Yisrael Meir Kagan

Yisrael Meir HaCohen Kagan rabbi, Halakhist and ethicist, born in Zhetel, Poland on February 6, 1838, died in Radin, Poland, September 15, 1933, was one of the most influential rabbis of Orthodox Judaism in the late 19th and early 20th century.

He is best known by the name of his first book, Chafetz Chayim ("Desire [of] Life") (written in 1873), that deals with the laws of gossip and slander (known in Hebrew as Leshon ha-Ra). Some of his other works include: Shmirat HaLashon ("Guarding [of] the Tongue"), Mishna Berura with its commentaries known as the Bi'ur Halacha, and Sha'ar HaTzion.