By Dovid

Rav zt”l The Suvalker and Rosh at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon On His 20th Yahrtzeit, 9 Tammuz

In the summer of 1993, Klal Yisroel der Polish sovereignty, rather than return to help him find ashidduch for his only daugh- many of the of Suvalk who were in mourned the passing of Dovid Lifshitz, Minsk, where the family would be threat- ter, Tzipporah Chava. In those days, it was need of chessed. He was a gifted orator and a distinguished, RoshYeshiva, Rov and ened by the Bolsheviks. Before long, the almost rare for a young man at the age of made frequent appeals on Shabbos on be- who had served for years one of the entire Lifshitz family resettled in Grodno, 24 to get married, especially in the Mir- half of a wide range of causes - hachnossas Roshei Yeshiva of Rabbeinu Yitz- and it was there that Reb Dovid became bar rer Yeshiva, but the felt that orchim, the , firewood to heat chok Elchonon and had a profound impact . Reb Dovid would be a fitting match for the the homes of the poor, a Jewish hospital, and on the lives of countless talmidim. In his Suvalker Rov’s daughter, and he did not many other needs. One cause for which Reb hesped for Rav Dovid, Rav Chaim Stein, the In Grodno and Mir hesitate to suggest the shidduch. The two Dovid worked constantly and with particu- Rosh Yeshiva of the Telzer Yeshiva of Cleve- One of Reb Dovid’s most significant were married in Cheshvan of the year 5693 lar fervor was assisting the Jewish soldiers land, related that while he had known Rav mentors was Rav zt”l, the (1933), at a wedding attended by many of who had been conscripted into the Polish Dovid for many years as a brilliant talmid legendary rosh yeshivah of Yeshivas Shaar the most illustrious rabbonim of Poland at army and were serving on a base near Su- chochom and outstanding mashpia, he had HaTorah in Grodno. Rav Shimon arrived in the time. valk. Reb Dovid worked tirelessly to see to learned something new during Rav Dovid’s Grodno around this time, following an as- Reb Dovid and his new wife settled in it that they were provided with kosher food final illness. During that time, he had seen sembly of gedolei Torah in the year 5680 her hometown of Suvalk, where he assisted on a constant basis, and he intervened with how attached and devoted Rav Dovid’s (1920), at which he was asked to leave the his father-in-law in managing his rabbinic their superiors to arrange for them to be re- students were to him. The bond between rabbonus of the town of Breinsk, where he responsibilities. Suvalk was actually a large leased once a week so that they could daven and talmidim was so profound that it had been serving for over a decade, and take city, home to a kehillah of over 10,000 Jews with a and attend a . The weeks was clear that their very souls were linked. the helm of the yeshiva in Grodno. Shortly and 27 shuls and batei medrash. It was not between and Pesach were a time of One talmid, who had been at Rav Dovid’s after Rav Shimon’s arrival, the upheaval long before the full responsibility of the particularly intense activity on behalf of the side virtually throughout his final illness, caused by the Russo-Polish War of 1919 and rabbonus fell on Reb Dovid alone; just soldiers; the entire kehillah was called upon even accompanied the aron to Eretz Yisroel, 1920 had a devastating effect on the yeshiva, two years after Reb Dovid’s marriage, his to see to it that they were supplied with food along with Rav Dovid’s daughter and son- almost closing it altogether. By Sukkos of father-in-law passed away, and Reb Dovid that was kosher for Pesach, and the Seder it- in-law. This, Rav Chaim asserted, was a tes- self was held for a group of several hundred the year 5681 (late 1920), only Reb Dovid succeeded him as the rov of Suvalk. Due to timony to Rav Dovid’s own intense devotion soldiers in a large hall, led by Reb Dovid and a few other bochurim were left in the Reb Dovid’s young age, some members of to his talmidim. Just as Rav Dovid poured himself and attended by a number of impor- yeshiva. But before long, Rav Shimon was the community were initially opposed to of- his own heart and soul into each and every tant communal figures. able to revive the yeshiva, and it served once fering him the position, but an elderly man one of his students, the students responded Despite his young age, Reb Dovid was again as a vibrant center of Torah learning. named Reb Menachem Friedman stood up in kind; their own devotion mirrored his. also called upon to adjudicate numerous Reb Dovid spent five years learning in at a community meeting and declared, “Jews Rav Dovid