ר׳ אברהם צבי הירש אייזנשטט

ר׳ אברהם צבי הירש אייזנשטט (probably 1812–21 August 1868), commonly identified by his work פתחי תשובה, was a rabbi and halakhic compiler in the western Russian Empire. Born in Białystok to ר׳ יעקב אשר אייזנשטט and Rachel, he descended from ר׳ מאיר אייזנשטט, author of פנים מאירות. After marrying Yenta Reizel, he continued studying while she operated a stationery business. The family later followed government offices to Grodno; when the business failed there, he became a dayan. He served as rabbi of Bristovitz from 1836 and of Utena from 1856. His פתחי תשובה arranged concise conclusions and references from a vast responsa literature according to the sections of שולחן ערוך. The Yoreh De'ah volume appeared in Vilna in 1836, Even HaEzer during his lifetime, and Choshen Mishpat posthumously. His accompanying נחלת צבי supplied original discussions rather than bibliographic abstracts. Seriously ill in his final year, he travelled from Utena to Königsberg for treatment, died there on 3 Elul 5628 and was buried in the local Jewish cemetery. פתחי תשובה subsequently became a standard commentary printed alongside שולחן ערוך.