Today in History: Celebrating Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin

Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin was born on the 7th of Sivan, in the year 1749, in Volozhin. From a young age, his remarkable Torah knowledge and abilities stood out. He initially studied with Rabbi Raphael Ziskind of Hamburg and later with the 'Shagat Aryeh'. At 19, he began his studies under the Vilna Gaon. As an adult, Rabbi Chaim became the rabbi of Volozhin. After the passing of his teacher, he established the 'Etz Chaim Yeshiva', better known as 'Volozhin Yeshiva' or 'The Mother of Yeshivas'. This yeshiva was unique because it was the first to provide both lodging and meals for Torah students, unlike earlier practices where students ate and slept with local families.

Rabbi Chaim's books have become cherished treasures in the Jewish literary world: 'Nefesh HaChaim', 'Ruach HaChaim', and 'HaChut HaMeshulash'.

Rabbi Chaim served as the rabbi of Volozhin and head of the yeshiva until his passing on the 14th of Sivan, 1821.