ר׳ פנחס קהתי

ר׳ פנחס קהתי (1910–1976), born Pinchas Gechtman near Rivne in Volhynia, was a Religious Zionist educator whose משניות מבוארות transformed modern Mishnah study. He studied in yeshivot and at Warsaw's Tachkemoni religious teachers' seminary, became active in Hashomer HaDati and HeHalutz HaMizrahi, and immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1935. In Jerusalem he began university studies but financial pressure led him into teaching, movement work and eventually long employment at Bank Mizrahi. He remained deeply involved in HaPoel HaMizrahi and Bnei Akiva. Seeking a commentary accessible to young people and readers without advanced Talmudic training, he began issuing a weekly study pamphlet in 1955: fourteen explained mishnayot for the Mishnah Yomit cycle, together with halakhah and Bible study. By 1964 he had covered all six orders. Revised as a book series, the commentary combined clear modern Hebrew with traditional commentators, relevant Talmudic discussion and halakhic conclusions. It received the Rav Kook Prize in 1967 and became known simply as “Kehati.” He also composed melodies, winning the first Hasidic Song Festival in 1969 with צמאה נפשי. He died in Jerusalem in 1976 and was buried on the Mount of Olives.