Yitzchak Abadi

Yitzchak Abadi was a Venezuelan-born American Orthodox rabbi and posek. He was a prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in the United States and elsewhere.

Early life

Yitzchak Abadi was born in Venezuela. He moved with his parents to Tiberias, Mandatory Palestine at age 2. As a child Abadi attended school in Haifa. His studies began at in Tel Aviv, Israel and continued in Yeshivat Chevron in Jerusalem. At 19 years old, he was sent by the Chazon Ish to study in Montreux, Switzerland. A year later the Chazon Ish sent Abadi to study in Lakewood, New Jersey under Aharon Kotler.

Career

Abadi emerged as one of the leading poskim for the Lakewood community. Rabbi Shlomo Gissinger Zt”l, who was his Talmid Muvhak, predeceased in 2020. He branched out on his own there in 1980, opening a premier halakha Kollel. In 1993, he transferred his Kollel to Har Nof, Jerusalem, where it continued to produce scholars trained to decide halakhic questions touching on every aspect of Jewish law. Abadi moved back to Lakewood in 2009.

Notable decisions

Owing to his prominence as a posek, Abadi was asked the most difficult questions, in which he issued a number of innovative and controversial decisions. He ruled that it is permitted to write a sefer torah through a silk screen process, although this decision was contested by J. David Bleich. Abadi ruled that wigs made with Indian tonsured hair may be used. He also composed a short version of Birkat Hamazon—based on the Rambam and other Rishonim—for those who find it difficult to recite the full version, who may use it ab initio.

Death

Abadi died in Lakewood, New Jersey, on December 16, 2025, at the age of 92.

Works

Ohr Yitzchak - 2 Volumes

''Birkat Hamazon Hakatzar''