Nissim Karelitz facts for kids
Shmaryahu Yosef Nissim Karelitz (Hebrew: נסים קרליץ; born July 19, 1926 – died October 21, 2019) was a very respected Orthodox Jewish rabbi. He was known as a posek, which means he was an expert in Jewish law and made important decisions about it. He led the main rabbinical court, called a beis din tzedek, in the city of Bnei Brak, Israel.
About Rabbi Karelitz
Rabbi Karelitz was born in 1926 in a place called Kosava, which was then in Poland. Today, this area is part of Belarus. He moved to Israel with his parents in 1935.
He was the nephew of a very famous rabbi named Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, who was known as the Chazon Ish. The Chazon Ish was a very important spiritual leader in Bnei Brak before Rabbi Karelitz.
When he was young, Rabbi Karelitz studied at the Ponevezh Yeshiva, which is a famous Jewish school. He also learned a lot from his uncles, the Chazon Ish and the Steipler. His wife, Leah, passed away in 2015. She came from a well-known rabbinical family in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Karelitz passed away in Bnei Brak on October 21, 2019. Many thousands of people attended his funeral. Important rabbis, like Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, spoke about his life and teachings.
His Work as a Rabbi
Rabbi Karelitz's rabbinical court helped people with many different issues. They handled money disagreements and problems between married couples. They also oversaw conversions, which is the process of becoming Jewish.
He was also a member of the Vaad Halacha, which is a Jewish law council. This council worked with the Maayanei Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak. He was also the main judge, or av beis din, for the Ramat Aharon neighborhood in Bnei Brak.
His Books
Rabbi Karelitz wrote many books on Jewish law. These books are collected in a series called Chut Shani. They cover different areas of Jewish life and rules.
- Hilchos Shabbos Vol. 1 (Laws of Shabbat, Part 1)
- Hilchos Shabbos Vol. 3 (Laws of Shabbat, Part 3)
- Hilchos Yom Tov (Laws of Jewish Holidays)
- Hilchos Pesach (Laws of Passover)
- Hilchos Niddah (Laws of Family Purity)
- Hilchos Ribbis (Laws of Interest)
- Even Ha'ezer Siman 21 (Laws of Marriage, Section 21)
- Hilchos Shmita ViYovel Vol. 1-2 (Laws of Sabbatical and Jubilee Years, Parts 1-2)
