|
| organization = [[Kollel Hod]]
| spouse = Hana Lipsha Minsker
| relatives = [[Natasha Hausdorff]]
}}
Rabbi '''Azriel Zelig Hausdorf''' ({{Lang-Langx|he|עזריאל זליג הויזדורף}}) (1826 ''–'' 1905)<ref>Gale Research Company; Detroit, Michigan; Accession Number: ''529393''</ref> was an Israeli philanthropist and doctor who worked with the [[Kollel Hod]] to build shelters in [[Jerusalem]] for [[Aliyah|Jewish immigrants]].
== Early life ==
Hausdorf was born in 1826 to Moshe Hausdorf in the city of [[Mysłowice|Mislovitz]] in [[East Prussia]] (now Poland).<ref>{{factCite web |title=Hausdorf, Azriel Zelig |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hausdorf-azriel-zelig |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.encyclopedia.com |oclc=405663034}}</ref> Due to his place of birth, he was sometimes called "Rabbi Zelig Deutsch" (Rabbi Zelig the German). He studied in the local [[Yeshiva]] of Rabbi Pinchas Hamburger, while concurrently receiving a secular education. INIn 1846, he immigrated to the [[Land of Israel]] via boat over the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. During the trip, due to unstable weather, the boat was at risk of capsizing, so the captain of the ship asked Hausdorf to pray for the boat like [[Jonah]] the prophet. He settled in Jerusalem and married Hana Lipsha Minsker, daughter of Rabbi Zvi of [[Vilna]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Tidhar |first=David |url=http://www.tidhar.tourolib.org/tidhar/view/5/2354 |title=אנציקלופדיה לחלוצי היישוב ובוניו |year=1952 |volume=V |pages=2354 |language=he |trans-title=Encyclopedia of the Pioneers of the Yishuv and its Builders}}</ref>
== Career ==
Hausdorf was an important voice in the construction of the [[Misgav Ladach]] hospital built by the [[Rothschild family]] in Jerusalem, and was appointed overseer of the hospital's finances. Before its construction, the initial plan was to build it in [[Tiberias]], and in 1865, he visited the city for that purpose. He also helped [[Charles Netter]] in his quest to purchase land for the [[Mikveh Israel]].<ref name=":0" />
He was one of the chief organizers for many receptions held on behalf of Jews for distinguished guests who came to Jerusalem, such as [[Moses Montefiore]], [[Edmond James de Rothschild|Baron Edmond James de Rothschild]], [[Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria|Rudolf of Austria]], and [[Emperor Franz Joseph]].<ref name=":0" /> Emperor [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm II]] even gifted Hausdorfhim a gold medalmetal, the Knight's Medal of the Prussian Kingdom, as Hausdorf was authorized by the Prussian embassy to act as a defense attorney for a Jew in a criminal trial. They wrote on 14 April 1866 to his superiors:<blockquote>There are no editors in Jerusalem law, and it is impossible to find a suitable person who meets the requirements of Prussian law as a defense attorney, so [Wilhelm] asks the authority to appoint someone as defense council for trials involving a leader of the Jewish community, who represents them and will interpret their requests. <ref>Quote from Cathedra 1998 - files from the archives of the German Consulate in Israel (11) Nefos books (3).</ref></blockquote>For multiple years, he was reelected to his position. Throughout his career, he also helped protect Jews from [[proselytization]] from Christian missionaries and forces who were disapproving of Jewish practices in Israel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Graievsky |first=Pinchas |date=10 Oct 1935 |title=The War of the Old Settlement in Mission |language=he |work=[[Davar]] |url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1935/10/10/01/article/36?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1 |access-date=11 Jul 2023}}</ref>
== Family ==
* His other son, Rabbi Chaim Eliezer, was a pharmacist and authored multiple books, including one about his father.
* His daughter Friedel was the wife of Rabbi [[Tuvia Aryeh Goldberger]], a member of the [[Kollel Shomrei HaChomos]].
He is a paternal ancestor of [[Natasha Hausdorff]], a British barrister, international law commentator, and Israel advocate.<ref name=gla>Karen Glaser (March 2, 2023). [https://www.thejc.com/news/meet-the-brilliant-barrister-battling-lies-about-israel-ab2dxq8g "Meet the brilliant barrister battling lies about Israel,"] ''The Jewish Chronicle''.</ref>
The municipality of Jerusalem named a street after him (Azriel Street) in the [[Givat Shaul|Givat Shaul neighborhood]]. He is buried at the [[Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery|Mount of Olives]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=כרטיס קבר: עזריאל זעליג הויזדארף » הר הזיתים, ירושלים |url=https://mountofolives.co.il/he/deceased_card/עזריאל-זעליג-הויזדארף/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=הר הזיתים, ירושלים |language=he-IL}}</ref>
| 