Lifshitz was a brilliant Torah complicated dinei Torah that were brought Shaar HaTorah, years that had a profound of Suvalk, one day a large city like Bialys- scholar and an incredibly successful Rebbi from outside Suvalk, a task that he handled effect on him that lasted for the rest of his tok will simply come and grab Reb Dovid!” and mashpia. An authentic European rov The others were convinced, and Reb Dov- with success. life. Throughout his life, whenever Reb who spent most of his life on American soil, id’s official appointment to the position was Dovid quoted Rav Shimon Shkop, he would Rav Dovid brought the passion for Torah, approved by none other than the undisputed Dedication Under Fire refer to him as “mori verabi - my master and the exemplary middos and endless chessed leader of Lithuanian Jewry at the time, Rav teacher.” Reb Dovid imbibed his rebbe’s To- When World War Two broke out in of his illustrious mentors in - Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky zt”l. rah, and along with it he absorbed Rav Shi- September, 1939, the Jews of Suvalk were Shimon Shkop, Rosh Yeshiva of Grodno, Reb Dovid was indeed a very young rov, mon’s example of the relationship a rebbe among the first to suffer - and Reb Dovid’s Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, and Rav Yeru- but he was also an extraordinarily dedicated should have with his talmidim: his patience, acts of dedication to his kehillah rose to an cham Levovitz, Rosh Yeshiva and Mashgi- and active one. His many efforts on behalf of his dedication, and the formation of a life- entirely new level. As war broke out, - ach of the Mirrer Yeshiva - into his life in the Jews of Suvalk, which addressed many long bond with every talmid. man planes appeared in the skies overhead the . He radiated love of the To- areas of need, were deeply appreciated by and began raining bombs on the city of Su- When Reb Dovid was eighteen years rah and love of Klal Yisroel to his students the community and earned him their abiding valk. Reb Dovid’s immediate response was old, Rav Shimon urged him to follow in wherever he taught, and he was beloved and love and respect. to hurry through the rain of destruction in the footsteps of many of the older talmidim respected by his students, who saw him as The education of the youth and bnei To- order to free any Jews who had been impris- in the yeshiva, who had left to learn in the the living embodiment of all the ideals of the rah of Suvalk was a cause that was very dear oned in the local jail, lest they be harmed by great Yeshiva of Mir. In Mir, as in Grodno, Torah. to Reb Dovid. Following his father-in-law’s the shelling. Rav Dovid was known as a gifted iluy and example, Reb Dovid spoke in the main beis Suvalk briefly fell into Russian hands, a gifted member of the yeshiva’s student An Author of medrash of Suvalk every Shabbos, deliver- but in accordance with the terms of the body. His memory was phenomenal, and it Seforimas a Child ing chiddushei Torah to a scholarly audi- treaty between Germany and Russia (the was known that he was extraordinarily well- Rav Dovid Lifshitz was born in Minsk on ence. Yeshiva bochurim would visit him Molotov-Ribbentrop pact), it was quickly the seventh of Tishrei, 5667 (1906), to Rav versed in all of the classic seforim studied on Shabbos afternoons to be tested on their handed over to Germany. The Nazis entered Yaakov Aryeh and Ittel Lifshitz. His paternal in yeshivos, such as the Ketzos Hachoshen, learning. He worked hard on behalf of the Suvalk on Simchas Torah of that year, and grandfather, Rav Shlomo Zalman Lifshitz, the Nesivos Hamishpat, and Chiddushei local , and he also founded a Reb Dovid was immediately summoned to was a businessman in Grodno as well as a Rabi Akiva Eiger. His peers noted that he yeshiva for older students, many of whom appear before the Gestapo. A delegation of distinguished talmid chochom, who authored was always serious, and that he conducted went on to learn in some of the great yeshi- important members of the community went the sefer Olas Shlomo on Seder Kodshim. himself in a manner befitting a much older vos of Europe. Reb Dovid also made efforts with him to meet the German officials, who Even at a young age, Reb Dovid’s bril- talmid chochom. Reb Dovid developed close on behalf of the “Tiferes Bochurim” orga- treated the Jews with derision and contempt. liance and passion for Torah were evident. relationships with both the Rosh Yeshiva of nization that his father-in-law had found- It was not long before the Germans issued an While he learned in a standard in Mir, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel