Shabsai Frankel
Encyclopedia
Rabbi
Shabsai Frankel (August 13, 1909 – Rosh Hashana, 2000) was a successful businessman, philanthropist
, and publisher of Torah
books.
His father, Rabbi Yosef Frankel was a prominent Gerrer
Hasid
in Poland
whose son Alexander married a granddaughter of Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter
, the Gerrer Rebbe
. Rabbi Shabsai married the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Nechemya Kornitzer, who was a grandson of the Chasam Sofer and the Chief Rabbinical Justice in Krakow
.
During World War II
, Rabbi Shabsai fled Poland for Vilna, Lithuania
. From there, he eventually immigrated to the United States of America
. In America, Rabbi Shabsai joined with the likes of Rabbi Refael Reuvain Grozovsky in helping save Europe
an Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust. In 1970, after succeeding in business, Rabib Shabsai moved to Israel
to fulfill his life-long dream: He wished to publish a new, corrected edition of the Rambam's
Mishneh Torah
. Many of the Gedolim
there helped Rabbi Shabsai realize his mission.
Rabbi Shabsai established an elite Kollel
of select Talmudic scholars
who would actually put together the new print of Maimonides' works as well as a comprehensive index of various other rabbinical commentaries and citations who dealt with Maimonides' rulings. Rabbi Shabsai funded this Kollel from his own fortune. The first volume was printed in 1973 and the last was finished in 2007. Even before the work was completed, The Shabtai Frankel edition of Maimonides' works gained fame and recognition in the yeshiva
world (although it was initially softly criticised by Rabbi Berel Soloveitchik
).
As part of his ambitious endeavor, Rabbi Shabsai received a blessing from Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
who said that Rabbi Shabsai should merit to live seeing all the volumes of his edition published. Nonetheless, when Rabbi Frankel took a break from printing his edition of Maimonides' works and instead invested in comprehensive indices from the tractates Bava Kamma
and Bava Basra, he died on Rosh Hashana, 2000, at the age of 91.
His index on Bava Basra was printed after his death and was named in his memory "Raza D'Shabsai".
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...
Shabsai Frankel (August 13, 1909 – Rosh Hashana, 2000) was a successful businessman, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and publisher of 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...
books.
His father, Rabbi Yosef Frankel was a prominent Gerrer
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
Hasid
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...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
whose son Alexander married a granddaughter of Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter
Avraham Mordechai Alter
Avraham Mordechai Alter , also known as the Imrei Emes after the works he authored, was the third Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1905 until his death in 1948. He was one of the founders of the Agudas Israel in Poland and was influential in establishing a network of...
, the Gerrer 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...
. Rabbi Shabsai married the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Nechemya Kornitzer, who was a grandson of the Chasam Sofer and the Chief Rabbinical Justice in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Rabbi Shabsai fled Poland for Vilna, 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...
. From there, he eventually immigrated to the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In America, Rabbi Shabsai joined with the likes of Rabbi Refael Reuvain Grozovsky in helping save Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust. In 1970, after succeeding in business, Rabib Shabsai moved to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
to fulfill his life-long dream: He wished to publish a new, corrected edition of the Rambam's
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
Mishneh Torah
Mishneh Torah
The Mishneh Torah subtitled Sefer Yad ha-Hazaka is a code of Jewish religious law authored by Maimonides , one of history's foremost rabbis...
. Many of the Gedolim
Gadol
Gadol or godol גדול , is a Hebrew term used mostly by Haredi Litvish Jews to refer to the most revered rabbis of their generation. These rabbis are usually held in high esteem by other Haredi or Orthodox Jews, though not necessarily to the same degree as by Litvish Jews...
there helped Rabbi Shabsai realize his mission.
Rabbi Shabsai established an elite Kollel
Kollel
A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...
of select Talmudic scholars
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
who would actually put together the new print of Maimonides' works as well as a comprehensive index of various other rabbinical commentaries and citations who dealt with Maimonides' rulings. Rabbi Shabsai funded this Kollel from his own fortune. The first volume was printed in 1973 and the last was finished in 2007. Even before the work was completed, The Shabtai Frankel edition of Maimonides' works gained fame and recognition in 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...
world (although it was initially softly criticised by Rabbi Berel Soloveitchik
Berel Soloveitchik
Berel Soloveitchik was a rabbi and the son of Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik and one of the leading Rosh Yeshivas of the Brisk yeshivas in Jerusalem, Israel. He was a first cousin to Joseph B. Soloveitchik, who was named after the Beis HaLevi, as he was...
).
As part of his ambitious endeavor, Rabbi Shabsai received a blessing from Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, known as The Steipler or The Steipler Gaon , was a rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and posek .-Biography:...
who said that Rabbi Shabsai should merit to live seeing all the volumes of his edition published. Nonetheless, when Rabbi Frankel took a break from printing his edition of Maimonides' works and instead invested in comprehensive indices from the tractates Bava Kamma
Bava Kamma
Bava Kamma is the first of a series of three Talmudic tractates in the order Nezikin that deal with civil matters such as damages and torts...
and Bava Basra, he died on Rosh Hashana, 2000, at the age of 91.
His index on Bava Basra was printed after his death and was named in his memory "Raza D'Shabsai".