Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin

Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (20 November 1816 – 10 August 1893), also known as Reb Hirsch Leib Berlin, and commonly known by the acronym Netziv, was a Russian Orthodox rabbi, rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Volozhin Yeshiva and author of several works of rabbinic literature in Lithuania.

The Netziv was the eldest son of Yaakov Berlin, a merchant and Torah scholar in the city of Mir, in the Russian Empire (now in Belarus). His paternal lineage traces back to Rabbi Elchanan of Berlin, known as "R' Elchanan Ba'al HaTosafot" due to his profound Torah knowledge, comparable to that of the Tosafists. On his maternal side, his lineage goes back to Rabbi Meir Eisenstadt, author of the responsa "Panim Meirot." Rabbi Sholom Schwadron recounted that in his youth, the Netziv struggled with his studies, and his father considered sending him to learn a trade. In response, the boy cried for a long time until the gates of wisdom were opened for him. Some of the Netziv's family members strongly deny this story, and in another version, his brother-in-law and nephew, Rabbi Baruch Epstein, recounts in his book "Mekor Baruch" that during the period following the Netziv’s marriage, there were times when he felt despair and considered entering commerce. However, during this time, he formed scholarly connections with Rabbi David Luria, which greatly encouraged him. Rabbi Luria even gave him a haskamah (approbation) for the first part of his work, "Haamek She'elah," which was published in 1855.

At the age of 11, the Netziv began studying at the Volozhin Yeshiva, and at 13 and a half, he was betrothed to Reina-Batya, the daughter of R' Yitzhak of Volozhin, head of the Volozhin Yeshiva. Upon marriage, the Netziv devoted himself to deep Torah study for about twenty-five years, where he became known for his dedication. The Netziv's son, Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, recalls that at first, his father’s exceptional greatness was not widely known due to his humility. A correspondence between the Netziv and Rabbi Luria made R' Yitzchak of Volozhin aware of his greatness. From 1847 onward, the Netziv began delivering lectures at the Volozhin Yeshiva.

When his father-in-law died in 1849, his first son-in-law, R' Eliezer Yitzchak, was appointed as the head of the yeshiva, with the Netziv as his deputy. When R' Eliezer Yitzchak died young in 1853, the Netziv was appointed head of the yeshiva, with R' Joseph Dov Ber Soloveitchik as his deputy. The two served together for a time, but there were many disagreements and conflicts between them. The Netziv emphasized mastery and simplicity in study, while R' Joseph Dov preferred dialectical analysis and sharpness in reasoning. Four prominent rabbis of that generation, including R' Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor of Kovno, intervened in the dispute that threatened the yeshiva’s existence, ruling in favor of the Netziv, who continued to serve as the primary head of the yeshiva, with R' Joseph Dov as his deputy. The two served in this capacity for twelve years, during which conflicts periodically erupted between the Netziv’s students and those of R' Joseph Dov. After twelve years, R' Joseph Dov left to accept a rabbinic position in Brisk, and to prove that his departure was not due to the dispute, he married his son, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, to the Netziv’s granddaughter (the daughter of his son-in-law, Rabbi Refael Shapiro).

From 1853 until the yeshiva's closure in 1892, the Netziv led the yeshiva with great dedication, as he wrote:

"In it lies my entire spirit, and I have no one to help me bear its burden."

Under the Netziv's leadership, the yeshiva's reputation grew, and the number of students increased from about 100 to more than 500. The character of the yeshiva was reflected in "The Talmid" written by Chaim Nachman Bialik, who had studied there.

In 1871, the Netziv's wife, Reina-Batya, died. With her he had a son, R' Chaim Berlin. After her death, the Netziv married his niece, Batya Miriam Epstein, daughter of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (author of the "Aruch HaShulchan"), who was about thirty years younger than him. They had two sons, Rabbi Yaakov and Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan.