Ben-Zion Alfes

Rabbi Ben-Zion Alfes (1851-1941) was a renowned multi-lingual author and lecturer on Jewish religious subjects. Of his sixty or so books, his best known is "Maase Alfes." The last work he saw published, written at age 90, was an autobiography titled "The Life Story of the Maase Alfes."[1] Another work, Toledot ve-Zikhronot. also an autobiography, but with a different focus, was published posthumously.[2]

Early life

He was born in Vilna "to Rabbi Yirmeyahu Akiva on the first of Kislev, 5611 (1851)."[1] His post-Bar Mitzvah education with his father ended at age 15 upon the passing of his father. At that point, he went to study at the Eishyshok yeshiva.

Connections to the Vilna Gaon

He studied in a Yeshiva with affiliations to the Vilna Gaon, some of whose students were now teaching there. In particular, "he became close with the son-in-law of Rabbi Avraham, the brother of the Vilna Gaon."[1]

Mid life

For a while it seemed that Rabbi Alfes's 1872 attempt to live in Israel would fail for a lack of a livelihood.[1] Upon returning to Vilna he found work as a proof-reader at HaChevra Metz publishing house.

An attempt at writing books for Jewish youngsters was the beginning of his writing career, especially since he received a Haskama from the Chofetz Chaim. He also translated many religious Hebrew works into Yiddish.[2]

His name also became well known due to public lectures and a network of schools, Toras Chesed, geared to orphans and children from impoverished backgrounds.

Later life

His 1925 second try at living in Israel was successful. Not long after arriving in Petah Tikvah he became spiritual director of the Tiferet Bachurim society.[1]

Yiddish accomplishments

He punctuated his Yiddish-language translations/commentaries on Siddur, as well as Holiday prayer books (Machzorim) with Hebrew vowels, "giving them the external appearance of Hebrew."[1] This was of major benefit to women whose education taught them the Yiddish language and the Hebrew/Yiddish alphabet, but not the Hebrew language, as shown by the popularity of the Tzeneh Renneh.

A biography noted that he was called by some the "Pioneer of Orthodox Yiddish literature.”

Family

He and his wife Nechama[3][4] had six children:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 http://www.HevratPinto.org/tzadikim_eng/145_rabbi_benzion_alfes.html
  2. 1 2 "ALFES (Alfas), BENZION". Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopaedia Judaica.
  3. ↑ http://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/ben-zion-alfes_92557792
  4. ↑ Source: a great-grandson's family story, http://www.geocities.ws/Athens/Acropolis/4804/ALFES_FM.HTM
  5. ↑ died in the Holocaust
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