Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin was born on Chanukah in Kazimirov, near Bobruisk, in Belarus, where his father, Rabbi Aharon Mordechai, was the rav; sources differ on the year, placing it between 1885 and 1888. He studied in the Mir yeshiva and then in Bobruisk under Rabbi Shemaryahu Noach Schneersohn, and received semichah from, among others, the Rogatchover Gaon and the author of the Aruch HaShulchan. He served as rav of Klimov and Novozybkov, and in 1927 was secretary of the conference of Soviet rabbis convened by the Previous Rebbe. After years of Soviet persecution he reached Eretz Yisrael in 1934.
From 1942 until his passing he led the editorial team of the Encyclopedia Talmudit, founded with Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, and he was the author of HaMoadim BaHalachah, LeOr HaHalachah, Ishim VeShitos, Soferim USefarim and Sippurei Chassidim. He received the Israel Prize for Torah literature in 1959, headed the Chabad beis din in Eretz Yisrael, and was a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council. A Chabad chassid throughout his life, he was close to the Previous Rebbe and to the Rebbe. He passed away on 21 Adar I 5738 (1978).
The Rebbe's 53 letters to Rabbi Zevin, spanning more than two decades, reflect both scholarly exchange and shared communal responsibility.
The Encyclopedia Talmudit and his books. The Rebbe praised the Encyclopedia and its value for Torah study, helped spread it, suggested adding illustrations, diagrams and maps, and thanked him for each new volume (IK 1565, 1566, 1768, 3368, 4617, 7941, 8209). He wrote on his Sippurei Chassidim, urging that sources be cited and the reliability of stories weighed (IK 3405), and on proper source attribution in halachic works (IK 9545).
Halachic and scholarly discussion. Letters discuss corrections in halachic works and the passing of Rashbi (IK 485); the reading "Bonayich" (IK 953); halachah and Tanya (IK 3215); purification by a well and the laws of niddah (IK 4155); the tenth animal of maaser beheimah and its sanctity (IK 7333, 7356); the communal Siyum HaShas and lessons from niddah and zavah (IK 7422); maaser sheni (IK 8891); Pesach Sheni and the laws of docheh tumah (IK 9515); and many shorter scholarly notes accompanying holiday greetings.
Communal and public issues. Rabbi Zevin was the Rebbe's partner on the public questions of the day in Eretz Yisrael: the urgent need for a halachic ruling on Israeli ships sailing on Shabbos (IK 4556, 4617, 8847); national service for girls (IK 2373); the Chief Rabbinate and rabbinate elections, and keeping Torah scholarship apart from politics (IK 6925, 6967, 7515, 9292); government involvement in education (IK 7959); student visits to Eretz Yisrael (IK 4402); and why the Rebbe would not sign an announcement about Israeli esrogim (IK 3834). The Rebbe asked him to advocate for Kfar Chabad with Zalman Shazar (IK 7399, 8660), explained that Chabad need not compete where other chareidim are already active (IK 2470), and wrote on Chabad's stance amid controversy (IK 7329) and on attendance at rabbinic gatherings (IK 8871).
See also: Accuracy – Chassidic stories and teachings; Jewish outreach – Publishing and spreading Torah books; Land of Israel – Who is a Jew, conversion and public Shabbos; Leadership – Elections, government and public protest.