Rabbi Aharon Sorasky ( he, אהרן סורסקי; surname also spelled ''Surasky'' or ''Sorsky'') is a

Haredi Haredi Judaism ( he, ', ; also spelled ''Charedi'' in English; plural ''Haredim'' or ''Charedim'') consists of groups within Orthodox Judaism that are characterized by their strict adherence to ''halakha'' (Jewish law) and traditions, in oppos ...

author in

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

, his specialty being biographies about Orthodox rabbis. He has also written under the pseudonym A. Safran.

Personal life

Rabbi Sorasky was born on April 28, 1940 and is a Slonimer chossid. He began his writing career with the

Hamodia ''Hamodia'' ( he, המודיע – "''the Informer''") is a Hebrew-language daily newspaper published in Jerusalem. A daily English-language edition is also published in the United States, and weekly English-language editions in England and Israe ...

and worked for the Netzach publishing company. He has been hired by several Hasidic courts to write biographies about their rebbes.

Praise

Rabbi

Hanoch Teller Hanoch Teller (born 1956) is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, author, lecturer, and producer who popularized the Jewish literary genre of true, contemporary stories to convey inspirational and ethical themes. Author of 28 books,Levin, Menucha Chana. "Boo ...

wrote that "for decades, Rabbi Surasky has established himself as the most eminent, reliable and stylistically graceful biographer of our time–perhaps of all time." Rabbi Teller also praises him as a "serious ''

talmid chacham ''Talmid Chakham'' is an honorific title which is given to a man who is well versed in Jewish law, i. e., a Torah scholar. Originally he, תלמיד חכמים ''Talmid Chakhamim'', lit., "student of sages", pl. תלמידי חכמים ''talmi ...

'' and erudite scholar." Rabbi

Simcha Wasserman Elazar Simcha Wasserman (1898 - October 29, 1992) was an Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva. Born in the Russian Empire, he was sent before World War II to the United States by his father, Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman, to improve the level of Jewish educ ...

praised him for his work, ''Ohr Elchonon'', about Rabbi Wasserman's father, saying, "Rabbi Aharon Sorasky, the distinguished author and scholar, gathered and organized the material into a justly acclaimed ''Ohr Elchonon'' in Hebrew. Its accurate portrayal of my father's character, accoplishents, and teachings is an eloquent tribute to Rabbi Sorasky's understanding and skill." Rabbi Gedalia Anemer, ''

rosh yeshiva Rosh yeshiva ( he, ראש ישיבה, pl. he, ראשי ישיבה, '; Anglicized pl. ''rosh yeshivas'') is the title given to the dean of a yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primar ...

'' of

Yeshiva of Greater Washington The Yeshiva of Greater Washington (YGW) is an Orthodox community-based Jewish Day School that is located in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was founded in 1964 by Rabbi Gedaliah Anemer. It consists of separate high schools for boys and girls and a bei ...

, called Rabbi Sorasky's biography on Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam, ''Lapid HaEsh'', "an exceptional work which portrays the life of the great

tzadik Tzadik ( he, צַדִּיק , "righteous ne, also ''zadik'', ''ṣaddîq'' or ''sadiq''; pl. ''tzadikim'' ''ṣadiqim'') is a title in Judaism given to people considered righteous, such as biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The ...

and his many contributions to ''Klal Yisrael'' (the

Jewish people Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""Th ...

)."

Bibliography

Torah

* ''MeMaayanot HaNetzach: Machrozet Peninim LeParshat HaShavuah'' (5 volumes) commentary on the Weekly Torah portions * ''MeMaayanot HaNetzach: Pirkei Avot'', compilation of

Acharonim In Jewish law and history, ''Acharonim'' (; he, אחרונים ''Aḥaronim''; sing. , ''Aḥaron''; lit. "last ones") are the leading rabbis and poskim (Jewish legal decisors) living from roughly the 16th century to the present, and more specifi ...

