Rav Dovid Cohen Beis Hamedrash G’Vul Yaavetz Brooklyn, New York

Rav Dovid Cohen Beis Hamedrash G’vul Yaavetz Brooklyn, New York

To all interested: There is a well-known story that Rav Chaim of Volozhin, zt”l, once sent a letter to his sister, and, after giving it to the messenger who would bring it to her, Rav Chaim stopped him in order to correct the spelling of his sister’s name, for the halachah is that the correct spelling of a name on a get may be derived from a letter written by a talmid chacham. This being so, the importance of the actual letters written by Gedolei Yisrael certainly cannot be underestimated for many reasons: for the divrei Torah they contain (particularly in regard to halachah, as in the author’s collection), the outlook and direction in regards to guiding the community that we learn from them, as well as the history of our people which they relate, which is also a source of fundamental Torah knowledge. In all this, I rely on the endorsement of the publisher, and in particular, of the Gaon Rav Berel Wein, shlita, who we know and trust well. I give my berachah to the author and all who worked with him on this important project, that they be blessed from the Heavens and merit much goodness. I sign in the name of those who learn Torah and spread its teachings, Dovid Cohen 9 Teves, 5779 Dayan Ehrentreu is currently the Av Beis Din of the European Beis Din. He was previously the Av of the London Beis Din on which Rabbis Reinowitz and Sussman-Cohen served, over a century earlier. Table of Contents

Foreword ...... XV Preface...... XVII Acknowledgments ...... XIX Introduction...... 1

PART I Historical, Social, and Personal History Chapter 1: The Two Judges: Rabbi Yaakov Reinowitz and Rabbi Chaim Sussman-Cohen ...... 11 Chapter 2: Anglo-Jewry in Late Victorian England...... 25 Chapter 3: Letters from the Great Rabbis...... 30 Chapter 4: Suffering in Eastern Europe...... 54 Chapter 5: Letters from the Holy Land...... 70 Chapter 6: Controversies and Crises ...... 86 Chapter 7: Sermons and Ethics...... 113 Chapter 8: Contemporary Sketches...... 135

PART II Major Halachic Questions Chapter 9: Marriage and Divorce...... 147 Chapter 10: Zemanim: Holy Days and Seasons...... 173 Chapter 11: Kashrus and Kedushah ...... 188 Chapter 12: Life Cycles: Bris, Kevurah, and Aveilus...... 209 Chapter 13: Prayer and Synagogue ...... 223 Chapter 14: Civil Disputes ...... 234

XIII XIV The Rabbis’ Suitcase

Afterword ...... 238 Appendix 1: Rabbis Corresponding with Rabbis Reinowitz and Sussman-Cohen...... 240 Appendix 2: Writings: Notebooks and Kuntresim ...... 249 Appendix 3: Writings: Hespedim...... 254 Appendix 4: Writings: Derashos ...... 258 Appendix 5: Sample Letters of the Great Rabbis to Rabbis Reinowitz and Sussman-Cohen ...... 263 Index...... 272 Chapter 1 The Two Judges: Rabbi Yaakov Reinowitz and Rabbi Chaim Sussman-Cohen

The Dayanim, Rabbis Yaakov Reinowitz and Chaim Sussman-Cohen Rabbi Yaakov Reinowitz and his son-in-law, Rabbi Chaim Sussman- Cohen, were both traditional Lithuanian Talmudic scholars who left Eastern Europe to take up modest rabbinical posts in England in the mid-1870s. They later became dayanim in the beis din of the Chief Rabbi. The foregoing biographies of the two rabbis are in part based on those given by my father-in-law, Rabbi Dr. Eugene Newman, in his paper to the Jewish Historical Society of England, as previously cited.1

Rabbi Yaakov Reinowitz (1818–1893) Rabbi Yaakov Reinowitz was born in 1818 in Wilkowisk, Russia. He descended from a long line of rabbis and scholars. He had a phenomenal memory, an analytical mind, and a wide and deep knowledge of the Talmud, the Codes, and the commentaries. Rabbi Yaakov Reinowitz At the age of twenty-six, he was appointed

1 Doc 35.7.

11 12 The Rabbis’ Suitcase moreh horaah, dayan, and maggid of his hometown Wilkowisk, which was a tribute to his Talmudic and halachic knowledge, as well as to his qualities of sincerity, humility, and compassion. He occupied this position for thirty years. He married Esther Liba Binion,2 who bore him three daughters: Bertha, Leah, and Rebecca. Bertha married Rabbi Chaim Sussman- Cohen who became rabbi in Manchester in 1875 and succeeded his father-in-law as dayan of the London Beis Din in 1893. Rabbi Reinowitz’s first appointment in London was as the rabbi of the Chevra Shas Synagogue, to which he was appointed in 1876 while on a visit from Russia to his daughter Bertha in Manchester. The original Appointment Document is in the collection.3 The trans- lation is given below:

