He is the only commentator included in the back of the Vilna Shas edition with a Doctor of Philosophy. He studied under a number of great scholars of that time, particularly R. Ephraim Zalman Margulies. In addition to his traditional talmudic education, he was educated in modern and classical languages and literature, as well as geography, history and philosophy. In 1846, a law was promulgated in Austria compelling rabbinical candidates to pass a university examination in the liberal arts and philosophy.
Chajes received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
He is best known for his work Mevo Hatalmud (Introduction to the Talmud), which serves both as commentary and introduction. Chajes is also known as "The Maharatz Chajes" (מהר"ץ חיות), the Hebrew acronym for "Our Teacher, the Rabbi, Zvi Chajes". At twenty two, he was called to occupy an important rabbinic position in the district of Zhovkva (Zolkiev), Galicia.
Chajes died prematurely in 1855 at the age of 50, only three years after being appointed to the prestigious post of rabbi of Kalisz (Kalish), Poland.
In this role he is closely associated with Nachman Krochmal and South. L. Rapoport. "There are few modern works dealing in detail with the Halakha or the Haggadah which have not profited by the labors of Chajes, although his name is often passed over in silence.
His Introduction to the Talmud is especially noteworthy..". Doctor Bruria Hutner David describes Chajes as "Traditionalist and Maskil" - as the subject of her Doctor of Philosophy thesis.