Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky

Wilovsky was born in Kobrin, Russia on February 7, 1845.

Wilovsky held Rabbinic posts in {{Interlanguage link multi|Izabelin, Belarus|qid=Q2076834|lt=Izabelin}} (1874), Bobruisk (1876), and Vilna (1881). Finding that the Vilna position distracted him from his studies, he resigned, and chose to serve as rabbi in a smaller community such as Polotsk (1883) and Vilkomir (1887).

In 1890, he became chief rabbi of Slutsk, where he established a noted yeshiva in 1896.{{Cite book|last=Ṭravis|first=Daniyel Yaʻaḳov ben Pesaḥ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zOzYI5TR_foC&q=%22Ridvaz%22&pg=PA23|title=Shabbos: Tasting Eternity : the Mitzvos of Enjoying and Honoring Shabbos|date=2006|publisher=Feldheim Publishers|isbn=978-965-555-159-4|language=en|access-date=2022-01-01|archive-date=2022-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101083917/https://books.google.com/books?id=zOzYI5TR_foC&q=%22Ridvaz%22&pg=PA23|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|last=Paretzky|first=Zev T.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahsvAAAAYAAJ|title=Reservoirs of Faith: The Yeshiva Through the Ages|date=1996|publisher=Feldheim|isbn=978-0-87306-779-9|language=en|access-date=2022-01-01|archive-date=2022-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101083915/https://books.google.com/books?id=ahsvAAAAYAAJ|url-status=live}} He took general supervision, appointing Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer as principal.

Image:Teshuvos haRidvaz Title Page.jpg

Wilovsky freely used a copy of the Talmud Yerushalmi which the Vilna Gaon had annotated. After studying the Talmud Yerushalmi for thirty years and working steadily on his commentaries for seventeen years, Wilovsky began the publication of an edition of the Talmud Yerushalmi which included, besides his own, all the commentaries incorporated in former editions.

Since the subscription fund for his publication was exhausted before the fourth order Nezikin was completed, Wilovsky travelled to the United States in 1900, where he succeeded in securing subscriptions for many sets of the work. Returning to Russia, he dedicated the Nezikin order to his American patrons.

From 1903 to 1905, Wilovsky returned to the United States. This time, he dropped his former name of Willowsky/Willovsky and assumed the name "Ridvaz" (Rabbi Yaakov David ben Ze'ev").{{Cite book|last=Scheinbaum|first=A. L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ex0RAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Ridvaz%22|title=The World that was: Transmitting the Torah Legacy to America. America, 1900-1945|date=2004|publisher=Living Memorial, in conjunction with the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland and Shaar Press|isbn=978-1-57819-360-8|language=en|access-date=2022-01-01|archive-date=2022-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101083916/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ex0RAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Ridvaz%22|url-status=live}}

The United Orthodox Rabbis of America, at their annual meeting in Philadelphia in August 1903, elected Ridvaz as their zekan haRabbanim (elder rabbi), and on September 8, 1903, Ridvaz was elected chief rabbi of the Russian-American congregations in Chicago.{{Cite book|last=Essrig|first=Isaac David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0DhDAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Ridvaz%22&pg=PP7|title=The Fountain of Wisdom|date=October 24, 2007|publisher=University of California|language=en|orig-year=1932|access-date=January 1, 2022|archive-date=January 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101084132/https://books.google.com/books?id=0DhDAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Ridvaz%22&pg=PP7|url-status=live}}

He was critical of the absence of moral education received by traditional Jews in America's public schools and the emphasis on sports. He advocated for the creation of full time Jewish day schools that would integrate religious studies with English language and literature and American history. At the time there were no full time Jewish parochial schools in the country. He gained the critical support of Rabbi Bernard L. Levinthal during the August 1903 meeting in Philadelphia.{{cite news |author= |date=August 16, 1903 |title=Hebrews Plan New School Systems|url= |work=Philadelphia Inquirer|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|page=9}}

He tried to introduce order into the religious services of his congregations, but met obstruction and opposition on the part of a former rabbi and his followers. Unable to withstand the persistent opposition, Ridvaz resigned his position ten months later. Thereafter, he traveled extensively throughout the United States, lecturing and preaching. On returning to New York, he endeavored to establish a yeshiva based on the European model, but found little encouragement.

In 1905, Ridvaz left America and moved to Safed, where he established a yeshiva, Toras Eretz Yisrael. In 1909, he entered into controversy with Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook over the proper observance of the Shemittah year, and, in particular, use of the "sale permit" known as the Heter mechira.{{cite web |title=פולמוס השמיטה - שנת תר"ע (1910) |url=http://web.nli.org.il/sites/NLI/Hebrew/gallery/jewish/shmita/Pages/2.aspx |website=nli.org.il |publisher=National Library of Israel |access-date=23 July 2018 |archive-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724033630/http://web.nli.org.il/sites/NLI/Hebrew/gallery/jewish/shmita/Pages/2.aspx |url-status=live }}

Ridvaz's most notable works were two commentaries on the Talmud Yerushalmi:

• Chiddushei Ridvaz, modelled on Rashi's commentaries to the Talmud Bavli, explained the literal meaning of the text;
• Tosfoth haRid (Piotrków, 1899–1900), modeled on the Tosafot. It compared and contrasted the significance of the text in question with other Talmudic and Halachic texts.

