ELYE-MORTKHE MAZA

ELYE-MORTKHE MAZA (1896-November 10, 1954)

            He was born in Smolovitsh (Smalyavichy), Minsk district, Byelorussia, into a rabbinical family.  He studied with his father, in religious elementary schools, and in the Slobodka and Slutsk yeshivas, from which he received ordination into the rabbinate.  In 1926 he moved to the United States and served as rabbi in various cities across the country, the last being at the Slutsk School in New York.  He wrote articles for: Tog (Day), Morgn-zhurnal (Morning journal), Der amerikaner (The American), Der id (The Jew), Dos idishe likht (The Jewish light), Idishe shtime (Jewish voice), Di ortodoksishe tribune (The Orthodox tribune), and in Hebrew for Hapardas (The orchard) and Hamesila (The roadway)—in New York.  He was the author of a series of religious texts on actual and religious topics, such as: Seyfer mesiekh ilmim (A book causing others to be struck dumb), “a storyline that was found recorded in a register” (New York, 1936), 16 pp.; Seyfer shmires hanefashes (A book on guarding of souls), “how to care for the soul (nefesh), which means the soul (neshome)” (New York, 1937), 80 pp.; Hatsoles nefashes (Rescuing souls) (New York, 1938), 66 pp.; Meshiekh geyt, meshiekh kumt! (The Messiah goes, the Messiah comes!) (New York, 1938), 16 pp.; Brokhes nefashes (Prayers for the soul) (New York, 1939), 57 pp.; Nide, khale, hadlakes haner (Ritual purity, challah, kindling the candle), explained in Yiddish (New York, 1940), 24 pp.; Seyfer ahaves hatoyre (Love of Torah) (New York, 1941), 48 pp.; Kol mevaser (Herald) (New York, 1943), 24 pp.; Marpe lenefesh (Curing the soul), “healing for the soul” (New York, 1949), 24 pp.; Di shul un di der president (The synagogue and the president) (New York, 1950), 24 pp.; Khemdes-ram (New York, 1952), 24 pp.—all in Yiddish—as well as a long series of texts in Hebrew.  He died in New York.

Sources: Tog-morgn-zhurnal (New York) (November 16 and 17, 1954); Bet eked sefarim.

Khayim Leyb Fuks