Rav Avrohom Yaakov Zalaznik was born on the 16th of Kislev 5673/1912 in Yerushalayim. His father, Rav Shlomo Zalman Zalaznik, was Rosh Yeshiva of Eitz Chaim. He was brought up by his grandmother after being orphaned of his mother at the age of two.
As a child he learned in Talmud Torah Chayei Olam and even then was outstanding in his hasmoda. Friends would later relate how young Avrohom Yaakov would make use of the short walk home from the Talmud Torah by reciting Mishnayos baal peh. He later learned in Yeshiva Eitz Chaim, becoming a talmid muvhok of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer.
Rav Isser Zalman was extremely fond of his talmid, and when he returned to Lithuania to participate in the chanukas habayis of Yeshiva Kletzk, he told Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel that in Yerushalayim he had found three lamdonim with whom he could converse in Torah; one of them was Rav Avrohom Yaakov Zalaznik.
He finished Shas b’iyun for the first time at the age of seventeen.
Rav Avrohom Yaakov’s hasmoda and continuous chazora was breathtaking. When a grandson told him that he had finished Maseches Kesubos, the grandfather replied that in his younger years he learned Maseches Kesubos 280 times! At the age of eighteen, Rav Avrohom Yaakov received heter horo’a from Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank.
At the age of twenty, Rav Avrohom Yaakov married Rebbetzin Itta, the daughter of Rav Yisrael Sholom Luria, Rav of the Kerem neighborhood. The Rebbetzin took care of all the needs of the home, enabling her husband to dedicate his life to Torah and tefilla. Rav Avrohom Yaakov would regularly return home from the Bais Medrash just twenty minutes before Shabbos, after having spiritually prepared himself for the holy day.
The Zalazniks set up their home in the Kerem neighborhood and Rav Zalaznik davened in the local shul, where he would often have lively discussions after davening with the other Gedolei Yisrael – Rav Eliezer Menachem Shach, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel and Rav Ezra Attiya – who davened there.
He was also close with Rav Yosef Sholom Elyoshiv, and learned b’chavrusa with Rav Ovadia Yosef.
Rav Avrohom Yaakov would regularly travel to the Chazon Ish in Bnei Brak, who praised his greatness in Torah. In 5717/1957, Rav Avrohom Yaakov was appointed a Maggid Shiur in Yeshiva Eitz Chaim, and after the petira of Rav Isser Zalman in 5723/1963, was chosen to be the main Maggid Shiur.
After his father was niftar in 5735/1975, he became the official Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Eitz Chaim.
In 5737/1977, Rav Avrohom Yaakov was accepted as a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in Eretz Yisrael, and also became one of the heads of Vaad HaYeshivos.
Rav Avrohom Yaakov devoted much time to tefilla, davening for the sick and those who needed yeshuos, and many of his talmidim and family merited yeshuos through his tefillos. He was also known as a Gaon in middos, being very careful not to hurt anybody, even young children. If he ever thought that he had perhaps upset even a young child, the elderly Rosh Yeshiva would go to great lengths to appease the child.
In his later years he fell ill and was hospitalized. Rav Avrohom Yaakov was niftar on the 21st of Elul 5770/2010, at the age of ninety-seven. He was buried on Har HaZeisim. Rav Zalaznik leaves behind his seforim Or Yaakov on Shas.
Zecher Tzaddik livrocha.
