(Some say the Yahrzeit is on the 1st of Av)
1 Av (others say: 28 Av) Rav Naphtali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin, the “Netziv of Volozhin”. He was the son of Rav Yaakov. Born in Mir תקע''ז. A descendant of Rabbeinu Elchanan Baal HaTosfos. At age 14, he married the daughter of Rav Yitzchok of Volozhin. He studied Torah in his father-in-law’s home for twenty years. During this time, he was known to stand all day long with his feet in a pail of cold water by night. After his father- in- law’s passing, his brother- in- law, Rav Eliezer Yitzchok, became Rosh yeshiva and three years later, with his passing, the Netziv became Rosh yeshivah.
He published the following seforim:
- Emek She’elah on the Sheiltos,
- Emek Natziv on Sifri
- Meromei Sadeh on Shas
- Halachic Responsa as, Shut Mayshiv Davar,
- and HaEmek Davar, and Harchev Davar on the Torah, for an excellent series on the Natziv's HaAmek Davar in English visit Torah .org here
- Maytav Shir on Shir HaShirim.
In תרמ''ו, a fire broke out and destroyed the Etz Chaim Yeshivah, but the Netziv rebuilt and reopened it. Then, in תרל''ט , the secular authorities closed the yeshivah over the issue of secular studies but he ardently fought against the the wicked maskilim and Volozhin reopened again in .תרמ''א
The Netziv passed away at age 78 in Warsaw on Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av תרנ''ג. Today the Yeshiva still stands in Ulitsa Kirova, Vałožyn, Belarus and serves as a shul to those who come to Europe and make the circuit to daven at kivrei tzadikim.
(Others say 28 Av)
His son was Rav Chaim Berlin Av Beis Din Kobrin.
His sons- in- law were; Rav Raphael Shapira Av Beis Din Babroisk and Rav Chaim Soloveitchik Av Beis Din Brisk.
The Netziv was Rosh Yeshiva of the famed Volozhin Yeshiva for almost 40 Years until it was closed by the Russian government in 1892. Founded by R'Chaim of Volozhin, the Yeshivah flourished, increasing from 100 to 400 students.
As a young man the Netziv was undistinguished, but by virtue of his extraordinary diligence grew to become one of the greatest scholars and leaders of his time. The prevalent method of Talmudic study was that of deep analysis of the "sugya" (topic) at hand. The Netziv’s approach was to immerse himself in all the relevant passages from the entire Tannaitic literature, always striving to go back to the earliest sources. Similarly, he paid special attention to the Gaonic literature and the earliest Rishonim, who were closer to the Talmudic period. He believed only in this manner could the text being studied be properly understood. His approach was strongly encouraged by R. Dovid Luria.
The Netziv emphasized study of Chumash and Nach and gave a shiur on the weekly parsha every day after morning prayers. He was an early supporter of the Hovevei
