CHAVEL, CHARLES (Dov) BER

CHAVEL, CHARLES (Dov) BER (1906–1982), U.S. rabbi and author. Chavel was born in Ciechanow, Poland, and immigrated to the United States in 1919. He was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago (1929). He served as rabbi of Congregation Anshe Sfard, Louisville, Kentucky, from 1924 to 1945 and, subsequently, spent a year as director of synagogue activities of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. From 1946 he was rabbi of Congregation Shaare Zedek, Edgemere, Long Island. Chavel was one of the most productive American writers in rabbinical literature. His books include critical annotated editions of Naḥmanides' commentary to Pentateuch and other writings: Perushei ha-Torah le-Rabbenu Moshe ben Naḥman (2 vols., 1959–60), Ramban, His Life and Teachings (1960), Kitvei ha-Ramban (1962), Perush Rabbenu Baḥya al ha-Torah (1966–68), Kol Kitvei Rabbenu Baḥya (1970), and a translation with annotations of Maimonides' Sefer ha-Mitzvot, Book of Divine Commandments (1940). He also published critical editions of early commentaries on the Bible and Talmud. He also wrote Sefer David Turei Zahav: Perush le-Rashi al ha-Torah me-et Rabbenu David ben Shemuel ha-Levi (1978) and edited Encyclopedia of Torah Thought: Rabbenu Baḥya ben Asher (1980), Ḥizkuni: Perushei ha-Torah le-Rabbenu Hizkiyyah ben Mano'ah (1981), Sefer ha-Mitzvot le-ha-Rambam im Hasagot ha-Ramban (1982), and Perushei Rashi al ha-Torah (1982). From 1957 he was editor of Hadorom, the Hebrew journal of the Rabbinical Council of America.

[Elazar Hurvitz]