Shlomo Yosef Zevin was born in 1888 in
Kazimirov (near
Minsk), where his father, Aharon Mordechai, served as rabbi. The younger Zevin’s education was a combination of both “
Litvishe” (Lithuanian) and
Hasidic influences; he studied first in the
Yeshiva of Mir under Rabbi
Eliyahu Baruch Kamai (where he was the study partner of Rabbi
Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg) and then in
Bobruisk, under Rabbi Shemaryahu Noach Schneerson, then leader of the
Kapust branch of the
Chabad hasidic dynasty. Zevin was ordained by Rabbi Schneerson, Rabbi Yosef Rosen (the
Rogatchover Gaon), and Rabbi
Yechiel Michel Epstein (author of
Aruch Hashulchan). At a young age Rabbi Zevin was appointed rabbi of his birthplace,
Kazimirov, and served as editor of the journal "
Shaarei Torah." He later served as rabbi of Klimov (now Klimovo) and Novozybkov. He took an active role in the underground struggle to preserve Jewish observance in
Soviet Russia after the
Communist Revolution; this effort was headed by Rabbi
Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. Beginning in 1921, he edited a Torah journal,
Yagdil Torah, together with Rabbi
Yehezkel Abramsky of
Slutsk; for this crime he was imprisoned by the Communist authorities. He founded Orthodox Jewish journals that dealt with problems of the time. At the age of 18, Rabbi Zevin began corresponding with leading sages, including the
Rogatchover Gaon and Rabbi
Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. He also began at a young age to serve Russian Jewry in various communal capacities. During the brief period of Ukrainian independence after
World War I, Rabbi Zevin served as a member of the
Ukrainian parliament. He also served as a member and officer of the parent body of Jewish communities in Ukraine. In 1935, Rabbi Zevin settled in the
Land of Israel and began teaching at the
Mizrachi-affiliated
Bet Midrash L’morim. He also served as a member of the
Israeli Chief Rabbinate Council. He held religious Zionist views and would eat a festive meal on Israeli Independence Day. In 1947 the first volume of the
Encyclopedia Talmudit was published under his editorial oversight. Zevin continued to serve as editor-in-chief until his death in 1978. This multi-volume work continues today. Rabbi Zevin frequently corresponded with Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whom he had met for the first time in Russia in the mid-1920s. Part of this correspondence is printed in the
Igrot Kodesh series. He was also among the influential scholars to encourage Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson to accept the leadership over the Chabad movement after the passing of Rabbi
Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, in 1950. He used concepts in Chabad philosophy to clarify halachic principles. ==Awards==