Avraham Danzig

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Avraham ben Yehiel Michael Danzig (1748–1820) was a Polish-born rabbi, legal decisor (posek), and codifier best known for writing two important Jewish-law works, Chayei Adam and Chochmat Adam. He is often called the Chayei Adam.

Born in Danzig (Gdańsk), Poland, into a prominent rabbinic family, he was sent at age fourteen to study at the Prague yeshiva. There, he promised not to mix with the Moderns who were influenced by Moses Mendelssohn. He studied four years under Rabbi Yechezkel Landau and Rabbi Joseph Liebermann. Although he was offered a rabbinic post in Vilna, he declined and supported himself as a merchant, traveling to fairs in Leipzig and Königsberg.

Later, after losing much of his fortune in a powder-magazine explosion, he accepted the position of dayan in Vilna, where he served until 1812. He died in Vilna on September 12, 1820.

Danzig is one of three authorities Shlomo Ganzfried relied on for the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. His descendants include Neil Danzig and Joseph Meyer Danzig; Avraham Mordechai Danzig, his grandson, was born in Jerusalem and named after him.

Chayei Adam and Chochmat Adam are his major works on halacha, focused on the laws of daily life in the Shulchan Aruch. Chayei Adam (The Life of Man) covers laws in Orach Chayim and is divided into 224 sections: 69 on daily conduct and prayer, and 155 on Shabbat and holidays. It collects later legal opinions (Acharonim) and aims to be accessible to the cultured layperson; Nishmat Adam, published together with it, expands on its discussions. Many communities formed study groups around Chayei Adam, and the two works are usually printed together.

Chochmat Adam (The Wisdom of Man) covers laws in Yoreh De’ah and, where relevant, in Even Ha’ezer and Choshen Mishpat. Binat Adam accompanies Nishmat Adam. Chochmat Adam was written with input from prominent scholars Chaim Volozhin and Yaakov of Lisa. Chaim Volozhin approved it on the condition that each section cross-reference the Shulchan Aruch for further study. The Chatam Sofer advised his son to consult Chochmat Adam when the Shulchan Aruch was not available.

Danzig also authored Tefillah Zakah, a penitential prayer recited on the eve of Yom Kippur.

In 1804, a gunpowder explosion in Vilna killed 31 people and destroyed much property. Danzig lost his home and business but survived. He later marked the date as a “Pulverpurim” (Gunpowder Purim) and, according to his custom, observed a fast on the 15th of Kislev with extra charity, followed by a Seudas Hodaah (Meal of Thanksgiving) on the 16th of Kislev.