Rav Avraham was the son of Rav Yitzchok Charif AvBeisDin of Samvur and a descendant of Rav Moshe of Drogitshin, author of the commentary Maggid Mishnah on the sefer Mishnas Chassidim.
Like his father before him, he was one of the leading rabbanim in his generation, and many turned to him with their halachic inquiries in matters of Jewish law. He lived in Lvov for ten years and also served as Rav of Galina for three years. He moved to Olynov in 5573 (1813) to succeed his brother Rav Yaakov Naftali as rav of the city.
He was a disciple and chassid of Rav Naftali Ropshitzer, who praised and lauded him, testifying: “I wish I could perform as many yichudim (Kabbalistic unifications) in my entire life that the Rav of Olynov does in just a few hours!” A different time he declared: “The Rav of Olynov is a burning, flaming fire!”
Rav Chaim Halberstam, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz said of him: “He is a pure holy man, a giant, a holy flame, a chassid, and serves as an example for the entire generation!”
Rav Avraham authored the Toldos Avraham, chiddushim on Shas, and Shu”t (Responsa) Zera Yitzchak.
His sons were Rav Moshe Yosef, Av Beis Din of Frachnik, and Rav Shmuel Dovid of Lizhensk, who was just an infant when his father passed away.
Rav Avraham passed away on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, 5685 (1924); according to Ohel Naftali 45, he passed away on Simchas Torah in Olynov (see below).