zt”l, and the ed. This organization aimed to satisfy the edict prohibiting shechitah in the city. Then, Minsk, the young Dovid, along with a friend, yeshiva’s renowned mashgiach, Rav Yeru- spiritual hunger of young men who, due to on a surprise visit to Reb Dovid’s home, a authored a peirush on Sefer Mishlei entitled cham Levovitz. He maintained his connec- the terrible economic climate at the time group of Nazi soldiers found a knife on his Tal Yaldus, along with a translation of Se- tion with Rav Shimon Shkop and made sure in Europe were forced to worked in order table and took it to be a shechitah knife. fer Daniel and Sefer Ezra. Just a couple of to greet his rebbe and absorb his words of to supplement the family income. Tiferes Their response was vicious: Pressing the years later, Reb Dovid went to Grodno with Torah every time he returned to his parents Bachurim providing these bochurim with knife against Reb Dovid’s throat, a soldier his father, Reb Yaakov Aryeh, to visit his home in Grodno. nightly shiurim and other forms of learning demanded that all the shechitah knives in ailing grandfather. When they arrived, they and the spiritual structure that ensured that the city be handed over immediately. Then found Reb Shlomo Zalman on his deathbed, The Suvalker Rov their spiritual growth would continue despite the Nazis demanded a list of all the wealthy and it was not long before he departed from When Reb Dovid was 24 years old, the the fact that they were unable to learn full Jews in town, as well as any who owned this world. At that point, Reb Yaakov Aryeh rov of the town of Suvalk, Rav Yosef Yosel- time in yeshiva anymore. a radio. Reb Dovid managed to keep his wits elected to remain in Grodno, which was un- owitz, asked Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel to Reb Dovid was also active on behalf of about him and claimed that all the affluent

52 YatedNe’eman 6 Tammuz 5773 | June 14, 2013 Jews had already escaped, and he had no He was also highly respected by American Kotler zt”l remarked at the time that Reb searching for a way to influence the talmid, way of knowing who owned a radio. rabbonim, who recognized him as a distin- Dovid did not have the right to resign from and he had no rest until he had managed to guished European rov, and he was accorded his position, since the Jewish world needed do so. Escape from the Nazis the same respect as the veteran members him. After the other members of the presid- Upon joining the faculty of RIETS, Reb The situation quickly went from bad to of the Aggudas Harabbonim. In 1942, Reb ium passed away, Reb Dovid also gave up Dovid insisted on living in the yeshiva’s worse, as the next Nazi decree called for all Dovid Lifshitz was invited to serve as the his position so that Rav zt”l neighborhood. He was committed not only the shuls and batei medrash in the town to rosh yeshivah of Beis Medrash LeTorah in could serve as the sole president of the orga- to teaching his students during the time they be closed immediately. Before long, a decree Chicago, an offer that he accepted. nization. Reb Dovid held the title of honor- spent with him in his shiur, but also teaching ary president for the rest of his life. of expulsion was issued against all the Jews A Sought-After Mashpia by example throughout the day. His home of Suvalk. The community leaders begged Reb Dovid had a deep, abiding love for was open to students at all hours, every day Eretz Yisroel, and he played a fundamental for mercy, explaining to the Nazis that they In Chicago, Reb Dovid was highly re- of the week. Especially joyous were spe- role in the political scene of the nascent State had nowhere to go; the borders of Russia spected by the various rabbonim of the cial days such as Purim when the talmidim city, and he became a beloved and admired of . Shortly after the State was founded, and were sealed to them. But their would come to his house to rejoice and hear pleas were met with cruel indifference. Ul- mashpia and marbitz Torah in the yeshiva. Reb Dovid traveled to Eretz Yisroel and was beautiful words of Torah that exuded joy timately, the community was granted a two- Reb Dovid’s reputation traveled across the instrumental in assembling the “religious and set the tone for the day. The love that week reprieve in order to devise a plan for country, and he soon received two offers of front” that was included in the first Knesset. he radiated to his talmidim was one that was resettlement. other positions, each of them in . For many years, Reb Dovid served as the Reb Dovid leapt into action. Traveling One was extended by Rav