Renowned as the revered Gadol Hador and legendary Talmudic Scholar, Harav Shemaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky, also known as the Prince of Torah, was an outstanding Rabbi and Chief Posek. His titles, Gadol HaDor ("the greatest of his generation") and the "Prince of Torah," stemmed from profound Torah knowledge and counsel on Jewish law. Despite not holding a formal community-wide post, Rav Chaim Kanievsky was esteemed as the de facto leader of Charedi Judaism.
Born in 1928, his family relocated to Israel when he was six, where he dedicated himself to Torah studies. Mastering intricate sugyas as a young adult, Rav Chaim quickly became a pivotal authority on Jewish law, penning numerous works on Jewish legal writings. His dedication was legendary as he studied and completed the entire Torah, encompassing the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud yearly. Numerous of his halachic rulings are foundational and groundbreaking.
Rav Chaim passed away at his residence in Bnei Brak due to a heart attack on Shushan Purim on March 18, 2022, at the age of 94. Over 800,000 mourners paid their respects at his funeral on March 20, 2022, marking one of Israel's largest funerals. He was married to Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky, the daughter of Rav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, and raised eight children.
The Torah scholarship works of Rav Chaim include Derech Emunoh and Derech Chochmoh, addressing agricultural laws, while Sha'arei Emunoh focuses on the Beis Hamikdash. Shoneh Halachos systematically presents Mishnah Berurah, and Shekel HaKodesh delves into Kiddush Hachodesh laws. Orchos Yosher, Siach Hasadeh, and Nachal Eisan are classics in their genre, offering invaluable wisdom. Ta'ama D'kra, B'sha'ar Hamelech, L'mechase Atik, and Kiryas Melech provide priceless insights. He also wrote noteworthy commentaries on Maseches Tzitzis, Avadim, Kusim, Geirim, Perek Shira, Braisa D'Meleches HaMishkan, and Braisa D'Maseches Middos, as well as the Talmud Yerushalmi.