Yehuda Meir Abramowicz
Encyclopedia
Yehuda Meir Abramowicz was an Israel
i rabbi and politician. He served as general secretary of Agudat Yisrael, which he represented in the Knesset
from 1972 until 1981, and as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset between 1977 and 1981. One of his achievements was the introduction of legislation requiring drivers of vehicles to wear seat belts.
(today in Poland
) to Tzvi Yitzchok Abramowicz, who had been the shochet for Rav Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin
, the Rebbe
of Alexander, and had been a chosid of the Chidushei Harim of Ger
. When he was just nine months old his father died; he was orphaned of his mother as a teenager. Shortly afterwards, he was accepted as a student in the prestigious Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin
. When Rabbi Meir Shapiro
introduced the Daf Yomi
, he dispatched the students of his yeshiva to deliver Daf Yomi lectures. Abramowicz was assigned the daily lecture at the synagogue of the Chozeh of Lublin; attendance grew rapidly until there were fifty participants each day.
to Mandate Palestine, settling in Tel Aviv
. He was appointed by Agudat Yisrael as its representative on the Religious Committee of the Haganah
, where he worked to maintain kashrut
and Sabbath observance. In 1948, he was appointed as General Secretary of Agudat Yisrael, and he was a founder of the Chinuch Atzmai
educational network. In 1950, he was elected to the Tel Aviv
Council; from 1954 to 1984 he served as a deputy mayor of the city. During his period of service on Tel Aviv Council he was successful in having two gender-separated beaches established.
In 1980, he was elected Chairman of World Agudath Israel
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i rabbi and politician. He served as general secretary of Agudat Yisrael, which he represented in the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
from 1972 until 1981, and as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset between 1977 and 1981. One of his achievements was the introduction of legislation requiring drivers of vehicles to wear seat belts.
Early years
Abramowitz was born in Konstantynów Łódzki in the Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
(today 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...
) to Tzvi Yitzchok Abramowicz, who had been the shochet for Rav Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin
Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin
Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin of Aleksander served as the rebbe of a community of thousands of Hasidim during the "interregnum" between the Chidushei HaRim of Ger and the Sfas Emes.- Biography :...
, the 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...
of Alexander, and had been a chosid of the Chidushei Harim of Ger
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
. When he was just nine months old his father died; he was orphaned of his mother as a teenager. Shortly afterwards, he was accepted as a student in the prestigious Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin
Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva
Founded by Rabbi Meir Shapiro, the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva, , was an important centre for Torah study in Poland.-History:On May 22–28, 1924, the cornerstone laying ceremony took place for the construction of the yeshiva building. Approximately 20,000 people participated in the event.The opening...
. When Rabbi Meir Shapiro
Meir Shapiro
Yehuda Meir Shapiro , , was a prominent Hasidic rabbi and rosh yeshiva, also known as the Lubliner Rav...
introduced the Daf Yomi
Daf Yomi
Daf Yomi "page [of the] day" or "daily folio") is a daily regimen undertaken to study the Babylonian Talmud one folio each day...
, he dispatched the students of his yeshiva to deliver Daf Yomi lectures. Abramowicz was assigned the daily lecture at the synagogue of the Chozeh of Lublin; attendance grew rapidly until there were fifty participants each day.
Achievements
Soon after his marriage in 1935, Abramowitz made aliyahAliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Mandate Palestine, settling in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. He was appointed by Agudat Yisrael as its representative on the Religious Committee of the Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
, where he worked to maintain 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...
and Sabbath observance. In 1948, he was appointed as General Secretary of Agudat Yisrael, and he was a founder of the Chinuch Atzmai
Chinuch Atzmai
Chinuch Atzmai was founded in 1953 by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah to serve as an alternate school system for Orthodox children in Israel. It was initially led by Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin....
educational network. In 1950, he was elected to the Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
Council; from 1954 to 1984 he served as a deputy mayor of the city. During his period of service on Tel Aviv Council he was successful in having two gender-separated beaches established.
In 1980, he was elected Chairman of World Agudath Israel
World Agudath Israel
World Agudath Israel , usually known as the Aguda, was established in the early twentieth century as the political arm of Ashkenazi Torah Judaism, in succession to Agudas Shlumei Emunei Yisroel...
.