leaders of their generation, as well as his nephews the late Klausenberger Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Wilner and Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Arik.
Arik's opinions are cited extensively by his contemporaries, as well as later halachic authorities including the Chelkas Yaakov, Kinyan Torah beHalacha, and Mar'eh Yechezkel. Some consider the reluctance of other great halachic decisors to rule against his opinions a sign of unique reverence.
Rabbi Meir Arik authored the following works:
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Meir Arik (1855-1926) is a famous Galician 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...
scholar.
Rabbi Arik was so highly respected by the leading Rabbis of his generation, that following the death of Rabbi Schwadron, the Belzer Rov
Yissachar Dov Rokeach (I)
Yissachar Dov Rokeach , , was the third Rebbe of the Belz Hasidic dynasty. He was the second son of Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach , and served as the third Belzer Rebbe from his father's death in 1894 until his own death in 1926.-Personal life:Yissachar Dov was born in the town of Belz, Poland...
directed all halachik questions to Rabbi Arik in his place.He was the posek
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
of the Galician town Buchach
Buchach
Buchach is a small city located on the Strypa River in the Ternopil Oblast of western Ukraine...
(in present-day Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. However, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Arik fled to the 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...
n city of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Upon his return to Galicia after the war, Arik assumed the post of Chief Rabbi of Tarnów
Tarnów
Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
. In addition to his insights on various tractates of both the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmud and his halachic responsa, he also arranged and published a volume with the title of 'Chidushei HaraMaL' (Kolomye 1890).
Legacy
Rabbi Meir Arik's students include Rabbi Reuvein MargoliesReuvein Margolies
Reuvein Margolies, was an Israeli author and Talmudic scholar.- Early life :...
and Rabbi Meir Shapiro
Meir Shapiro
Yehuda Meir Shapiro , , was a prominent Hasidic rabbi and rosh yeshiva, also known as the Lubliner Rav...
who were acknowledged leaders of their generation, as well as his nephews the late Klausenberger Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Wilner and Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Arik.
Arik's opinions are cited extensively by his contemporaries, as well as later halachic authorities including the Chelkas Yaakov, Kinyan Torah beHalacha, and Mar'eh Yechezkel. Some consider the reluctance of other great halachic decisors to rule against his opinions a sign of unique reverence.
Rabbi Meir Arik authored the following works:
- Tal Torah (טל תורה) on the Babylonian Talmud and Jerusalem TalmudJerusalem TalmudThe Jerusalem Talmud, talmud meaning "instruction", "learning", , is a collection of Rabbinic notes on the 2nd-century Mishnah which was compiled in the Land of Israel during the 4th-5th century. The voluminous text is also known as the Palestinian Talmud or Talmud de-Eretz Yisrael...
- Minchas Kenaois (מנחת קנאות) on Tractate SotahSotahSotah deals with the ritual of the Sotah - the woman suspected of adultery as described and prescribed in the Book of Numbers in...
- Minchas Pittim (מנחת פיתים) on Shulchan AruchShulchan AruchThe Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
- Imrei Yosher (Munkacs 5673)- brilliant halachik responsa covering a wide range of contemporary issues.