Rav Aharon Yeshaya Shapiro Zt"L (1907-1981) Rav Aharon Yeshya Shapiro Was Born in Pinsk on Chanukah, 5677 (1907), to His Parents Reb Yaakov Yitzchok1 and Chaya
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Rav Aharon Yeshaya Shapiro zt"l (1907-1981) Rav Aharon Yeshya Shapiro was born in Pinsk on Chanukah, 5677 (1907), to his parents Reb Yaakov Yitzchok1 and Chaya. The family were Chasidim of Karlin-Stolin, and his childhood was steeped in this tradition. Every Shabbos, young Aharon Yeshaya and his father would walk with a neighbor, Reb Nachman Shteierman2 and his son Yisroel, from their courtyard in Pinsk to the Karliner Rebbe’s tish in the Shul in Karlin. [This neighbor, Yisroel Shteierman, became a mechutan later in America.] Rav Aharon Yeshaya merited to see the Stoliner Rebbe Reb Yisroel zt”l, known as the Yanuka, and remembered him well. After WW II, Rav Aharon Yeshaya was instrumental in assisting the Stoliner Rebbe, Rav Yochonon zt”l in replacing of the Matzeiva on the Kever of Rav Yisroel in Frankfurt. Rav Aharon Yeshaya was educated in the local yeshivos, and around the age of fifteen, wth the encouragement of the Rav of Pinsk, Rav Aharon Walkin (author of the Bais Aharon on Shas), he entered the yeshiva of Mir. 3 During Bein HaZemanim, when he returned home, he would speak in learning with the Karliner Rebbe, Reb Avrohom Elimelech zt”l, Hy”d. Although he was young compared to other bachurim in the yeshiva, he soon gained a reputation as a budding Talmid Chachom, and was paired up with the likes of Rav Chaim Shmuelewitz as a chavrusa, with whom he learned Masechta Chulin. He was close to the Rav of Mir, Rav Hirsh Kamai Hy"d and Rav Leizer Yudel Finkel, and received Semicha from them. At the time of his arrival, Rav Chatzkel Levenstein was serving as Mashgiach in the absence of Rav Yeruchom Levovitz. Rav Chatzkel charged him with copying over the Shmeuzen of Rav Simcha Zissel, the Alter of Kelm, the first of many writing projects he would have over the years. Upon the return of the Mashgiach, Rav Yeruchom Levovitz, he developed a close relationship with him, and would be the one who would write up his Shmuezen. Rav Yeruchom once remarked, “When I read Rav Aharon Yeshaya’s writings, I can see the ‘kneitch’ of my finger that I gave.” At times, Rav Yeruchom would turn to Rav Aharon Yeshaya to complete a Pasuk he was referring to, declaring that if you tell him the ‘Trup’ (cantillation) of any Pasuk in T’nach, Rav Aharon Yeshaya can tell you the words. Indeed, when Rav Aharon Yeshaya took his place alongside the Bimah of the Bais Medrash, the Talmidim knew that Rav Yeruchum was about to begin a Shmuez, and they would gather around for it. (During the shmuez, the Bachurim would stand surrounding Rav Yeruchom, who stood at the Bimah.) In 5686 (1926), Rav Shimon Shkop asked Rav Yeruchom to send a Bachur to him to help write his Sefer, Shaarei Yosher. Rav Yeruchom chose Rav Aharon Yeshaya, who was proficient in the skill of writing and had a handwriting 'K'Yad Hashem', and ‘lent’ him to Rav Shimon for two years. Rav Aharon Yeshaya agreed on the condition that he would receive a private shiur on the piece he was working on that day, which Rav Shimon did daily. Rav Aharon Yeshaya would learn the pieces that Rav Shimon had written, and prepare them and edit them for print. In addition, he attended the shiurim that Rav Shimon gave to the yeshiva. In his introduction, Rav Shimon thanks him, writing that, “He did not just proofread it, but worked diligently and sharpened each topic with his peers.” 4 1 After Rav Aharon Yeshaya completed his assignment, he returned to Mir, and resumed his regular learning. Although Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz, Rosh Yeshiva of Kaminetz, requested of Rav Yeruchom to have the services of Rav Aharon Yeshaya for his Sefer Birchas Shmuel, Rav Yeruchom felt he had done enough, and it was time for him to learn unabated. When Rav Baruch Ber met up with Rav Shimon at a summer resort, he is reported to have said, “I am jealous of you. You had someone to write your Sefer.” Rav Aharon Yeshaya had the opportunity to meet with several other Gedolim of the time. He once was faced with a dilemma, which he felt needed the counsel of the Chafetz Chaim. He traveled to Radin, and was granted admittance to see the sage of the generation. At the time, the Chafetz Chaim was advanced in age, and was in a weakened state. When he was allowed in, the Chafetz Chaim was asleep, and he waited until he woke up. He first asked the Chafetz Chaim if he could serve him. When he was told to prepare a tea, he did so fastidiously, and began helping the elderly Tzadik drink from it. He held the cup with one hand while supporting his neck with his other hand, and slowly poured the tea into the mouth of the Chafetz Chaim. During this time, the Chafetz Chaim said, “They don’t tell me anymore”. Nevertheless, the Chafetz Chaim answered all three questions that Rav Aharon Yeshaya had on his mind without him ever having articulated the questions. Rav Zeidel Epstein recalled that Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky would enjoy discussing with Rav Aharon Yeshaya what was happening in the yeshiva world, and he would value his opinion on these matters. As time passed, he received a draft notice. At the same time, Rav Ahrele Belzer (Rokeach) and the Stoliner Rebbe were mishadech with one another, and Rav Aharon Yeshaya felt it would be an opportune time to ask for a Bracha for his situation. As he entered the Bais Medrash, he saw that it was jammed with people, and it was seemingly impossible to get near the Rebbe. He stood at the back of the Bais Medrash, and suddenly noticed that the crowd parted. Looking across the room, he saw that he was now face to face with Rav Ahrele, who motioned for him to approach. Suddenly, Rav Ahrele said to him, “Vos iz mine kind, shrek zich fun prizif? Ich gib a Bracha, esvet garnisht zine.” (What is the matter, my child, you are afraid of the draft? I bless you that nothing will come of it.) Rav Aharon Yeshaya returned to the Mir, and never heard from the draft board again. [Years later, his son, Rabbi Yeruchom Shapiro, told the story over to the current Belzer Rebbe, who called in his Gabai to write down the details.] Another one of the Roshei Yeshiva he was privileged to meet was Rav Meir Shapiro. When he began his planning to build Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, Rav Meir visited many other yeshivos, to study how they were run and to decide what to incorporate into his new venture. Rav Meir stayed over Succos, and on Simchas Torah made a point of dancing with the young Aharon Yeshaya. Another time, a Bachur who previously learned in Kaminetz got married, and Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz came to participate in the wedding. At the Chassan’s tish, Rav Aharon Yeshaya sang a long and complicated new Niggun (to the words of Al Zos Shibchu Ahuvim). A while later, when the guests were lining up to wash, Rav Aharon Yeshaya noticed that Rav Baruch Ber was tugging on his sleeve, and asked him to come over to a side room. There, he asked Rav Aharon Yeshaya to sing the tune again, and he obliged. Rav Baruch Ber asked if he could sing it back to Rav Aharon Yeshaya with his own personalized kneitch, and Rav Aharon Yeshaya listened to the venerable Rosh Yeshiva sing it. [Reb Baruch Ber was known as a wonderful Baal MeNagen.] Yet the story did not end there. Rav Baruch Ber said, “I do not wish to remain a Baal Chov (in debt). I will teach you one of my own tunes in exchange for what you have taught me.” He promptly taught Rav Aharon Yeshaya a song with the words ‘YiBaneh HaMikdash’, and they then parted. When Rav Baruch Ber returned to Kaminetz, he called three Bachurim into his chambers, and told them, “I must teach you this Niggun that a Mirrer Bachur sang.” One of the three was Rav Isaak Goralnik, who eventually became a Mechutan with Rav Aharon Yeshaya upon the marriage of Rabbi Yeruchom Shapiro to Masha Goralnik. Rav Aharon Yeshaya was known to be a wonderful Baal Menagen and Baal Tefilah. Growing up in the spirit of pre-WWII Karlin, and the Nusach of Karlin-Stolin, as well as its Niggunim, were ingrained in him. After the war, not many Chasidim survived, and the precious legacy of these nigunnim were at risk of being forgotten for eternity. In order to preserve them, in 5719 (1959), Rav Aharon Yeshaya recorded many of the traditional tunes which he remembered from his childhood. This helped revive these treasured tunes from the cusp of oblivion. Indeed, one particular Stoliner Niggun which is sung for the Zemer of Kah Echsof is called “Rav Aharon Yeshaya’s Niggun”. In addition, Rav Aharon Yeshaya once arranged to be available to serve as Baal Mussaf on the Yomim Noraim in Stolin, which he Davened in the pre-WWII Nusach of Stolin.[Rav Yeruchom once remarked that if he was not so afraid, he would have sent Rav Aharon Yeshaya to serve as Baal Tefilah in the Mir on the Yomim Noraim.] On Tu B’Av, 5697 (1937), Rav Aharon Yeshaya married Rochel Dina Stamm, the daughter of Rav Yisroel Zev and Dubeh Rivka. Rav Stamm lived in a house that was adjacent to the Kelm Talmud Torah (as the yeshiva in Kelm was known), and they often hosted visiting dignitaries.