Shraga Feivel vice president of Ezras Torah, the tzedokah tangible and amazingly bridged the gap be- to the Russian border, he obtained permis- Mendlowitz zt”l, who invited Reb Dovid organization founded in 1915. In 1976, Reb tween the European born and educated Yid- sion to cross the border and meet with local to serve as a maggid shiur in To- Dovid was appointed the president of the or- dish speaking gaon with wholly American officials. He pleaded for his fellow Jews to rah Vodaas, while the other came from Dr. ganization; it was a position he held until his English speaking talmidim. be granted sanctuary and was told that his of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitz- passing 17 years later. During this time, he Rav Dovid also davened every day in the request would be passed on to Moscow. chok Elchonon, who offered Reb Dovid a collected thousands of dollars on behalf of yeshiva and his devotion to tefillah, served No response was ever received. A similar prominent position in that institution. Reb impoverished Jews everywhere, particularly as a source of inspiration to all that observed attempt to meet with Lithuanian officials Dovid chose to accept the position at RIETS. the Torah scholars of Eretz Yisroel. him. Especially moving was the way he was rebuffed, when Reb Dovid and his del- He especially felt that he could contribute to looked on , dressed completely egation were not even allowed to cross the RIETS’s stated goal of producing rabbonim A Devoted Rebbe in white, the holiness of the day etched on border. Nevertheless, the Jews on the other that would serve in communities throughout Two years before his passing, Reb Dovid his face. Those that merited hearing Rav side of the border managed to communicate the country. Indeed, his experience as both a was the guest of honor at the 75th anniversary Dovid emotionally intone the Avinu Mal- to their brethren in distress that they should practicing rov and his years learning in the banquet of Ezras Torah. The banquet was at- keinu tefillah on Yom Kippur will never for- try to cross over into Lithuania illegally, and great yeshivos of Grodno and Mir made him tended by a large number of his talmidim, get it. Indeed his very presence in the RIETS there was hope that they would be allowed to eminently suited for the task. and Reb Dovid took a personal interest in bais Medrash lent it an aura of greatness. Thus, in 1944 Reb Dovid returned to remain once they were there. each one, inquiring about his learning and Reb Dovid sought to encourage his stu- New York and settled in the Washington Reb Dovid refused to leave his commu- greeting each with visible warmth and af- dents who had the ability, to enter the fields nity, but he did send his wife, his widowed Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. But fection. It was clear to everyone present that of Torah education and rabbonus, but he mother-in-law, and his two children, a five- remained close even with those who chose year-old girl and a baby, across the border along with a group of other Jewish refugees. Agudas Harabonim Conference, other professions, and he continued to derive pride and pleasure from their accomplish- Unfortunately, at this point tragedy struck Rockaway Park, NY - 5717/1957 the family. During the clandestine border ments. crossing, the baby began to cry and the bor- Promoter of Peace der guards opened fire. Reb Dovid’s five- month-old daughter was tragically killed by Reb Dovid was known for his commit- the gunfire, and his wife and mother-in-law ment to the ideal of sholom, peace. He was were captured by the Lithuanian police and beloved by many people and had many close returned to the Germans. Reb Dovid’s older friends. On every possible occasion, Reb daughter was separated from her mother and Dovid warned others to refrain from using grandmother and somehow ended up in Kal- hurtful or demeaning words. His approach varija, a Lithuanian city that was home to was always to avoid confrontation and to 1000 Jews. maintain peaceful coexistence with others; After this incident, Reb Dovid was finally he eschewed machlokes of any sort. Even persuaded to leave Suvalk and find his miss- in his capacity as a member of the Agudas ing daughter, whose whereabouts were then Harabbonim, an organization whose goal unknown to him. Along with his wife and was to defend Yiddishkeit from all breaches mother-in-law, Reb Dovid crossed the bor- or distortions of tradition, Reb Dovid some- der and was reunited with his daughter. He continued to work tirelessly for the sake of Photo credit: Kevarim.com how always found a way to achieve that