Meir Brandsdorfer
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Meir Brandsdorfer was a member of the Rabbinical Court
of the Edah HaChareidis, the Haredi
Ashkenazi community in Jerusalem, and was in charge of their Kashrut
operations, especially matters of Shechita
.
He was a proclaimed mohel
. His responsa
have been published under the title Knei Bosem.
together with his family.
He became the rabbinical leader of Toldos Aharon
movement of Hasidim
, based in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Meah Shearim; when Toldos Aharon's previous Rebbe died, he joined the split-off named Toldos Avraham Yitzchok
. He was highly respected and eulogized by both groups upon his death.
The position of rabbinical leader in a Hasidic dynasty is not identical to that of Rebbe
: the Rebbe is the spiritual leader, while the rabbinical leader - Rabbi - is the Halachic expert, who leads the group in questions of Jewish law. While in some Hasidic groups the Rebbe also fulfills the position of rabbinical leader, in other groups this position is separate.
He suddenly died at home on 13 May 2009 at the age of 74 from cardiovascular disease.
As of 15 May 2009, it is still unknown who will replace him as a member of the rabbinical court (Badatz
) of the Edah HaChareidis.
Beth din
A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
of the Edah HaChareidis, the Haredi
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
Ashkenazi community in Jerusalem, and was in charge of their Kashrut
Kashrut
Kashrut is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha is termed kosher in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kashér , meaning "fit" Kashrut (also kashruth or kashrus) is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha (Jewish law) is termed...
operations, especially matters of Shechita
Shechita
Shechita is the ritual slaughter of mammals and birds according to Jewish dietary laws...
.
He was a proclaimed mohel
Mohel
A mohel is a Jewish person trained in the practice of brit milah "covenant of circumcision."-Etymology of the Hebrew and Aramaic term:...
. His responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
have been published under the title Knei Bosem.
Biography
He was born on 7 September 1934 in Antwerp, Belgium to his parents Shlomo and Frumt. After surviving World War II while hiding out in France he moved to PalestinePalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
together with his family.
He became the rabbinical leader of Toldos Aharon
Shomer Emunim (Hasidic dynasty)
Shomer Emunim is a devout, insular Hasidic group based in Bnei Brak. It was founded in the 20th century by Rabbi Arele Roth....
movement of Hasidim
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
, based in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Meah Shearim; when Toldos Aharon's previous Rebbe died, he joined the split-off named Toldos Avraham Yitzchok
Shomer Emunim (Hasidic dynasty)
Shomer Emunim is a devout, insular Hasidic group based in Bnei Brak. It was founded in the 20th century by Rabbi Arele Roth....
. He was highly respected and eulogized by both groups upon his death.
The position of rabbinical leader in a Hasidic dynasty is not identical to that of Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
: the Rebbe is the spiritual leader, while the rabbinical leader - Rabbi - is the Halachic expert, who leads the group in questions of Jewish law. While in some Hasidic groups the Rebbe also fulfills the position of rabbinical leader, in other groups this position is separate.
He suddenly died at home on 13 May 2009 at the age of 74 from cardiovascular disease.
As of 15 May 2009, it is still unknown who will replace him as a member of the rabbinical court (Badatz
Badatz
Badatz , a Hebrew acronym for "Beit Din Tzedek," or "Court of Justice," is a modern term used for a major Jewish rabbinical court.In Israel, the term 'Badatz' is often used to refer to the Badatz of the Edah HaChareidis; however, it is not the title of this group, and other batei din use the title...
) of the Edah HaChareidis.
Works
- Knei Bosem Volume 1
- Knei Bosem Volume 2
- Knei Bosem Volume 3
- Knei Bosem Niddah Volume 1
- Knei Bosem Niddah Volume 2