Zalman Sorotzkin

Zalman Sorotzkin was born in 1881 in Lithuania

Zalman Sorotzkin was born in 1881 in Zhagarine. His father, Rabbi Ben-Zion Sorotzkin, was the town's rabbi and was his first teacher. He went on to study at the yeshivas of Volozhin, Slabodka and Telz.

He married Miriam, daughter of Rabbi Eliezer Gordon of Telz. After Gordon died in 1910, Sorotzkin turned down the post of rabbi and rosh yeshiva in Telz. He became rabbi of Voranava, where he set up a yeshiva ketana, and later served as rabbi of Zhetel.

In 1914, after the German invasion, he moved to Minsk, where he became a friend of the Chazon Ish. In 1930 he was appointed rabbi of Lutsk and stayed there until World War II. Early in the war he headed the Vaad Hayeshivos, then fled to Mandate Palestine.

In Israel he was vice chairman of the Council of Torah Sages, and after the death of Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer he chaired it until his death. In 1953 he was chosen to head the Chinuch Atzmai school network. His works include Oznaim LaTorah, a commentary on the Torah.

He died in 1966 and was buried on Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem. A main street in Jerusalem is named after him.