Yisroel Avrohom Portugal

Yisroel Avrohom Portugal (or Israel Abraham Portugal) (born June 2, 1925) son of Rabbi Eliezer Zusia Portugal and his first wife, Sheina Rachel, is the Rebbe (Grand Rabbi) of Skulen in Brooklyn, New York.

In his youth, he studied in Vizhnitz under the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Eliezer Hager.

Currently, Rabbi Portugal lives primarily in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn but spends some time including about half of the Jewish holidays in Williamsburg, Brooklyn where his father lived. He is widely sought after for his blessings and advice. He is known for lacking involvement in bodily pleasures (due to his lack of sleep and eating no more than a meal a day) and for his humble nature. He is also known for his constant battle against practices he does not approve of for Jews, such as possessing a television or a computer with internet service, and even the growing of their hair (except for boys under three and unmarried girls, as in Hasidic tradition).

Following his father, he is a habituated composer of Hasidic songs. He always (except on Shabbat and Jewish Holidays) carries with him a small tape recorder to record any new tune that would come to his mind. He has already composed thousands of songs. Most are forgotten after they are recorded, but many of them are sung at his tishen, and a handful of them have become classics in the Hasidic community.

Rabbi Portugal has close ties with many Hasidic rebbes. He heads the Chesed L'Avraham charity organization in Israel founded by his father, and is actively involved - traveling worldwide - in fundraising for it.

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