Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog

Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog

Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog is Chaim Herzog’s father. He was the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi in Israel, writer of the Prayer for the Welfare of Israel and among the most prominent rabbis of the last centuries.

Rabbi Herzog was born in Łomża, Poland in 1888 (5649), son of Miriam (daughter of Rabbi Arie Liba) and Joel Leib Herzog, rabbi of the local community and later the rabbi of Leeds and Paris.

He was a prominent Torah scholar from a young age, gaining his knowledge from his father and self-study. As a youth, he could recite the Talmud by heart and, at 20, was ordained a rabbi. Beyond his Torah knowledge, he attained a doctorate in literature from London University, presenting a research project with new conclusions on the method applied to create the light blue dye in ancient times and its religious implications.

Upon completing his studies, he married Sarah (née Hillman), daughter of London’s chief rabbi. He was then appointed rabbi of the Jewish congregation in Belfast Ireland, where his son Chaim, named after Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk, was born. He later served as a rabbi in Dublin and was appointed Chief Rabbi of Ireland in the days of the Irish Civil War. Rabbi Herzog worked closely with other religious leaders to calm the winds of war and developed strong ties with Eamon de Valera, who would later become President of Ireland.

Following the death of Rabbi Kook in 1935 (5695), Rabbi Herzog was appointed the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi in Palestine. The rabbi represented the Jews in their appeals to the British administration and appeared in various committees for determining Palestine’s status. In 1939, following the London Conference and publication of the Third White Paper, he tore it in a public protest in an act that would later inspire his son to tear the UN “Zionism Racism” resolution in 1975.

In WWII, the rabbi did all that he could to help save the Jews of Europe. Rabbi Herzog, who held a strong political position, applied his clout and met with state leaders throughout Europe. In 1941, he even met with U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, pleading with him not to stand by in these difficult hour.

After the war, Rabbi Herzog set out on the “Rescue Mission”, saving hundreds of Jewish children who survived the Holocaust. Rabbi Herzog travelled throughout Europe, met with Pope Pius XII, religious and state leaders, requesting their help with his mission. The “Rescue Train” went through many cities in Europe, attracting many Jews whose hope was restored by the endeavor initiated by Palestine’s chief rabbi. Rabbi Herzog’s efforts saved hundreds of Jewish children and returned them to Judaism.

Rabbi Herzog also acted to unify the Jewish settlers in Palestine. He attempted to mediate between Chaim Weizmann and Zeev Jabotinsky, encouraging them to cooperate, and also took measures to establish unity among the religious leaders in Palestine. Inter alia, he founded the “Yeshiva Committee” that continues to consolidate Yeshiva activities in Israel. In addition, he acted to prevent the execution of the Ten Martyrs and visit Etzel prisoners in Eritrea in order to encourage them.

After the state was born, Herzog was appointed Israel’s first Ashkenazi chief Rabbi. He wrote the Prayer for the Welfare of Israel for Rosh Hashanah 5709. After writing the prayer, he turned to Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ben Zion Meir Uziel and author Shai Agnon to amend the prayer, which is now recited in synagogues in holiday and Sabbath prayers.

In the first years of statehood, Rabbi Herzog invested effort in molding its Jewish character and promoting the status of Jewish jurisprudence in state laws. Alongside Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, he worked to devise an arrangement on recruiting yeshiva students. He also played a pivotal role in the publication of a precedential Halachic ruling, recognizing the Jewish nation’s link and commitment to the communities in Ethiopia.

Throughout his lifetime, Rabbi Herzog wrote many articles and books, including “Main Institutions of Jewish Law”, discussing the judicial system in the Jewish state. He was awarded the 1958 Israel Prize in Literature.

Rabbi Herzog passed away in 1959 (5719), survived by his wife, Sarah, and his children, Chaim and Yacov. His archive is kept in the National Library and at the Rabbi Herzog Memorial, perpetuating his achievements. Many educational institutions, residential neighborhoods and Moshav Massuot Yitzhak are named after him, in appreciate of his bond with the people of Gush Etzion.

To view the film “Rescue Train” about Rabbi Herzog’s mission to save Jewish children in Europe, press:

https://13tv.co.il/item/documentary/season-01/episodes/se01-ep30-111136/

*Courtesy of News 13.