's commentaries on

Pirkei Avot Pirkei Avot ( he, פִּרְקֵי אָבוֹת; also transliterated as ''Pirqei Avoth'' or ''Pirkei Avos'' or ''Pirke Aboth''), which translates to English as Chapters of the Fathers, is a compilation of the ethics, ethical teachings and Maxim ...

* ''MiSod Siach Chassidim: Derech Emunah Bacharti'', 2006, on

Hassidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...

faith in their Rebbes * ''MiSod Siach Chassidim: VeAhavtah LeReachah KaMochah'', 2015, sequel to ''MiSod Siach Chassidim: Derech Emunah Bacharti'' * ''Achiezer'', 1970, by Rabbi

Chaim Ozer Grodzensky Chaim Ozer Grodzinski ( he, חיים עוזר גראדזענסקי; August 24, 1863 – August 9, 1940) was a ''Av beis din'' (rabbinical chief justice), ''posek'' (halakhic authority), and Talmudic scholar in Vilnius, Lithuania in the late 19th a ...

, arranged by Rabbi Sorasky

Hasidism

* ''Yesod HaMaalah'', 1991, history of

Hassidism Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...

in the

Land of Israel The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine (see also Isra ...

* ''Marbitzei Torah BiOlam HaChassidut'', 1986, biographies on

rebbes A Rebbe ( yi, רבי, translit=rebe) or Admor ( he, אדמו״ר) is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spiritua ...

* ''Lapid HaEsh: Pirkei Chayav HaMufla'im Shel Mofet HaDor K"K ABDDK"K Tzanz-Klausenberg Ztzvk"l'', 1996, 2 volume biography of Rabbi

Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam (January 10, 1905 – June 18, 1994) was an Orthodox rabbi and the founding rebbe of the Sanz-Klausenburg Hasidic dynasty. Halberstam was one of the youngest rebbes in Europe, leading thousands of followers in the t ...

**later translated into English by Judah Lifschutz, under the names ''The Klausenburger Rebbe: The War Years'' and ''The Klausenburger Rebbe: Rebuilding'' * ''Rosh Golat Ariel: Toldot Chayav U'Poalo Shel Rabbeinu Avraham Mordechai Alter MeGur'', 1990, co-authored by Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Segal, 2 volume biography of Rabbi

Avraham Mordechai Alter Avraham Mordechai Alter ( pl, Abraham Mordekhaj Alter, he, אברהם מרדכי אלתר; 25 December 1865 – 3 June 1948), also known as the ''Imrei Emes'' after the works he authored, was the fourth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a po ...

* ''Pe'er Yisrael: Maran Admor HaRav Yisrael MiGur Zy"a Ha"Beis Yisrael"'', (1997), three volume biography of Rabbi

Yisrael Alter Yisrael Alter ( pl, Izrael Alter, Hebrew: ; October 1895 – 20 February 1977), also known as the ''Beit Yisrael'', after the works he authored, was the fifth Rebbe of the Hasidic Judaism, Hasidic dynasty of Ger (Hasidic dynasty), Ger, a position ...

* ''VaYechi Yosef'', 2 volume biography of Rabbi

Yosef Greenwald Yosef Greenwald ( he, יוסף גרינוואלד 1903 – Brooklyn 1984) was the second Rebbe of the Pupa Hasidic dynasty, and the charismatic leader of all the Pupa Hasidim. Prior to World War II, he was a rabbi and rosh yeshiva in Pápa, Hung ...

* ''BeLabat Esh'', 1984, biography of Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein * ''Zecher Kedoshim: Matzevet Zikaron LeShtibel Shel Chasidei Slonim BiIr Lodz, Polin'', on the

Slonim Slonim ( be, Сло́нім, russian: Сло́ним, lt, Slanimas, lv, Sloņima, pl, Słonim, yi, סלאָנים, ''Slonim'') is a city in Grodno Region, Belarus, capital of the Slonimski rajon. It is located at the junction of the Ščar ...

community in Lodz * ''Shoshelet Spinka'', 1990, biogrophies of the

Spinka Spinka is the name of a Hasidic group within Haredi Judaism. The group originated in a city called Szaplonca ( yi, Spinka), in Máramaros County, Kingdom of Hungary (today Săpânţa, Romania). Spinka rebbes The first Spinka Rebbe was Rabbi ...

