Chaim Mordechai HaKohen Perlov

Rabbi Chaim Mordechai HaKohen Perlov (1889 - Yud Tishrei 1978), known as Mordechai Chersoner (named after his birthplace Cherson), was a renowned rav and respected authority.

Life History

Rabbi Perlov was born in the Chassidic town of Cherson in 1889. His father, Reb Dovid HaKohen, was from the Perlov family, who had lived in the colonies since their establishment. Influenced by his friends, he went to study at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch in 1904, where he learned until Adar Rishon 1913. In yeshiva, he was known as an exceptional masmid.

In 1912, he married Sheina Beila, daughter of HaRav HaGaon Reb Avraham Dov Ber HaKohen, rav of Shadova near Kovna in Lithuania, and moved there.

In 1918, he became rav in the town of Brislav in the Cherson region, serving until 1919, when he returned to his birthplace, Cherson, to serve as Rosh Mesivta in the Tomchei Tmimim division in Cherson.

In 1922, he left the city due to severe famine and traveled to Kulash in Georgia, where he served as rav together with his brother-in-law Rabbi Avraham Levi Slavin. From there, he moved to Statshili where he established a yeshiva and mikvah.

In 1928, he moved to Statskheri where he spread Yiddishkeit and fought against the KGB with mesiras nefesh. Due to these activities, he was arrested in 1933 until winter 1937.

After his release, he moved to Kutaisi - the central city in Georgia where he engaged in spreading Torah. In 1936, he was caught by the authorities and sent to exile for 10 years in Siberia. Miraculously, he returned after 6.5 years.

After World War II in 1946, he managed to leave Russia and stayed in the Schwaebisch Hall refugee camp near Munich, Germany. At that time, a Vaad HaRabbanim was established to deal with issues of agunos, gittin, and chalitza that arose after the Holocaust. Rabbi Perlov was among the members, and based on their psak din, he composed the sefer "Get L'Maaseh."

While there, he established a mikvah and led campaigns for shemiras Shabbos and other aspects of Yiddishkeit.

In 1949, he moved to Milan, Italy, and served as rav of the Ohel Yaakov shul. During his decade there, he developed and expanded the kehilla and built a bor al gabei bor mikvah. During this time, he maintained extensive correspondence with the Rebbe regarding community leadership in general and the mikvah in particular - which were published in the Igros Kodesh series.

The Rebbe relied on his psakim and referred questioners to him.

In 1959, he moved to Melbourne, Australia to live near his only son Reb Dovid Perlov, where he served as mashpia at Yeshivas Ohel Yosef Yitzchak Chabad Lubavitch Melbourne.

He passed away on Yom Kippur 1978.

His Books

Get L'maaseh

Studies and rulings on matters of agunah, yibum, get, and chalitzah - based on the rulings of the "Vaad HaRabbonim L'inyonei Gittin" (Rabbinical Committee for Matters of Jewish Divorce) of Germany. Published in 1970.

Likutei Sipurim

Hundreds of stories that the author heard in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch, most of them from the Mashpia Reb Gronem Estermon. The book was written at the Rebbe's request. First edition - 1966, second edition - 1992. Third edition newly edited by Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Gottlieb, Rabbi Yisroel Nosson Selwin and Reb Shneur Zalman Perlow - 2002.

Further Reading

• His biography in the new edition of his book Likutei Sipurim, 2002.
• Yosef Ashkenazi, Otzar HaChassidim - The Personalities and Chassidic Teachings of Chabad Mashpi'im Throughout the World, published by Chazak, 2014.