The Avnei Nezer—Rabbi Avraham Bornsztain of Sochatchov רבי אברהם בורנשטיין מסוכטשוב — אבני נזר
founder of the Sochatchov court; the Kotzker's son-in-law and a halakhist of the first rank
He married the Kotzker's daughter at fourteen and grew up at the Kotzk court; after his father-in-law's death he went to Rabbi Chanoch of Alexander, and then took the rabbinical seat of Sochatchov. The court gathered around him of itself, and he led it as a rabbi: with a court of law, with answers to questions, with a lesson.
Law. The Avnei Nezer is seven volumes of responsa on everything from the eruv to civil disputes. From them one sees how a chasid of the first rank decided halakhah: like a Litvak, without allowances for the court. The Eglei Tal is on the thirty-nine labours of the Sabbath, and it is studied in yeshivas of every kind.
The Land of Israel. He wrote that living in it is a commandment in our days too, and confirmed it by deed: he bought land and sent chasidim.
He died on 11 Adar 1910. His son Rabbi Shmuel, author of the Shem MiShmuel, took the court.
On the timeline
Related
Sources
Acharonim and later rabbinic literature
- The Avnei Nezer—seven volumes of responsa — the book he is named by
- The Eglei Tal on the labours of the Sabbath — a book studied in yeshivas of every kind
Basis: documents and evidence.