Yitzchak Abadi

Rabbi Abadi was born in Venezuela and moved together with his parents to Tiberias, Mandatory Palestine at age 2. As a child Rabbi Abadi attended school in Haifa. Rabbi Abadi's studies began in the Yishuv Hachdash in Tel-Aviv, Israel and continued in Yeshivat Chevron in Jerusalem. At 19 years old, Rabbi Abadi was sent by the Chazon Ish to study in Montreux, Switzerland. A year later the Chazon Ish sent Rabbi Abadi to study in Lakewood, NJ, under the famed Rabbi Aharon Kotler.[1]

Rabbi Abadi is a posek, and his students are rabbis across the globe. After Rav Kotler's death, Rabbi Abadi emerged as the leading posek for the entire Lakewood community. Rabbi Abadi branched out on his own in 1980, opening a premiere halacha kollel in Lakewood. In 1993, Rabbi Abadi transferred his kollel to Har Nof, Jerusalem, where it continued to produce scholars who are trained to decide halachic questions touching on every aspect of Jewish law.[1] Rabbi Abadi moved back to Lakewood in 2009.

Rav Yitzchak Abadi holding his Megilla on Purim 2013

Owing to his prominence as a posek, Rabbi Abadi is asked the most difficult questions, in which he issues a number of innovative and controversial decisions. For instance, his ruling that permits writing a sefer torah through a silk screen process.[2][3][4] and a more recent ruling that wigs made with Indian hair may be used.[5] Rav Abadi also composed a short version of Birkat Hamazon based on the Rambam and other Rishonim, if it is difficult for one to say the full version that is customary, one may say this version, even initially as a first choice.

Ohr Yitzchak Vol 1 [6]

Ohr Yitzchak Vol 2 [7]

Booklet on Niddah Laws [8]

Birkat Hamazon Hakatzar (based on the views of the Rambam and the other Rishonim) [9][10]

• oheltorah.com A kashrut and halachah website by Rabbi Abadi's sons, including a Q&A forum answered "according to the opinions of their father, Rabbi Yitzchak Abadi."