Gadol - Partial List

Partial List

Rabbi Zechariah Fendel (1928–2011), former principal of the Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim high school in Queens, New York, spent many years writing extensively on the history of the Torah Mesorah, and the gedolim who passed it on, from biblical times through the present. A partial recounting of those he lists in his works for gedolim after World War I (in order of passing) (and their credentials, based primarily on published Torah work, serving as Rosh Yeshiva of a prominent Yeshiva, or as a prominent Rav of a geographical area or Hasidut) includes:

• The Chofetz Chaim (1838–1933) (author of many Torah works, including the Mishna Berurah; Rosh Yeshiva in Radin).
• Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935) (author of many Torah works, including the Orot series; first modern chief Rabbi of Israel; founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Mercaz Harav).
• Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863–1940) (Rav of Vilna. Author of extensive responsa published as Achiezer).
• The Chazon Ish (1878–1953) (author of numerous Torah works under the title Chazon Ish).
• Aharon Kotler (1892–1962) (Rosh Yeshiva of Kletzk; Rosh Yeshiva of Lakewood).
• Joel Teitelbaum (1887–1979) (Leader of Satmar Hasidim; author of Vayoel Moshe Torah commentary and responsa).
• Yaakov Kamenetsky (1891–1986) (Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Torah Vadaas).
• Moshe Feinstein (1895–1986) (Rosh Yeshiva of Mesivta Tifereth Yerushalayim; author of extensive responsa published as Igros Moshe).
• Joseph Ber Soloveitchik (1903–1993) (Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Rabbenu Yitzchak Elchanon; Rav in Boston).
• Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994) (Leader of Chabad Lubavitch Hasidim).
• Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910-1995) (Rosh Yeshiva of Kol Torah. Leading posek).
• Elazar Shach (1898–2001) (Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh).