Years: 1918–2001
Primary city: Antwerp
Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth was a Rav and dayan who served for decades as Chief Rabbi of Machzikei Hadass in Antwerp, while also founding and serving as rosh yeshiva of Mercaz HaTorah in Yerushalayim. He was regarded as an extraordinary lamdan and baal machshavah, known for his mastery of Shas and poskim and for his role in rebuilding postwar Torah life in Europe and Eretz Yisrael. Beyond his communal and yeshiva leadership he was active in rescuing Holocaust survivors and children and in supporting widows, orphans, and Torah institutions through extensive tzedakah efforts.