Isser Yehuda Unterman (1886 - 1976)

Former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel

Isser Yehuda Unterman, Israel's second Ashkenazi Chief Rabbil, was born in 1886 in Brest-Litovsk (Brisk), where his father was a teacher. Among Unterman's ancestors were Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller (1579-1654), author of the Mishnah commentary, Tosefot Yom Tov, and Rabbi Shaul Wahl Katzenellenbogen (1540-1616), about whom the legend says that he was elected King of Poland for one day.

From a young age Unterman was known as the "Illui (luminary) of Brisk". In 1898, he was invited to become one of the founding students of Etz Chaim Yeshiva branch in Maltsch (Maltash), Belorussia. For some time, he also studied at the Mir Yeshiva, but later returned to Maltsch.

After his marriage, Unterman continued his studies at the Kollel of the Volozhin Yeshiva, where he was ordained. At the age of 24, he opened and headed a Yeshiva in the neighbouring town of Vishova, Lithuania, which was so successful that the Hafetz Chaim sent one of his nephews to study there. Unterman developed laryngitis which ended his full-time teaching career, although he continued to speak in public, where he was an impressive orator, becoming a distinguished community figure and rabbi during World War I. He held various rabbinical positions in Lithuania, such as in Mohilna near Minsk, Amstibova and, from 1921-1924, in Grodno.

In 1924, Unterman was chosen to be Rabbi of Liverpool. He applied himself to learning fluent English and quickly became acclimated to his position, in which he served for 22 years. He became a major Zionist figure in Great Britain and worked with the youth of the Liverpool community. He also united all the Jewish congregations of Liverpool under one umbrella organization, established a Talmud Torah academy in Liverpool, and brought over Jewish refugee students from Germany and other countries.

During the blitz on the Port of Liverpool during World War II, Unterman refused to abandon his post, paying regular visits to the members of his congregation who had dispersed into the smaller towns outside Liverpool, as well as to Jewish internees in camps for foreign nationals. Unterman established a home for refugee children outside Liverpool and campaigned for refugee rights. He also appeared before the Anglo-American Commission of Inquiry on Palestine after the war, in 1946.

In 1946, Unterman was elected Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo, strengthening Torah institutions and public services, like the rabbinical courts. He served as a member of the Chief Rabbinical Council of Israel. During this period, he became known for his understanding approach to issues of public interest and he worked to bring the American and Israeli Rabbinates closer together.

In 1964, Rabbi Unterman was appointed Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel. He took full advantage of his position to make the rabbinical courts more efficient and advocate for understanding between the religious and the secular population.

Rabbi Unterman published many Responsa on halakhic problems, where he combined the meticulous approach of the Lithuanian yeshivot with lucidity, addressing issues in a new and practical manner. Among these were: the principle of pikuach nefesh (saving a life); the reliability of the testimony of doctors for the purpose of religious law; marriage and divorce laws; questions of personal status; heart transplants; and conversion procedures.