ר׳ שלמה זלמן אויערבך

ר׳ שלמה זלמן אויערבך (1910–1995) was a Jerusalem posek and rosh yeshiva renowned for applying halakhah to electricity, medicine and modern technology. Born and raised in Shaarei Chesed, he was the son of ר׳ חיים יהודה לייב אויערבך, founder of the Shaar HaShamayim kabbalists’ yeshiva. He studied at Etz Chaim under ר׳ איסר זלמן מלצר and, after marriage, at the Bnei Zion kollel led by ר׳ צבי פסח פרנק, where he specialized in agricultural commandments dependent on the Land of Israel. His 1935 מאורי אש was the first sustained monograph devoted to electricity in halakhah. In 1949 he became rosh yeshiva of Kol Torah in Bayit Vegan and held that post until his death, while continuing to live simply in Shaarei Chesed and travel by public bus. His responsa מנחת שלמה became a central source for modern halakhic questions, and his rulings strongly shaped שמירת שבת כהלכתה by his student ר׳ יהושע ישעיה נויבירט. Although consulted worldwide, he declined prestigious official posts and was known for personal warmth and avoidance of factional politics. He died in Jerusalem in 1995 and was buried at Har HaMenuchot.