What is known about Rabbi Yaakov Mazeh, the Chief Rabbi of Moscow who was one of the defense witnesses at the trial? I am specifically curious about the origin of his last name.
Thanks Dan. I originally read the Russian version which didn't mention the origin of the name, and glanced at the Hebrew, but skipped right over the first line.
Seems like Mazeh is a common name among Moroccan Kohanim. I wonder how a Chabad Jew from Mohilev wound up with it...
There is a story, don't know if true, that Rabbi Mazeh was the head of the delegation from the Moscow Jewish community to Trotsky. They were asking if the Kiev synagogue which was confiscated by the Bolsheviks could be returned to the Kiev community. When Trotsky refused, Rabbi Mazeh asked him - "Do you consider yourself a Jew or a Russian?". Trotsky replied - "You're mistaken. Neither one. I am a Social-Democrat. That is sufficient." To which R' Mazeh replied - "Revolutions are made by Trotskys, but it's the Bronsteins that wind up paying for them".
did you know that rabbi zecharia fendel just passed away?
ReplyDeleteyes she is, she'll be 102 next month
ReplyDeletejay beilis
I can see that. I guess you are a relative?
ReplyDeleteWhat is known about Rabbi Yaakov Mazeh, the Chief Rabbi of Moscow who was one of the defense witnesses at the trial? I am specifically curious about the origin of his last name.
ReplyDeleteI have cousins similarly named "Mazze." As your "Vikipedia" link itself indicates, it's roshei teivos for "Mi-Zera Aharon (Ha-kohen)."
ReplyDeleteHe wrote a four volume memoir called Zichronosai.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dan. I originally read the Russian version which didn't mention the origin of the name, and glanced at the Hebrew, but skipped right over the first line.
ReplyDeleteSeems like Mazeh is a common name among Moroccan Kohanim. I wonder how a Chabad Jew from Mohilev wound up with it...
There is a story, don't know if true, that Rabbi Mazeh was the head of the delegation from the Moscow Jewish community to Trotsky. They were asking if the Kiev synagogue which was confiscated by the Bolsheviks could be returned to the Kiev community. When Trotsky refused, Rabbi Mazeh asked him - "Do you consider yourself a Jew or a Russian?". Trotsky replied - "You're mistaken. Neither one. I am a Social-Democrat. That is sufficient." To which R' Mazeh replied - "Revolutions are made by Trotskys, but it's the Bronsteins that wind up paying for them".
ReplyDeleteThis post inspired me to re-ead Malamud's Fixer. Now that was a damn depressing read.
ReplyDeleteDF, before you read the fixer, you might wanna read this, this is how my family feels about what Malamud did
ReplyDeletehttp://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1498862
Mazah is also the original family name of none otehr than Jackie Mason whose dad was a well known rabbi and pamphleteer on the Lower east Side.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Zeev Rabiner also authored a wondeful little bio of the Crown rabbi of Moscow
ReplyDeleteHi I'm Jamal Mazeh from Lebanon I use to live in Los Angeles but not any more I'm looking for some relatives around the world . Jamalmazeh@hotmail.com
ReplyDelete