Rav Avigdor Miller

Early years

Rav Avigdor Miller zt"l (1908–2001) was born in Baltimore. Like the other Jewish boys from religious homes, he attended public school, and he studied Torah with his grandfather and other local rabbonim.

At the age of 14 he left to study at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchonon, which was then the only Jewish high school in the United States offering high-level Jewish studies. There he met future leaders of American Jewry, among them Rav Nosson Wachtfogel, Rav Yehuda Davis and Rav Mordechai Gifter. They met secretly in Rav Avigdor's dormitory room to hear a shiur in Mesillas Yesharim from Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman.

In 1932 he followed Rav Aizik Sher to Slobodka, where he spent six years learning. In 1935 he married Ethel Lessin.

Torah and leadership

Rav Avigdor's first rabbinical position was in Chelsea, Massachusetts. In 1945 Rav Hutner offered him the position of mashgiach (spiritual supervisor) of Yeshivas Chaim Berlin, a post he held for 19 years.

He was also invited by the Young Israel of Rugby, on East 49th Street in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, to be its unofficial rav. The position became official in 1946–47.

In 1964, when Yeshivas Chaim Berlin moved to Far Rockaway, Rav Avigdor decided to resign and devote himself full time to his congregation and his writing.

Teachings and seforim

Rav Avigdor began writing his first sefer, Rejoice O Youth, in 1963, and finished it in 1965.

Later years and passing

Rav Avigdor passed away on 27 Nissan 5761 (2001).