All of us, originally from Poland and Russia, gathered here to consider our position regarding Heavenly matters, see that we form a large congregation. We know that every small congregation has at its head a spiritual leader, and why should we be like sheep without a shepherd? Therefore, we said to one another, “Let us arise and strengthen each other, and the Lord will be with us. Let us appoint a spiritual head who will teach us his ways, the way of the Torah, and we will walk in his ways.” As this great and honorable man happens to pass through, this distinguished rabbi, the great light crowned with Torah manners, who has acted as a Moreh Hora’ah in Israel for many years, our teacher Rabbi Yaakov, the son of Rabbi David, may his light shine, we decided unanimously that he is the man we wish to honor. He will be our spiritual guide. He will instruct us in the laws which are forbidden and which are permitted and he will teach Gemara, Rashi, and Tosafos every day in the Chevra Shas which we founded, with G-d’s help. We the undersigned,

2 She was a sister of Professor S.A. Binion, the Egyptologist. The name Binion is a corruption of Nunez. The family came from Holland — originally from Spain — and the original name was Nunez. 3 Doc 2.1. Original Appointment Agreement of Rabbi Yaakov Reinowitz to lead the Chevra Shas in 1876 moreh horaah, dayan, and maggid of his hometown Wilkowisk, which was a tribute to his Talmudic and halachic knowledge, as well as to his qualities of sincerity, humility, and compassion. He occupied this position for thirty years. He married Esther Liba Binion,2 who bore him three daughters: Bertha, Leah, and Rebecca. Bertha married Rabbi Chaim Sussman- Cohen who became rabbi in Manchester in 1875 and succeeded his father-in-law as dayan of the London Beis Din in 1893. Rabbi Reinowitz’s first appointment in London was as the rabbi of the Chevra Shas Synagogue, to which he was appointed in 1876 while on a visit from Russia to his daughter Bertha in Manchester. The original Appointment Document is in the collection.3 The trans- lation is given below:

undertake to pay him a salary of three pounds per week. This agreement shall have the force of any other agreement made by Jewish law. As proof, we have signed it on Sunday, first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul 5636/1876, here in London.

The Agreement had thirteen signatures appended. The Chevra Shas had been founded a year earlier, in 1875. Its primary aim, apart from congregational prayer, was to study the Talmud daily, in order to raise the very low standards of learning in England. Its members were recent immigrants from Eastern Europe, many having been trained in the yeshivos of Poland and Russia. Rabbi Reinowitz’s Yiddish lectures made a great impression on the members, who believed that a Charming Rosh Hashanah card, circa 1890, depicting Israel’s great rabbis: (L–R) Rabbi Yaakov “messenger from above” had been sent to them. The original commit- Reinowitz, Chief Rabbi Naftali Adler, and Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor ment to pay him a salary of three pounds per week (a good salary at the Ber Spiers, and Rabbi Dr. Naftali Adler4 (the son of the Chief Rabbi). time) was never fulfilled. Glowing reports of the erudition and saintliness of Rabbi Reinowitz Rabbi Reinowitz settled in the East End of London, his humble reached the ears of Chief Rabbi Adler, and he decided to call him in for a dwelling being constantly full of activity. Rabbis, scholars, students, meeting. So impressed was he by Rabbi Reinowitz’s profound Talmudic shluchim of the great Eastern and halachic knowledge, that he immediately offered him a non-offi- European yeshivos, and the cial position as dayan to the London Beis Din. This position became many new immigrants who official and permanent in 1879. Rabbi Reinowitz was subsequently needed help and advice on consulted on all major and difficult halachic issues, and in his role, he social, economic, and religious corresponded with the leading rabbinic personalities of the age. problems, would all make their Questions were also referred to Rabbi Reinowitz by some of the way to his home. In particular, leading Lithuanian rabbis. The famous Rabbi Yisrael Salanter5 con- the new immigrants looked sulted him for his opinion on a complex question in hilchos Shabbos, up to Rabbi Reinowitz as their and Reinowitz’s response is in the collection.6 In fact, Rabbi Yisrael mentor, given the patronizing Salanter thought very highly of Rabbi Reinowitz, with whom he had attitude of the existing Jewish held several long Torah discussions during his stays in London.7 population of Dutch, Spanish, By all accounts, Rabbi Reinowitz had a keen sense of humor. One and German origin, to the Shabbos afternoon, he returned from Minchah service and a mid- new, impoverished Polish and dle-aged woman appeared before him and said, “I have a she’eilah to ask Russian arrivals.

