Yitzchak Blazer
Encyclopedia
Yitzchak Blazer also known as Reb Itzelle Peterburger, was one of the early leaders of the Musar movement, a Jewish ethical movement based in Lithuania. He was a student of the founder of the movement, Yisrael Salanter
, and was responsible for publishing many of Salanter's letters in Or Yisrael ("The Light of Israel"). Blazer became the chief rabbi of St. Petersburg in 1861-2, when he was only 25 years old. From 1880 to approximately 1891, he served as the head of the Kovno Kollel
in Kaunas
, Lithuania
, which was founded by Salanter. Under Blazer's direction, the kollel came to be "considered by its contemporaries as a bastion of the Mussar movement
," and was attacked by the Musar movement's opponents. He later joined Nosson Tzvi Finkel
in leading the Slabodka Yeshiva
, and eventually moved to Palestine
where he died in 1907.
He was the author of Peri Yitzchak, a halakhic text, as well as articles on Musar, Teshuvah, and the life of his teacher Yisrael Salanter
.
Yisrael Salanter
Rabbi Yisroel Lipkin, better known as "Yisroel Salanter" or "Israel Salanter" , was the father of the Musar movement in Orthodox Judaism and a famed Rosh yeshiva and Talmudist...
, and was responsible for publishing many of Salanter's letters in Or Yisrael ("The Light of Israel"). Blazer became the chief rabbi of St. Petersburg in 1861-2, when he was only 25 years old. From 1880 to approximately 1891, he served as the head of the Kovno Kollel
Kovno kollel
The Kovno Kollel also known as Kollel Perushim of Kovno or Kollel Knesses Beis Yitzchok, was a kollel located in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was founded in 1877 by Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin Salanter when he was 67....
in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, 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...
, which was founded by Salanter. Under Blazer's direction, the kollel came to be "considered by its contemporaries as a bastion of the Mussar movement
Mussar movement
The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar , is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct...
," and was attacked by the Musar movement's opponents. He later joined Nosson Tzvi Finkel
Nosson Tzvi Finkel
Nosson Tzvi Finkel may refer to one of the following roshei yeshiva in Orthodox Judaism:*Nosson Tzvi Finkel , of the Slabodka yeshiva in Kaunas, Lithuania, or his descendant,...
in leading the Slabodka Yeshiva
Slabodka yeshiva
Hebron Yeshiva, also known as Yeshivas Hevron, or Knesses Yisroel, and originally as Slabodka Yeshiva, is known colloquially as the "mother of yeshivas" and was devoted to high=level study of the Talmud. The yeshiva was located in the Lithuanian town of Slabodka, adjacent to Kovno , now...
, and eventually moved to Palestine
Palestine
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....
where he died in 1907.
He was the author of Peri Yitzchak, a halakhic text, as well as articles on Musar, Teshuvah, and the life of his teacher Yisrael Salanter
Yisrael Salanter
Rabbi Yisroel Lipkin, better known as "Yisroel Salanter" or "Israel Salanter" , was the father of the Musar movement in Orthodox Judaism and a famed Rosh yeshiva and Talmudist...
.