(1829-1908). Rabbi and halakhic authority. Epstein studied in the famous Volozhin Yeshivah, a stronghold of the Mitnaggedim. Later, when he assumed his first position as rabbi of Novosybkov with its many ḥabad Ḥasidim, he visited the Ḥabad Rebbe there, Menahem Mendel of Lubavich (author of Tsemaḥ Tsedek), and was ordained by him. After serving as rabbi of Novosybkov for 12 years (1862-1874), he was appointed rabbi of Novogrudok, a position he held until his death. Epstein is known for his monumental Arukh ha-Shulḥan, a work which parallels the Shulḥan Arukh chapter by chapter but contains a great deal of additional material which had accumulated in the 300 years since the Shulḥan Arukh was published. The work appeared between 1884 and 1907, though with lacunae in certain sections, and shows a tendency toward leniency. Posthumously (1938-1969), his Arukh ha-Shulḥan le-Atid ("Arukh ha-Shulḥan for the Future") was published, dealing with many of the laws of Erets Israel not covered in the Shulḥan Arukh, as well as the laws of the Temple service.
The New Encyclopedia of Judaism. Copyright © 1989, 2002 by G.G. The Jerusalem Publishing House, Ltd. All rights reserved.
