20 Kislev 5741
Rav Yitzchak Hutner was born to his father, Rav Chaim Yoel in 5666 in Warsaw Poland. When he was about fourteen, he began to attend Lomza Yeshiva, and later learned in Slabodka, where he was very close with the Alter of Slabodka and the Rosh Yeshivah Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein.
In 5684, he came to Eretz Yisrael with the yeshivah and studied for a few years in Chevron and Yerushalayim. In 5695, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he was appointed Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin. He was known for his extraordinary shiurim and deep shmuessen, which he based on the teachings of the Maharal of Prague. His shiurim were published in the renowned series Pachad Yitzchak.
The Mashgiach Rav Shlomo Wolbe, who was just eight years younger than him, wrote of him (Alei Shor Vol. II p. 12):
“More than ten years ago, I became close to Hagaon Hagadol Rav Yitzchak Hutner, ztz”l, Rosh Yeshivas Chaim Berlin in New York and Yeshivas Pachad Yitzchak in Yerushalayim and author of Pachad Yitzchak, and I became his talmid. He was one in a generation in the breadth and depth of his knowledge in all parts of Torah, and wisdoms, and nothing was beyond him. As much as his greatness was revealed in his eight volumes of Pachad Yitzhak that have already been published, his greatness will be revealed even more when more of his works will be released.”
In 5739, he moved to Eretz Yisrael, which he always yearned for, and many flocked to hear his shiurim.
Rav Hutner passed away on 20 Kislev 5741 and was laid to rest on Har Hazeisim.