goal the Jews of Suvalk. About 3000 Jews were 1. Rav Avraham Joffen | 2. Rav Meir Cohen | 3. Rav Mordechai Pinchas Teitz without rancor or discord. saved before the rest of the community was | 4. Rav Dovid Lifshitz | 5. Rav | 6. Rav | 7. Rav Once, Reb Dovid organized a march of rounded up by the Germans in the month of Simcha Elberg | 8. Rav Shimon Morduchovitz | 9. Rav yeshiva students in Chicago, in an effort to Kislev and met their bitter end at the hands | 10. Rav Chaim Tzvi Kruger. promote Shabbos observance and convince of the murderous Nazis. (Unfortunately, the Jewish storeowners to close their establish- Jews who remained in Lithuania were also while Reb Dovid left Beis Medrash LeTo- Reb Dovid had heeded ’s injunction ments on Shabbos. At first, some objected to killed when the Nazis overran that country rah, his students could not bear to see him to “establish many students.” Indeed, Reb the plan, claiming that no benefit could come just a year and a half later. Among them was go. Eleven of his talmidim from the yeshiva Dovid could be credited with “establishing” from it, but Reb Dovid was determined to Reb Dovid’s mother-in-law, Rebbetzin Yo- approached Reb Dovid before his departure thousands of students, and taking a personal see it through. “Even if one store closes selowitz.) and insisted that they could not remain in the interest in each of them. its doors, it will be worth it,” he declared. Reb Dovid, his wife, and his surviving yeshiva without him; if he was leaving, then Reb Dovid’s seemingly endless dedica- Ultimately, Reb Dovid was successful in daughter managed to obtain passes allow- they would follow him. And so they did; Reb tion to his students was something that he influencing many business owners. But in ing them to travel through Russia and Japan Dovid arrived in the yeshiva in New York absorbed from the rebbe of his youth, Reb all of Reb Dovid’s struggles against chillul to the United States. It was a long, arduous accompanied by those eleven students, who Shimon Shkop. Following Rav Shimon’s Shabbos, he remained constantly pleasant continued learning under his tutelage. journey that ultimately brought them to Ho- example, Reb Dovid was always willing to and avoided confrontation or hostility. As a take the time to explain any concept repeat- nolulu, and from there to San Francisco, result, his pleas for shemiras Shabbos were Serving the Jewish edly in his shiurim until his students had where they arrived on Erev Shavuos, 1941. much more readily received. In America, Reb Dovid was greeted warmly World at Large grasped it. And his concern for his students Reb Dovid passed away on the ninth by the expatriates of Suvalk. Even though Outside the confines of the yeshiva, Reb and their well-being extended far beyond of Tammuz, 5753 (1993) and was deep- the vast majority of them had emigrated Dovid was also involved in many communal their years under his direct tutelage; he con- ly mourned by his talmidim and by Jews prior to his arrival in Suvalk, they were well causes. He served for many years in the pre- tinued taking an interest in their lives long aware of all that he had done on behalf of sidium of the Agudas Harabbonim of Amer- after they had left the yeshiva. Even years worldwide. His shiurim were published un- their families and friends back home, and ica and Canada, an organization that sought after a student had learned under him, Reb der the title Shiurei Rav Dovid Lifshitz, and they were glad to repay his kindness. The to promote Shabbos observance, yeshiva Dovid would remember the student and his a number of his mussar shmuessen were also community rented an apartment for Reb education, and many other important Jewish family by name. published under the title Tehillah LeDovid. Dovid in the East New York neighborhood causes. Reb Dovid was a skilled orator, and Reb Dovid was once told that one of Sources: Introduction to Tehillah Le- of . Reb Dovid remained in Brook- his public addresses made a profound impact his talmidim was not conducting himself Dovid, Keshes Giborim, Rav Chaim Stein’s lyn for a year, where the Jews of Suvalk pro- on his audiences. He once resigned from his in a proper way. Even though this talmid hesped on Rav Dovid, (published in Beis vided him with all his needs and yeshiva bo- position in the organization, but he was then had not completely left the fold, Reb Dovid Yitzchok of that year), and an article in churim flocked to him to speak in learning. asked to retract his resignation. Rav Aharon was moved to tears. He immediately began HaPardes (No. 67 vol. 9)

54 YatedNe’eman 6 Tammuz 5773 | June 14, 2013