JUDAICA - Wisdom In Torah

of Nations’ International Labor Office, and as a consultant for
the Social Security Board. He also taught at Brooklyn College
and New York University. Epstein’s major publications
include The Negro Migrant in Pittsburgh (1918), The Problem
of Old Age Pensions in Industry (1926), Facing Old Age (1922),
The Challenge of the Aged (1928), and Insecurity, a Challenge
to America (1938).
[Roy Lubove]
EPSTEIN, ABRAHAM MEIR BEN ARYEH LEIB, also
called Meir Harif (“sharpwitted”; 1726–1772), talmudist. Epstein
was born in Grodno. He studied under his father, the
kabbalist Aryeh Leib *Epstein, with whom he later also pursued
halakhic studies. The results of their joint work appear in
the talmudic glosses Divrei Ḥiddud. In 1750 he was appointed
rabbi of Lyskovo, and in 1752 of Nowy-Mysz. In the dispute
between *Eybeschuetz and *Emden on the use of amulets, Epstein,
like his father, supported the former. He leaned toward
*Ḥasidism and received Israel of Plotsk, a pupil of *Dov Baer
of Mezhirech, with great respect. The added name Abraham
was given to him during a serious illness in 1756. He was held
in great esteem by his contemporaries and was frequently
consulted on halakhic problems. He was the author of novellae
to the Talmud and to Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah (Shevil
Nahar, Divrei Yedidim, Mahadura Batra); a collection of sermons,
Vikku’aḥ Ger ve-Toshav; an ethical treatise in the form
of a dialogue; responsa; glosses and novellae to the Shulḥan
Arukh, Yoreh De’ah, together with contributions by his father.
Some of his novellae are contained in the works of his contemporaries.
His ethical will was published as an appendix to the
Gevurot ha-Ari of Ephraim Mordecai Epstein (18882).
Bibliography: Ephraim Mordecai Epstein, Gevurot ha-Ari
(18882), 27–29; Yahadut Lita, 3 (1967), 30.
[Samuel Abba Horodezky]
EPSTEIN, ALVIN (1925– ), U.S. actor. Born in the Bronx,
New York, Epstein acted with a U.S. Army company in Europe
after World War II, then joined the French Mime Theater
and toured Europe. He joined the Habimah Theater, Israel, in
1953. He spent three years in Israel – the first one devoted to
learning Hebrew. During the following two years he played 11
roles, gaining invaluable experience working with many welltrained
actors who had come from the Moscow Art Theater
School. He subsequently played in New York and on tour, his
roles including Lucky in Waiting for Godot, Feste in Twelfth
Night, the title role in Pirandello’s Henry IV, Shabelsky in Ivanov,
and Lee Strasberg in Nobody Dies on Friday.
Epstein served as artistic director of the Guthrie Theater
and, for almost 25 years, he was the associate director of
the Yale Repertory Theater. He also taught acting at the ART/
MXAT Institute (Institute for Advanced Theater Training).
Epstein performed throughout the United States, staging
over 20 productions and performing in over 100. His Broadway
and off-Broadway credits include his debut with former fellow
student Marcel *Marceau, as well as roles in Orson Welles’ King
epstein, aryeh leib ben mordecai
Lear, The Threepenny Opera (co-starring with rock star Sting),
the world premiere of When the World Was Green (A Chef’s Fable),
and Tuesdays with Morrie. For 20 years Epstein and Martha
Schlamme performed A Kurt Weill Cabaret on tour in the
U.S. and South America, with a year’s run on Broadway.
Epstein reprised the role of Lucky in the 1961 TV movie
version of Waiting for Godot. He also played in the TV series
The Doctors (1981) and appeared in the TV movie Doing Life
(1986). On the big screen, he had a role in Never Met Picasso
(1996) and Alma Mater (2002). Epstein also lent his voice to
the films Everybody Rides the Carousel (1975) and Beauty and
the Beast (1991).
In 2004 he became involved with the Colleagues Theater
Company in New York. Founded in 1996 by Catherine Wolf,
its aim is to “identify and develop performance opportunities
for the mature and seasoned actor and to provide training opportunities
in theatrical craftsmanship for gifted high school
graduates from underserved communities.” Epstein appeared
in the CTC’s productions of The Mad Woman of Chaillot; 24
Evenings of Wit and Wisdom; and Tasting Memories.
[Ruth Beloff (2nd ed.)]
EPSTEIN, ARYEH LEIB BEN MORDECAI (1705–1775),
rabbi and kabbalist. Epstein was born in Grodno and was a
pupil of Isaac of Grodno, Poland, and Aryeh Leib b. Nathan of
Slutsk. After a brief period as a merchant he took up the position
of preacher in Grodno and in 1741 became rabbi in Berestovitsa
and Golynka. In 1745 he went to Koenigsberg, where
he developed an extensive educational system. He sided with
Jonathan *Eybeschuetz in the latter’s dispute with Jacob *Emden,
sharply criticizing the bickering in rabbinical circles. Two
inquiries which he sent to Eybeschuetz in 1758 are extant, the
one dealing with a halakhic matter, the other with the liturgy.
Epstein was responsible for the introduction of a number of
important takkanot in the Koenigsberg community and also
for the establishment of the Great Synagogue there.
His works include Or ha-Shanim, on the 613 commandments
(Frankfurt on the Oder, 1754); Sefer ha-Pardes, consisting
of novellae to tractate Shabbat; sermons; funeral orations;
a treatise on positive and negative commandments called
Yalkut Sakhar va-Onesh, with an appendix entitled Kunteres
ha-Re’ayot on Shulḥan Arukh, Oraḥ Ḥayyim (Koenigsberg,
1764); and Mishnat Gur-Aryeh, a commentary on Isaac *Luria’s
prayer book (published in part only, Koenigsberg, 1765). He
also published his responsa under the title Teshuvot Maharal
(Morenu ha-Rav R. Aryeh Leib; ibid., 1769); wrote glosses to
the Talmud (together with his son Abraham Meir); glosses and
novellae to Shulḥan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah, to which his son also
contributed (Vilna, 1883); and several other works.
Bibliography: J. Emden, Mitpaḥat Sefarim (Lemberg, 1870),
119; D. Kahana, Toledot ha-Shabbeta’im ve-ha-Ḥasidim, 2 (1914), 57;
S.A. Friedenstein, Ir Gibborim (1880), 41, 44ff., 47–50; E.M. Epstein,
Gevurot ha-Ari (18882); H.N. Maggid (Steinschneider), Ir Vilna
(1900), 44; Sefer Yahadut Lita, 3 (1967), 30.
[Samuel Abba Horodezky]
ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition, Volume 6 467