Zvi A. Yehuda

H-Judaic Obituary: Zvi A. Yehuda

Discussion published by Sarah Imhoff on Monday, October 27, 2014

H-Judaic is saddened to learn of the passing, on October 3rd of Rabbi Zvi A. Yehuda (1927?-2014), professor emeritus at Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, who also taught at Oberlin College, John Carroll University and elsewhere. A disciple of R. Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz (the Hazon Ish ) and a Yeshiva University Ph.D., R. Yehuda was best known for his editorial work on the Kehati Mishnah and for his extensive teaching, which continued in Boca Raton, to the very end of his life.

Dr. Peretz Rodman kindly send us the following obituary that appeared in the Cleveland Jewish News:

Rabbi Zvi A. Yehuda, prominent rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and beloved educator, passed away on the eve of Yom Kippur, in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 88.

Rabbi Yehuda, who resided in Cleveland from 1964 until 1991, wrote the popular “Thought of the Week” column on the weekly Torah portion for many years in the Cleveland Jewish News.

He was a lifelong educator, whose teaching combined Talmudic logic with an extensive familiarity with rabbinic sources, philosophy, and linguistics. Rabbi Yehuda’s engaging style of teaching and vast storehouse of knowledge made him a popular lecturer to both beginning students of Judaism as well as learned rabbis.

An original thinker with a modern perspective, Rabbi Yehuda was born in Jerusalem, and spent much of his formative years studying with one of the leading sages of the generation, Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz (1878-1953), known as the “Hazon Ish.”

He received rabbinic ordination at a very young age and served in the Israel Defense Forces from 1948 until 1950. Rabbi Yehuda’s radio lectures on Mishnah won him acclaim and recognition in Israel, and he served as one of the primary editors of the Kehati edition of the Mishnah, which has become one of the best-known versions of the Mishnah.

In 1960, Rabbi Yehuda moved to New York, where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in biblical and rabbinic studies, at Yeshiva University. During his years in Cleveland, he served as professor at the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, Oberlin College and John Carroll University. Rabbi Yehuda moved to Boca Raton in 2001, and delivered daily classes to members of the congregation.

Rabbi Yehuda was a prolific author who wrote hundreds of articles for numerous Hebrew and English publications, covering a wide range of literary, historical and religious issues. His book dealing with human suffering, entitled “Job: Ordeal, Defiance and Healing – A Study Guide,” was published in 1990.

Rabbi Yehuda is survived by Hassia, his wife of 56 years, children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

Citation: Sarah Imhoff. Obituary: Zvi A. Yehuda. H-Judaic. 10-27-2014. https://networks.h-net.org/node/28655/discussions/50174/obituary-zvi-yehuda Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 1 H-Judaic

We extend deepest sympathies to the entire family.

Jonathan D. Sarna

Chair, H-Judaic