Ridvaz's other works include:

• Migdal Oz (1874)
• Migdal David (1874), novellae on both Talmuds;
• Chana David (1876), commentary on Tractate Challah;
• Teshuvoth haRidvaz (1881), responsa;
• Nimmuké Ridvaz (1904), commentary on the Torah;
• Beth Ridvaz, explanation of Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov's work Pe'ath Hashulchan.

• Grandfather-in-law of Belarus-born Rabbi Yehezkel Abramsky who influentially headed the London Beth Din for 17 years. Wilovsky's daughter was married to Rabbi Yisroel Yehonasan Yerushamski; their daughter Hindl Reizel married Abramsky.{{Cite web|title=New Biography of Rabbi Yehezkel Abramsky ZTL|url=https://www.toviapreschel.com/new-biography-of-rabbi-yehezkel-abramsky-ztl/|access-date=2020-08-13|archive-date=2018-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701002057/http://www.toviapreschel.com/new-biography-of-rabbi-yehezkel-abramsky-ztl/|url-status=live}}
• Great-grandfather of Chimen Abramsky Professor of Jewish Studies at University College London and expert on rare Jewish books and socialist literature. Chimen was son of Yehezkel.{{Cite news|last=Abramsky|first=Sasha|date=2015-08-27|title=How the Atheist Son of a Jewish Rabbi Created One of the Greatest Libraries of Socialist Literature|journal=The Nation|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/how-the-atheist-son-of-a-jewish-rabbi-created-one-of-the-greatest-libraries-of-socialist-literature/|access-date=2020-08-13|issn=0027-8378|archive-date=2020-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108100654/https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/how-the-atheist-son-of-a-jewish-rabbi-created-one-of-the-greatest-libraries-of-socialist-literature/|url-status=live}}
• Great-great-grandfather of Dame Jenny Abramsky, who as Director of Audio and Music was the most senior female employee of the BBC and currently serves as chairman of the UK's National Heritage Memorial Fund. Jenny is the daughter of Chimen.{{Cite news|last=Rapoport-Albert|first=Ada|date=2010-03-18|title=Chimen Abramsky obituary|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/mar/18/chimen-abramsky-obituary|access-date=2020-08-13|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=2020-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813022527/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/mar/18/chimen-abramsky-obituary|url-status=live}}
• Great-great-grandfather of computer scientist and lecturer Samson Abramsky.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJc8afOZV0QC&q=samson+abramsky+rabbi&pg=PA12|title=The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History|last1=Rubinstein|first1=William D.|last2=Jolles|first2=Michael|last3=Rubinstein|first3=Hilary L.|author-link1=William Rubinstein|author-link3=Hilary L. Rubinstein|date=2011-02-22|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=9781403939104|access-date=2022-01-01|archive-date=2022-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101083919/https://books.google.com/books?id=hJc8afOZV0QC&q=samson+abramsky+rabbi&pg=PA12|url-status=live}}
• Great-great-great grandfather of journalist and author Sasha Abramsky. Sasha is the son of Chimen's son Jack.

• Father-in-law of Rabbi Joseph Konvitz, who was president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America in the 1930s and played an instrumental role in ending a kosher butcher strike.{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/konvitz-joseph|title=Konvitz, Joseph | Encyclopedia.com|website=www.encyclopedia.com|access-date=2022-01-01|archive-date=2021-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419112142/https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/konvitz-joseph|url-status=live}}
• Grandfather of Philip Konvitz who was indicted for being deeply involved in New Jersey organized crime.{{Cite news|url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125132312054961821|title = New Jersey Corruption Bust Had Deep Roots|newspaper = Wall Street Journal|date = 28 August 2009|last1 = Sataline|first1 = Suzanne|access-date = 1 January 2022|archive-date = 8 June 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210608194427/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125132312054961821|url-status = live}} Philip was a son of Joseph.
• Grandfather of Milton R. Konvitz, a founder of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Milton was a son of Joseph.
• Great-grandfather of Josef W. Konvitz, historian and diplomat who served as Division Head of Urban Affairs and of Regulatory Policy at the OECD, 1992–2011.

• {{JewishEncyclopedia|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=R&artid=282|article=Ridbaz (Willowski), Jacob David b. Zeeb}}
• Hebrew Printing in America 1735–1926, A History and Annotated Bibliography, by Yosef Goldman.
• The House of Twenty Thousand Books by Sasha Abramsky, London : Halban, 2014 {{ISBN|9781905559640}}

• [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/7074 Chanah David] - free scanned version in PDF format
• [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/7413 Kuntres haShmittah] - free scanned version in PDF format
• [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/2926 Nimukei Ridvaz] - free scanned version in PDF format
• [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/7073 Migdal David] - free scanned version in PDF format
• [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/459 Teshuvos haRidvaz] - free scanned version in PDF format

{{Commentators on the Jerusalem Talmud}}

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Category:1845 births

Category:1913 deaths

Category:Haredi rabbis in Europe

Category:American Haredi rabbis

Category:Haredi rabbis in Israel

Category:Rosh yeshivas

Category:People from Kobryn

Category:Burials at the Old Jewish Cemetery, Safed