Rav Yechezkel Abramsky was born in a small shtetl near Vilna. He learned in the Novardok Yeshiva, and received semicha at eighteen from Rav Yechiel Mechel Epstein, the Aruch HaShulchon. Later he learned in Telshe and in the Ramailles Yeshiva in Vilna. Later, Rav Yisrael Yehonoson Yerushalemsky, Rav of Ihman, took him as a son-in-law. In his father-in-law’s home he advanced in horo’a while continuing to learn in depth under Rav Chaim Brisker.
For a while he served as Rosh Mesivta in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva; from there he went on to become a Rav in Smuliyan, and then in Smulevitch, near Minsk, where he stayed nine years. In 5683/1923, he became Rav in the city of Slutzk.
Slutzk, in Belarus, was already under Communist control. With mesirus nefesh Rav Yechezkel openly practiced Yiddishkeit, encouraging his flock and leading the charge. The Russians, unable to swallow the “brazen acts” of the Rav, exiled him to Siberia, where he suffered for two difficult years. Only after intense hishtadlus by many Gedolim was he freed, and told to leave the country.
He traveled to London, where he became Rav of the Machzikei Hadas kehilla. Later, he became Rosh Bais Din in London.
In 5711/1951, he reached Eretz Yisrael and settled in Bayit Vegan, Yerushalayim. Despite his advanced age, he traveled weekly to Bnei Brak to deliver shiurim in Yeshiva Slabodka. His widely acclaimed sefer, Chazon Yechezkel on the Tosefta, was hailed by Torah leaders as a magnificent illumination of an area of Torah that had previously been obscure because of the many difficult passages it contained. He undertook this monumental task in response to a simple comment made by Rav Chaim Brisker that the available version of the Tosefta was full of errors. He also produced Dinei Momonos and other seforim.
Rav Yechezkel was niftar at the age of ninety on the twenty-fourth of Elul 5736/1976. Zecher tzaddik livrachah.
www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-24-elulseptember-19/
