Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik (Hebrew: משולם דוד סולובייצ'יק also known as Reb Dovid or Rav Dovid; 21 October 1921 – 31 January 2021) was a Haredi (ultra-orthodox) rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of one of the branches of the Brisk yeshivas in Jerusalem.
Early life
Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik was the fifth of twelve children and the third son born to Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik and Alte Hindl, daughter of Chaim Auerbach (not to be confused with Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach).[3] His exact date of birth is unknown: some sources state his birth on 19 Tishrei 5682 which would be 21 October 1921,[4] while others say he was born in 1922.[5] He was named "Meshulam" after his maternal great grandfather, Meshulam Auerbach (who had also proposed the shidduch between his parents),[6] and "Dovid" after his maternal grandmother's second husband, Dovid Mintz. Growing up in Brest-Litovsk (Brisk) where his father served as rabbi, he attended the local Talmud Torah, Mekor Chaim, but at the age of twelve, his father recognized that he was too advanced for the Talmud Torah and sent him to study in Yeshiva Toras Chesed, a yeshiva for older students led by Moshe Sokolovski [he].[5]
In 1960, Soloveitchik opened his yeshiva in the Gush Shemonim section of the Givat Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem, and served there as rosh yeshiva (dean).[9]Brisk yeshivas in Israel are attended by select young Talmudists, mainly from the United States.
He did not personally publish any works on the Talmud, but many of his works have been published by his students, especially in the Mishor prints of his father's works.
He rarely gave approbations to new books.
Soloveitchik was considered by Briskers to be one of the last authentic remnants of a pre-World War II Jewish Lithuania, and is often quoted for his memories of his father's and grandfather's lives and teachings.[10][11][12][13]
Soloveitchik's daughter Hendel[7] is married to Nechemya Kaplan, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaar HaTalmud in Jerusalem.[15]
Death
Soloveitchik died on 31 January 2021 at the age of 99,[16] with ten thousand mourners at his funeral.[17] He was buried beside his father on Har Hamenuchos.[2]
It was announced at the funeral that according to Soloveitchik's wishes his oldest son Yitzchok Zev would succeed him as rosh yeshiva of Brisk.[2]
Works
Chidushei Rabbeinu Meshulem Dovid Halevi (Published in part on the first anniversary of his death)
Shiurei Rabbeinu Meshulam Dovid HaLevi (written by students):