* ''Heichal Bobov'', 1996, biographies of the

Bobover Bobov (or Bobover Hasidism) ( he, חסידות באבוב, yi, בּאָבּאָװ) is a Hasidic community within Haredi Judaism, originating in Bobowa, Galicia, in southern Poland, and now headquartered in the neighborhood of Borough Park, in B ...

rebbes * ''Geonei Polin: Chayeihem VeToratam Shel Rabbi Menachem Ziemba MePraga, Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi Frumer MeKozhiglov'', (1983) biogrophies of Polish rabbis * ''Moreshet Tchebin: Darkei Chayav UPoalo Shel Rabbi Dov Berish Weidenfeld'', (1987/1988) biography of Rabbi

Dov Berish Weidenfeld Rabbi Dov Berish Weidenfeld (1881–1965) was the Chief Rabbi of Tshebin (Trzebinia), Poland, and after World War II spent his final years in Jerusalem. His principal work of Jewish law is titled "''Dovev Meisharim''". Biography Dov Berish was ...

* ''Toldot Yehoshuah'', on Rabbi Yehoshua Spira, Rebbe of Ribatitch and Bluzhev

Other

* ''Orot MiMizrach: Toldot Ro'im Ruchni'im LeYahadut HaSepharadit'', 1974, biographies about

Sephardic Sephardic (or Sephardi) Jews (, ; lad, Djudíos Sefardíes), also ''Sepharadim'' , Modern Hebrew: ''Sfaradim'', Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: Səp̄āraddîm, also , ''Ye'hude Sepharad'', lit. "The Jews of Spain", es, Judíos sefardíes (or ), ...

rabbis * ''D'muyot Hod'', 1967, three volume series on ''

gedolim ''Gadol'' or ''godol'' (, plural: ''gedolim'' ) (literally "big" or "great" in Hebrew ) is used by religious Jews to refer to the most revered rabbis of the generation. Usage The term ''gadol hador'' refers to the "great/est (one of) the generati ...

'' * ''Toldot HaChinuch HaTorati BeTekufah HaChadashah'', history of Haredi

chinuch Jewish education ( he, חינוך, ''Chinuch'') is the transmission of the tenets, principles, and religious laws of Judaism. Known as the "people of the book", Jews value education, and the value of education is strongly embedded in Jewish cul ...

in the

spanning 100 years * ''Marbitzei Torah U'Mussar: BeYeshivot Nusach Lita MeTekufat Volozhin Ve'ad Yamenu'', 1976, four volumes, biographies on

Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Lithuanians * Lithuanian language * The country of Lithuania * Grand Duchy of Lithuania * Culture of Lithuania * Lithuanian cuisine * Lithuanian Jews as often called "Lithuanians" (''Lita'im'' or ''Litvaks'') by other Jew ...

Orthodox rabbis * ''Rabbi Shimon VeTorato: Korot Chayav VeShitato HaTalmudit Shel Rabbi Shimon Yehudah HaKohen Shkop'', 1971, biography of Rabbi

Shimon Shkop Shimon Yehuda Shkop ( he, שמעון שקופ; 1860 – October 22, 1939) was a rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Yeshiva of Telshe and then of Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah of Grodno, and a Talmid Chacham (Talmudic scholar). Early life Shkop was born in T ...

* ''Ohr Elchonon: Sipur Chayav Shel Rabbi Elchanan Bunim Wasserman'', biography of Rabbi

Elchonon Wasserman Elchonon Bunim Wasserman ( he, אלחנן בונים וסרמן; 18746 July 1941) was a prominent rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) in prewar Europe. He was one of the closest students of Yisrael Meir Kagan (the Chofetz Chaim) and a noted Talmid Chac ...

