Авраам Иешая Карелиц: Жизнь и деятельность белорусского раввина в Израиле.

Belarusian born Israeli haredi rabbi

Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz (7 November 1878 – 24 October 1953), also known as the Chazon Ish after his magnum opus, was a Belarusian born Orthodox rabbi who later became one of the leaders of Haredi Judaism in Israel, where he spent his final 20 years, from 1933 to 1953.

Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz was born in Kosava, in the Grodno Governorate of the Russian Empire (now Brest Region, Belarus), the son of Shmaryahu Yosef Karelitz, the rabbi of Kosava; his mother was Rasha Leah, Avraham Yeshaya was born after his older brother Meir. His younger brothers were Yitzchak and Moshe. Yitzchak succeeded their father as the rabbi of Kosava; he and his wife and daughter were shot to death in their home by the Germans in mid 1942. Kanievsky referred to his brother in law Avraham Yeshaya as his mentor as long as the latter was alive. As a youth, Karelitz was sent to study under Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk. He did not take to the Brisker method of study, and later it became clear that he actually opposed it. After a few days, he returned home and continued to study with his father who was head of the local Beth din. He married Bashe Bei of Kvėdarna and developed a close relationship with Moshe Rosen (Nezer HaKodesh). He moved to Vilna in about 1920, and became close to Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, consulting with him in all religious and communal matters. Encouraged by Grodzinski and with Abraham Isaac Kook’s help, Karelitz settled in Eretz Israel, then the British Mandate of Palestine, in 1933. His house in Bnei Brak became the address for thousands who sought religious guidance. Karelitz, his brother in law Kanievsky and Yaakov Galinsky were extremely close. Karelitz devoted his life to the study of Torah while simultaneously gaining knowledge in secular sciences such as astronomy, anatomy, mathematics, and botany. After his marriage, he continued to lead an extremely modest life, his wife providing for their needs while he spent day and night studying Torah in depth. He did not have any children. Though he served as a religious leader for much of his life, he never received formal ordination as a rabbi.

Karelitz did not publish many responsa, yet still achieved recognition as a leading authority on halakha. Like his brother in law Kanievsky, Karelitz "held no official position but nevertheless became a recognized worldwide authority on many matters relating to Jewish law and life." He declined to participate in any of the religious political movements which were very active prior to, and during, the formation of the State of Israel in 1948. Yet, he had an immense influence on Haredi Judaism in Israel, whose formative period coincided with his years in Israel. He maintained an anti Zionist viewpoint and begrudgingly accepted the existence of the Israeli state. In recognition of his deep insight and interest in many fields of study, many sought his guidance on social and political issues. David Ben Gurion, the prime minister of Israel, and Yitzhak Ben Zvi, who became the second president of Israel, visited him once to discuss political religious issues. Karelitz cited one of a pair of metaphors from the Talmudic discussion (Sanhedrin 32b): one is about two camels which meet on a narrow mountain pass as a metaphor. A camel without goods was expected to defer to a camel laden with goods; similarly, Karelitz contended secular society should defer to religious society, which bore the "goods" of tradition.

Only an etrog from a pure etrog tree is considered fit for the Sukkot festival service. There exists a common concern that any etrog may have come from a tree grafted with lemon branches, a practice which would result in nicer looking produce, though rendering the fruit unfit for the festival service. There is a variety of Balady citron in Karelitz's name, which he certified for use as a pure etrog. After one Sukkot, Karelitz handed Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz a packet of seeds taken from the etrog he had used for the festival and instructed him to plant them in his yard. Lefkowitz, who had no agricultural experience, followed his mentor's instructions to plant and water it, and the tree grew and bore fruit. Every year Karelitz came to select his etrog for the holiday from the tree, as did his brother in law, Kanievsky, and other senior rabbis. Lefkowitz also allowed etrog growers to take cuttings from the tree to grow entire orchards of etrogim certified as kosher by Karelitz.