Yehoshua Leib Diskin

Moshe Yehoshua Yehuda Leib Diskin (1818–1898), also known as the Maharil Diskin, was a leading rabbi, Talmudist, and Biblical commentator. He served as a rabbi in Łomża, Mezritch, Kovno, Shklov, Brisk, and, finally, Jerusalem, after moving to Eretz Yisrael in 1878. He opened what today is known as the Diskin Orphan Home in 1881.

Biography Yehoshua Leib Diskin was born on December 8, 1818, then Volkovisk, and later Łomża.

He married Hinda Rachel, daughter of Rabbi Broder, and lived with his father-in-law in Wolkowitz. He received semikhah (rabbinic ordination) at the age of 18, and inherited his father's rabbinate of Łomża at the age of 25.

Diskin's second wife, , was known as the "Brisker Rebbetzin". She had a very strong mind, and came from a prestigious family descended from Yechezkel Landau (the "Nodah bi-Yehudah") and Joshua Zeitlin. She died in 1907. Diskin's brother Avraham Shmuelborn 1827 in Łomża, who later became a rabbi himselfpre-deceased him.

Rabbinic career In 1878, Diskin left his rabbinical position in Brest-Litovsk and moved to Ottoman Palestine, Diskin's second wife, Sarah (Sonia Rotner), brought 40,000 rubles into the marriage which was used for the support of this institution.

Death and legacy Diskin died on January 23, 1898 (29 Tevet 5658). He is buried on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem. Diskin Street in the Sha'arei Hesed neighbourhood is named after him.