**later translated into English by

Artscroll ArtScroll is an imprint of translations, books and commentaries from an Orthodox Jewish perspective published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd., a publishing company based in Rahway, New Jersey. Rabbi Nosson Scherman is the general editor. ArtScroll' ...

, under the name ''Reb Elchonon'' * ''VeZot LeYehudah: Mesechet Chayav VePo'alav Shel Rabbeinu HaGadol Maran Rabbi Yehudah Tzadka Ztzvk"l'', 2012, biography of Rabbi

Yehuda Tzadka Yehuda Yehoshua Tzadka ( he, יהודה צדקה; 13 January 1910 – 20 October 1991) was a respected Sephardi rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He became a student in the yeshiva after his bar mitzvah, and continue ...

* ''Rabbi Shimon Chassidah: Esh Yokedet'', biography of Rabbi

Shimon Sofer Shimon Sofer (1820–1883) (german: Simon Schreiber) was a prominent Austrian Orthodox Jewish rabbi in the 19th century. He was Chief Rabbi of Kraków, Poland after serving as Chief Rabbi of Mattersdorf. He was the second son of Rabbi Moshe Sofe ...

of Erlau * ''Melech BeYofyo: Toldos Chayav, Po'alo VeDarko BeKodesh Shel Maran HaGaon Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky Ztzvk"l'', 2004, 2 volume biography of Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky * ''Chevlei Yotzer: Sipur Chayav UPoalo Shel Meyased Bnei-Brak Rabbi Yitzchak Gerstenkorn'', 1974, biography of Rabbi Yitzchak Gerstenkorn, one of the founders and first mayor of

Bnei Brak Bnei Brak or Bene Beraq ( he, בְּנֵי בְּרַק ) is a city located on the central Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean Israeli coastal plain, coastal plain in Israel, just east of Tel Aviv. A center of Haredi Judaism, Bnei Brak covers an are ...

* ''HaRav MiPonevezh: Toldot HaGaon HaGadol HaRav R' Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman zt"l'', 1997, biography of Rabbi

Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman (1886–1969), he, יוסף שלמה כהנמן, yi, יוסף שלמה כהנעמאן, known also as Ponevezher Rav, was an Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Ponevezh Yeshiva. He was a renowned Torah and Talmudic sc ...

* ''HaChazon Ish BeDorotav: Toldot Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz'', 1983, on Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz (the Chazon Ish) * ''Shluchah DeRachmana: Pirkei Chaim VeYetzirah Shel Shraga Feivel Mendelowitz Zt"l'', 1992, biography of Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendelowitz **Later adapted into English by Yonasan Rosenblum under the name ''Reb Shraga Feivel: The Life and Times of Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, the Architect of Torah in America'' * ''Zuto Shel Nahar: Sipurim Nevcharim'', 1983, stories of ''

Tzaddikim Tzadik ( he, צַדִּיק , "righteous ne, also ''zadik'', ''ṣaddîq'' or ''sadiq''; pl. ''tzadikim'' ''ṣadiqim'') is a title in Judaism given to people considered righteous, such as biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The ...

'' * ''Esh HaTorah'' (two volumes), on Rabbi

Aharon Kotler Aharon Kotler (1892–1962) was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and a prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Lithuania and the United States; the latter being where he founded Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. Early life Kotler w ...

Complete name: ''Esh HaTorah: Rashei Perakim Mekorot Chayav UKtzot Derachav Shel Rabbeinu HaGadol Sar HaTorah VeHaYirah HaGaon HaAmiti Raban Shel Yisrael Maran Rabbi Aharon Kotler Ztzvk"l''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sorasky, Aharon Living people 1940 births Jewish writers Bibliographers of Hebrew literature 20th-century Israeli non-fiction writers Israeli male writers Haredi writers Israeli Hasidim