Eliezer Waldenberg

Eliezer Waldenberg was born in 1915 in Jerusalem

Waldenberg was born in Jerusalem in 1915. His father, Rabbi Yaakov Gedalya, had come from Kovno, and his mother Rachel was the daughter of Rabbi Nachum Ragoznitzky. During World War I his father was suspected of spying for Russia, and the family lived in Aleppo for some years.

He studied at the Etz Chaim Yeshiva under Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer and later at the Hebron Yeshiva. In 1934 he published his first book, Dvar Eliezer. In 1935 he married Shoshana, daughter of Rabbi Avraham Werner.

He briefly served as rabbi of Kfar Vitkin and later headed the Shaarei Zion Yeshiva, founded by Rabbi Ben Zion Meir Hai Uziel. For many years he led a synagogue near Shaare Zedek Hospital, where he answered doctors' questions and taught medical ethics to staff.

He became a judge in the Jerusalem District Rabbinical Court and later served on the Supreme Rabbinical Court from 1981 to 1985. His 21-volume Tzitz Eliezer covers many areas of Jewish law, including abortion, fertility, organ transplants and smoking. He received the Israel Prize in 1976.

His only son, Rabbi Simcha Bunim, died in 2005. Waldenberg died in Jerusalem in 2006 and was buried at Har HaMenuchot.