At this time, the London 4 Often referred to as Rabbi Herman Adler. Beis Din consisted of Chief 5 Founder of the Mussar movement. Rabbi Nathan Adler, Rabbi Dov 6 Docs 9.21 and 18.2. 7 See Doc 28.1, letter from Rabbi Yehudah Lubetzki. 16 The Rabbis’ Suitcase you, Rabbi.” “Let me hear it, please,” said the Rabbi. The lady took out a pin which had been neatly wrapped up in paper and said, “In preparing a fowl yesterday for Shabbos, I found this pin in its stomach.” “And why,” asked the Rabbi, “did you not bring the fowl for me to examine, for the decision solely depends on the position of the pin in the body of the fowl?” “Oh,” exclaimed the woman, “we had the fowl for dinner today.” “Then the pin is kosher,” said the Rabbi gently.8 Rabbi Reinowitz was the original “Reb Shmuel” in Israel Zangwill’s9 novel, Children of the Ghetto. Zangwill describes Reb Shmuel as:

[A]n official of heterogeneous duties, he preached, he taught, he lectured. He married people and divorced them … He superin- tended a slaughtering department, licensed men as competent killers of animals, examined the sharpness of their knives, so that the victims might be put to as little pain as possible … He had added a volume of she’eilos u’tshuvos, to the colossal casu- istic literature of his race. He also acted as shadchan, though he forgot to take his commissions. In fine, he was a witty old fellow and everybody loved him. He and his wife spoke English with a strong foreign accent.

As subsequent chapters will demonstrate, Zangwill’s description of Reb Shmuel fits the personality of Rabbi Reinowitz perfectly. Reinowitz arranged and edited the commentary of Rabbeinu Chananel on various masechtos, which was incorporated into the Vilna Shas, published by Widow and the Brothers Romm.10 He painstakingly copied many of his letters of correspondence and carefully transcripted hundreds of his derashos and hespedim. These have been preserved in the collection. In addition, he compiled many kuntresim and notebooks of his teshuvos, as well as his chiddushim on

8 Jewish Chronicle, 16 June 1893. 9 British author, cultural Zionist, and close associate of Theodor Herzl. 10 The collection holds a letter dated 1880, signed by “ha’almanah Devorah Romm,” thanking Rabbi Reinowitz for his work (Doc 9.11). The Two Judges 17 various aspects of Torah.11 Some of these he had hoped to publish, but the opportunity never came his way. After his death, his son-in-law, Rabbi Sussman-Cohen, corresponded with Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen, a dayan in Vilna, who was one of the editors of the famed Vilna Shas. Rabbi Sussman-Cohen had inquired about the possibility of publishing Rabbi Reinowitz’s writings, many of which were ready for publication. Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen responded warmly that Romm Press would be honored to publish his writings, as Rabbi Reinowitz’s reputation as a gaon in halachah was common knowledge.12 Nevertheless, it seems that none of his writings were ever published. Rabbi Reinowitz passed away in 1893 and was succeeded as dayan in the London Beis Din by his son-in-law, Rabbi Sussman-Cohen. A touching obituary to Rabbi Reinowitz appeared in the Jewish Chronicle edition of May 19, 1893, which provides many insights into his character and the great esteem in which he was held by the immi- grant community:

A venerable and venerated figure in the East End has been removed by the death of Rev. Jacob Reinowitz, a member of the Beth Din, commonly known among his foreign correligionists as “Reb Yankele.” He had gained their affection and respect by his meekness and humility. But it was as a peacemaker that he ex- celled, and this great virtue was of much service in the settlement of the many disputes in which he was engaged officially, as well as privately. The merry twinkle in his eye betokened the posses- sion of rich humour, and the old fashioned moshels which he was wont to relate, received additional charm, from the manner of their telling. It may interest readers of “Children of the Ghetto” to know that Mr. Reinowitz was the original of “Reb Shmuel,” one of the finest of the characters created by Mr. Zangwill. Mr. Reinowitz, who had the whole range of Jewish ritual literature at his finger’s end, was the right hand of the Chief

