Rabbi Yitzhak Isek Halevi Herzog zt"l was appointed as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Eretz Israel on 17 Kislev 5697 (1936), and after the establishment of the State of Israel he served as the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel until he passed away on 19 Tamuz 5719 (1959). Rabbi Herzog Was born in 1888 in Lomza, Poland. In 1897 Rabbi Herzog's father was appointed as the Rabbi of Leeds, England and the family moved there.
Rabbi Herzog studied mathematics and classic languages in universities in London and Paris; he conducted a comprehensive study on the Techelet in Israel for which he received a PhD degree from the University of London.
In 1916 Rabbi Herzog was appointed as the Rabbi of Belfast, Ireland; in 1919 he was appointed as the Rabbi of Dublin; and 1925 he was elected as Chief Rabbi of Ireland.
In 1936 Rabbi Herzog was elected as Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Eretz Israel.

Rabbi Herzog zt"l served as Chief Rabbi of Israel in one the most crucial periods in Jewish history - throughout the Holocaust on the one hand, and the establishment of the State of Israel on the other hand.

In appreciation of Rabbi Herzog's enormous achievements our Institution was named in his honor.

Yad Harav Herzog is composed of two institutions:
The Talmudic Encyclopedia
The Complete Talmud Institute

The Talmudic Encyclopedia is a unique project and one of the most important enterprises in Talmudic-Halakhic studies in our generation.
This project summarizes and explains all topics, matters and issues in Jewish law, from the most ancient Biblical and Talmudic sources to the most current halakhic authorities.

The Talmudic Encyclopedia was established about 60 years ago by Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan and by Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, who served as the first Editor-in-Chief of the Talmudic Encyclopedia. Rabbi Zevin established a unique form and style of presenting the Talmudic issues, thereby starting a new era in the study of the Talmud and Halakhah.
Rabbi Yehoshua Hutner served as the first Director of Yad Harav Herzog.

Twenty-eight volumes have already been published, covering less than half of the planned titles to be included in the Encyclopedia.

The project has been received enthusiastically and has gained wide acknowledgement by all those who are interested in Talmudic studies and in Jewish Law, including the most authoritative Rabbis.

The Talmudic Encyclopedia has ensured its place as one of the few enterprises in the Halakhic literature which will stay for eternity due to its accurate, comprehensive and concise summary of all Talmudic topics. It is considered to be a very reliable source of data, which is the product of an elaborate and meticulous work of outstanding Talmudic scholars (Talmidei-Chachamim).

The Talmudic Encyclopedia is primarily intended for talmidei chachamim who are well-versed in the Talmudic literature.

In order to facilitate and to distribute the vast material contained in the volumes of the Talmudic Encyclopedia, and in order to enlarge the pool of people that might be able to derive great benefit from the Talmudic Encyclopedia, we have started some new projects that are the by-products of the Talmudic Encyclopedia and serve as accompanying projects.

These volumes include entries of current relevance, written in a style and format that is easier to follow and understand.

The following books were published recently:

• הגדה של פסח  - with pertinent halakhic entries from the Talmudic Encyclopedia
• מחזור יום כפור – with laws and customs concerning the prayers and the laws of Yom Kippur, based on the Talmudic Encyclopedia
• אוצר החנוכה - laws and customs concerning Chanukka, based on the Talmudic Encyclopedia
• הפרשה בהלכה - issues of halakhic relevance in each portion of the week, with examples and illustrations, based on the Talmudic Encyclopedia
• ערכי מסכתות מועד קטן – חגיגה – edited for the Daf Yomi
• ערכי הייבום והחליצה – compiling all subjects related to these topics
• ערכי מסכת כתובות - edited for the Daf Yomi

Books to be published soon:

• אוצר יום טוב - laws and customs concerning Yom Tov and Yom Tov Sheni, based on the Talmudic Encyclopedia
• אוצר חול המועד - laws and customs concerning Chol Ha'moed, based on the Talmudic Encyclopedia, and with a special Machzor for Chol Ha'moed and Hosha'anah Rabbah
• אוצר ארץ ישראל, ירושלים ובית המקדש - laws and customs concerning Eretz Yisrael, Yerushalayim and Beith Ha'Mikdash, based on the Talmudic Encyclopedia

Dedication of each volume in this series is $20,000.

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Yad Harav Herzog owns all the manuscripts of the Talmud as well as many Talmudic pieces from the Geniza.
We have completed the analysis of and the comparison between all manuscripts and between all of them and the printed version of the Talmud for most of Seder Nashim, as well as Mishnayot Zera'im. 
We also published Tosefta Shevi'it, based on two manuscripts with relevant interpretations.

Numerous mistakes and deviations of words and sentences in the Talmud occurred throughout the centuries and our work is intended to define these changes. Finding out the original and correct Talmudic texts is of great importance for better understanding of the Talmudic text and of the halakhic rulings of the early decisors.

The Talmud Institute also deals with the publication of Rishonim, based on manuscripts, with remarks.

So far the following Rishonim were published:

• בית הבחירה למאירי – on most Talmudic tractates
• פסקי הרי"ד והריא"ז - on most Talmudic tractates
• חידושי הרמב"ן למסכתות הש"ס
• עליות דרבנו יונה – on tractate Baba-Batra
• תוספות ר"ש משאנץ – on tractate Ketubot
• קובץ ספרי סת"ם
• קובץ ראשונים – on tractates Berachot, Rosh-Hashanah, Yoma, Taanint, Moed-Katan
• פירוש הר"י ב"ר מלכי-צדק – on Mishnayot Seder Zera'im