Rabbi Victor (Avigdor) Aptowitzer was born in Galicia and studied at the University of the Jewish Theological Seminary of Vienna. Following his ordination he continued to teach Jewish studies at the Seminary, lecturing in Hebrew, for nearly thirty years (1909-1938). He also taught at other prestigious schools. Despite an eye condition, he was a productive scholar, and an impressive lecturer. He was a dedicated Zionist and interested in many fields in Jewish religion.
Among his many works are the differences in biblical quotations as they appear in Talmud and Midrash with their source in the Masoretic text.(4 vols). He researched the Agada, investigating its origins and sought their sources (folk origin or academic). Rabbi Aptowitzer studied the origin of the content and literary form of the Agada, and compared it to writings of the first Christians. He dealt with Agada and Halakhah in his book about Cain and Abel in the Agada. He also investigated the relationship of the writings of Jewish law with those of the Armenians and Syrians.
Rabbi Aptowitzer settled in Jerusalem in 1938, where he continued his research on Halakhah, and reviewed Talmudic literature.