Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik was truly one of the greatest and most amazing personalities that Lithuanian Jewry has given to the Jewish people. Stories concerning this Tzaddik and Gaon abound. People speak of his genius, sharp intellect, integrity, and finesse, and especially about his good heart, for he had a heart of gold.
The son of Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Halevi Soloveitchik (who was the grandson of the Gaon of the generation, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin), Rabbi Yosef Dov was born in 5580 (1820). From childhood, it was obvious that he was destined for greatness. People say that when he was seven years old, he already completely knew several chapters in tractates Nashim and Nezikin with the commentary of the Rambam.
He entered the renowned Volozhin yeshiva at a young age, and there he became famous for his keen intelligence. The Rosh Yeshiva and his great uncle, Rabbi Yitzchak (the son of Rabbi Chaim, the founder of the Volozhin yeshiva), rejoiced over his presence and said of him, “This boy is destined to become great.” In fact, sometime afterwards Rabbi Yosef Dov became very great in Torah, and while still young he was named as the Rosh Yeshiva of the Volozhin yeshiva. Several reasons forced him to quit this position after ten years,
