אברהם דוד מבוטשאטש

Rav Avraham David Wahrman of Butchatch (6 Adar 5531/1771–29 Tishrei 5601/1840), known for his sefer as the Eshel Avraham and called the Tzaddik of Butchatch, was a chasidic rav and posek in Galicia; in English sources his town is written Buczacz. Born in Nadvirna to Rav Asher Anshel Wahrman, he was examined as a child by Rav David Shlomo Eybeschutz, and while still very young was taken as a son-in-law by Rav Tzvi Hirsch Kara, author of the Neta Shaashuim and rav of Butchatch; in his father-in-law’s house he became close to Rav Chaim of Chernovitz, author of the Be’er Mayim Chaim. At twenty he was appointed rav of Yazlovets, and in those years drew close to Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov; like his rebbe of Berditchev he became known for fiery avodat Hashem and ahavat Yisrael, and he delved into kabbalah — yet in psak he was guided by the plain principles of the Talmud.

In 5574/1814, on the petirah of his father-in-law, he was appointed in his place as rav of Butchatch, and he served there until his own petirah. His name rests chiefly on the sefarim he wrote around the Shulchan Aruch: Eshel Avraham on Orach Chaim and Ezer MiKodesh on Even HaEzer, printed in most editions of the Shulchan Aruch itself, beside Da’at Kedoshim on hilchot shechitah, mezuzah, and sefer Torah, Kesef HaKodashim on Choshen Mishpat, and Machazeh Avraham on the Chumash. To set it apart from the Eshel Avraham of the Pri Megadim, his is cited as Eshel Avraham–Butchatch. His talmid Rav Uri Shraga Feivel Schreier prepared and printed most of his rebbe’s sefarim.

He was niftar on 29 Tishrei 5601/1840, still serving as rav of Butchatch. In 5765/2005 the ohel over his kever in the old Jewish cemetery of Butchatch was raised anew; his townsman, the writer S.Y. Agnon, mentions him in his books.