Cheshin, Shneor Zalman

Shneor Zalman Cheshin was born in 1903 in Jerusalem and received his J.D. from New York University in 1931. During his time in New York, he also taught in several yeshivot and published on subjects related to Judaism and education. He returned to Israel in 1934 and, from 1937-48, served on the district court in Tel-Aviv. He was one of the original five justices appointed to the Supreme Court of Israel in 1948, and he served as the Court’s President from 1954 until his death in 1959. His decisions reflect a belief that Jewish law should inform the development of the state’s fledgling legal system. He published several books on his legal experiences, including Tears and Laughter in the Courtroom (1959).