Avraham Yitzchak Bloch - Telzer Rav and Rosh Yeshiva

Telzer Rav and Rosh Yeshiva

Upon the death of Rabbi Yosef Leib Bloch in 1929, it was widely assumed that Rabbi Yosef Leib's oldest son, Rabbi Zalman Bloch would succeed his father as Chief Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva of Telz, as was the custom in many communities. At the funeral of Rabbi Yosef Leib, however, Rabbi Zalman Bloch announced that the positions should be filled by his younger brother, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak.

At the young age of 38, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Bloch succeeded his father in the dual role of Chief Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva of Telz, which was one the largest and most prestigious yeshivas in Europe.

Serving in these capacities, Rabbi Bloch understood the diverse points of view of community members, while, simultaneously, upholding the Torah perspective. Sensitive to the material as well as the spiritual needs of his students, he traveled to the United States in 1928 on a successful fundraising campaign.

Rabbi Bloch continued to develop the educational methodology pioneered by his father. This method is known as the Telzer Derekh, a unique analytical approach to Torah study.

Rabbi Bloch was also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of the Agudath Israel and participated at the third Knessia Gedolah of the Agudath Israel at Marienbad, Austria in 1937.