Avigdor Nebenzahl


Avigdor Nebenzahl is an Israeli Orthodox rabbi and Posek. He is the senior Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, a faculty member at Yeshivat HaKotel, and Rabbi of the Ramban Synagogue. Nebenzahl previously served as chief rabbi of the Old City of Jerusalem, before handing the post over to his son Rabbi Chizkiyahu Nebenzahl.

Biography

Avigdor Nebenzahl was born to Yitzhak Nebenzahl, the State Comptroller of the State of Israel from 1948-1981, Israel's Ombudsman from 1961–1981, and a senior officer in the Bank of Israel and the Postal Bank. His sister, Plia Albeck, was head of the Civil Department of the State Prosecutor's Office for 24 years.
Nebenzahl's first wife, Shifra Nebenzahl, died on February 12, 2016. Rebbetzin Nebenzahl was a member of the Mirrer Yeshiva family; her paternal grandfather, Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel was its Rosh Yeshiva for 48 years. Her father, Rabbi Chaim Zev Finkel, was a Mashgiach ruchani of the yeshiva. Her brother-in-law, Rabbi Aaron Chodosh, is a mashgiach there, and her brother, Rabbi Aryeh Finkel, was the Rosh Yeshiva of its Brachfeld branch until his death on August 10, 2016. Nebenzahl remarried at age 83.

Rabbinic career

Nebenzahl was a faculty member of Yeshivat Mir before accepting positions at Yeshivat HaKotel and Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, where he gives weekly lectures. He hosts many of those students in his home for kiddush after Shabbat morning prayer services. Nebenzahl's scholarly works include a commentary on the Mishnah Berurah, books about the laws of the Jewish holidays and tractate Shabbat. He is the author of essays on the weekly Torah portion. Nebenzahl was Shlomo Zalman Auerbach's study partner for over 40 years.

Views and opinions

Nebenzahl opposes Jewish tour groups to the Temple Mount. In 2004 he stated before an Israeli court that any Jew guilty of selling parts of what he termed the Land of Israel falls under the law of Din Rodef, meaning he is subject to being killed legally under religious law. One of his students, Rabbi Joel Landau, assisted him in publishing his work.

Published works

Kotlenu, No. 5, Nissan 5733 : בענין בכור בהמה טמאה בחו"ל