Magen avraham biography

Written by Jeremy Freedman September 2011

       (A likeness of the Gaon, Rabbi Avraham Gombinner the author of Magen Avraham on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayyim)

PART I

Years ago, when we first embarked on the cemetery project, I was describing the plan to a friend here in London.

“Gombin,” he mused. “Gombin? I know that name. Ahah!

Magen avraham biography

Of course! The Gombiner Rov, The Magen Avraham. I read him every day!”

So who was the Gombiner Rov? Why was he called the Magen Avraham? Why was my friend exposed to him on a daily basis?

The Torah, Jewish Law, is divided into the Written Law (the Five Books of Moses) and the Oral Law.

For over a thousand years the Oral Law was transmitted by word of mouth. Towards the end of the second century c.e., out of concern that persecution and expulsions would lead to it being forgotten, it was committed to writing in th