Hacham Shlomo Katzin


Hacham Shlomo Katzin

Date of Birth: 5665 (1905)
Date of Death: 6th of Cheshvan, 5743 (1982)
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A Short Tribute

Hacham Shlomo Katzin, the son of Shaul Katzin, was born in 1905, in Jerusalem. He first learned Torah from his kabbalist father, author of Imrei Bina and Pri Tzaddik, and continued his studies at the Porat Yosef yeshiva in Jerusalem. In addition to his rabbinic studies, he was a qualified shochet and mohel, known for his mastery of languages, and an outstanding preacher.

Hacham Shlomo Katzin was ordained to the rabbinate by Rishon LeZion Hacham Ben Zion Meir Chai Uziel, of blessed memory. He first served as rabbi of the Nachalat Achim and Nachalat Zion Jerusalem neighborhoods. He was subsequently asked by the heads of the Egyptian Jewish community to take the position of rabbi and head of the rabbinic court, and accepted, with the blessings of the chief rabbis of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

He returned to Israel with its establishment as a state, in 1948, and served as rabbi and dayan in Jaffa, where he founded the Shivat Zion great synagogue. He then moved from Jaffa to Bnei Brak, where he served as a halakhic adjudicator and dayan in the greater Tel Aviv rabbinic court.

Hacham Shlomo Katzin passed away on 6 Heshvan, 5743 (1982). He is the author of Kerem Shlomo, Divrei Shlomo, Taharat Bnot Israel and Nitzotzei Or.

 

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Heritage of the Fathers
in which he warns all authors to explicitly cite their sources
Incidentally, as it were, I find it appropriate to remind and warn all authors of their obligation to explicitly cite their sources, and to not appropriate the respect that is due to Torah scholars. Others before me have gone to great lengths in denigrating those who neglect crediting their sources, and go about furtively speaking of ideas and conceptions as though they conceived of them themselves. On this matter, the author of Sha'ar Asher, of blessed memory, wrote that one who so acts robs both the living and the deceased. Such a person robs the living because he could have brought about the Redemption, since it says, "Whoever declares something in the name of its originator brings Redemption to the world"; such a person robs the deceased as well, for mentioning their names makes their lips stir in their grave… These two sayings should suffice for anyone whose heart has been touched by the awe of God. There is, in addition to the obligation to cite one's sources that we mentioned, great privilege to be gained, for this results in positive regard and a good recommendation [for the World-to-Come] because the pleasure it causes above stirs the compassion of Heaven.
Hacham Shlomo Katzin, Nitzotzei Or, p.3, HaTehiya Printing, Jerusalem, 1935 From 'The Daily Sage'
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"It is our custom to light a yahrzeit candle in honor of the memory of the Sages, as it is said: “the life breath of man is the lamp of the Lord” (Proverbs 20:27). And it is good to add from the light of the Torah to the light of the candle, as it is said “For the commandment is a lamp, the teaching is a light” (Proverbs 6:23). And it is good to increase the teaching of the Sage on the anniversary of his death, as Rabbi Yochanan based on the teachings of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said, “Each scholar whose sayings are taught in this world, his lips speak from the grave (Bechorot 31B).”

“Even if all of the skies are a blank parchment, and all human beings are clerks, and all of the forests are quills, we would never be able to write down what our Sages have taught us. But even a few righteous are also good, and thanks to the sacred Torah and the teachings that Israel will learn in the Sage’s name on the anniversary of his death, the Holy One Blessed be He, will share our part with them, and we will never be ashamed because of our faith in the Holy One Blessed be He, and on his great benevolence and truth will we lean, for He hides his abundant goodness for those who are worthy and revere Him.”

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Rabbi Chananaia son of Akashia stated, God wanted to grant merits to Israel, therefore he gave them many laws and commandments as it states, "Because God wants righteousness he increased the amount of Torah and splendor." (Isaiah 42:21).