11 See Appendix 2. 12 Doc 6.11. 18 The Rabbis’ Suitcase

Rabbi in matters of Din, and while reverencing old customs and observances, he did not always share the views of those who sought to shackle Jewish observance. Although essentially an old-world Rabbi, living in the Middle-Ages, so far as his Rabbinical duties were concerned, he was far from being a bigot or unmindful of modern necessities. He was greatly loved by the late Dr. Asher. He gave Dr. Asher an elaborate signed essay against the practices of metzitzah showing not only that he was a great scholar, but that he had the courage of his own opinions.13 He was the Rabbi par-excellence, devoted to his calling, living up to his religion with a pure faith, and striving with much self-sacrifice to help others. His humble dwelling was thronged by poor foreign Jews and Jewesses from early morn till late night … 14

Despite his soft and tolerant nature, Rabbi Reinowitz was not afraid to chastise his kehillah when he felt that their standards of conduct, or of adherence to halachah, were wanting. His sermons carried a heavy element of mussar, as will be apparent from the extracts quoted in chapter 7, “Sermons and Ethics.”

Rabbi Chaim Sussman-Cohen (1841–1907) Rabbi Chaim Sussman-Cohen was born in 1841 in Kinishin, Poland. He descended from a family that had produced rabbis and scholars for two centuries. He studied in the yeshiva of Krislave, and at the age of eighteen, married Bertha Reinowitz.15 Three Rabbi Chaim Sussman-Cohen great rabbis, Rabbi Yitzchak Avigdor, Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, and Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan

13 Docs 1.13, 23.8; see chapter 12, “Life Cycles: Bris, Kevurah, and Aveilus.” 14 Doc 35.2. Original Appointment Agreement of Rabbi Sussman-Cohen in 1875 to the Menoras Hamaor Synagogue 15 The kesubah is in the collection, Doc 16.16. in Manchester Rabbi in matters of Din, and while reverencing old customs and observances, he did not always share the views of those who sought to shackle Jewish observance. Although essentially an old-world Rabbi, living in the Middle-Ages, so far as his Rabbinical duties were concerned, he was far from being a bigot or unmindful of modern necessities. He was greatly loved by the late Dr. Asher. He gave Dr. Asher an elaborate signed essay against the practices of metzitzah showing not only that he was a great scholar, but that he had the courage of his own opinions.13 He was the Rabbi par-excellence, devoted to his calling, living up to his religion with a pure faith, and striving with much self-sacrifice to help others. His humble dwelling was thronged by poor foreign Jews and Jewesses from early morn till late night … 14

Spektor, conferred semichah on him. He was Rosh Yeshiva of the yeshivos of Sinee and Krislave for fourteen years. In the collection is a group of letters written by various rabbis, praising Rabbi Sussman-Cohen and conferring semichah on him.16 In 1875, he accepted a call to become a rabbi in Manchester. He was held in high esteem by all members of the community. Local courts referred to him in many cases concerning Jews. Chief Rabbis Nathan and Naftali Adler asked him to settle local problems in congregations of North England and Scotland. He was the Rabbi in Manchester for eighteen years. Rabbi Sussman-Cohen often consulted his father-in-law, Rabbi Reinowitz, on halachic matters. Rabbi Reinowitz, in return, valued Rabbi Sussman-Cohen’s opinion. His students clearly adored him as well. The collection contains six greeting cards addressed to him, arranged by the authors as alphabetic acrostic verses, spelling out the name Sussman-Cohen. Two are depicted below. In 1891, following a turbulent period in his Manchester community,17 Rabbi Sussman-Cohen wrote to Chief Rabbi Naftali Adler seeking a position as dayan of the London Beis Din. Rabbi Adler responded politely that Rabbi Sussman-Cohen’s time had not yet come for this honor:

I would be pleased if the community here would appoint your honor as a dayan, for you are very dear to me, as is your dear and beloved father-in-law, Rav Yaakov, but the time has not yet ar- rived to send an application to the leaders of our congregation, despite the approbation you have from Mr. Aronsberg.18 For a proficiency in the language of the country is very necessary … 19

16 Doc 6.39. 17 See chapter 6, “Controversies and Crises,” for some of the problems Rabbi Sussman-Cohen encountered. 18 Probably W. Aronsberg, appointed in Manchester as the first Jewish magistrate in 1877. He was very active in the North England Jewish communal scene, sponsoring and even financially supporting, the establishment of new communities and synagogues. Aronsburg was close to Rabbi Sussman-Cohen, as apparent from other letters in the collection. Poetic tribute from Pinchas Egetstein in 1884, celebrating twenty-five years as a student 19 Doc 5.17. of Rabbi Sussman-Cohen