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What Do You Know About Kopust? TITLE: PAGE COUNT: Benei Hatzemach 508 Tzedek AUTHOR: Rabbi Amram Bloi ISSUE #10 PUBLISHER: Maayanotecha, 5781 editorial process. What Do You Know Benei Hatzemach Tzedek originated with a series of articles by R. Amram Bloi in the Heichal Habaal Shem Tov journal (vol. 15- About Kopust? 23). R. Bloi was a trained historian, and in his later years he published many articles on BY SHMUEL SUPER Chabad history, the history of the yishuv in Yerushalayim, and other topics of historical interest. for eternity (Sichos Kodesh 5752, p. 11-12). Introduction The research into the different branches of The different streams of Chabad, the Rebbe Chabad was the pinnacle of R. Bloi’s work, oday, Chabad and Lubavitch are said, have since flowed into and merged and the introduction to the book tells us synonymous. But for a significant with the great river of Lubavitch, under the that he had begun editing this work for period of Chabad history this was leadership of the Frierdiker Rebbe (Toras publication in book form. After R. Bloi’s tragic Tnot the case—alongside Lubavitch, several Menachem 5713, vol. 3, p. 57). death in a road accident in 5779, his grandson other Chabad groups flourished, led by The story of the sons and the grandsons Menachem Mendel Bloi completed the job. the sons and grandsons of the Tzemach of the Tzemach Tzedek and the chassidim A biographical chapter about R. Bloi appears Tzedek. Rabbi Amram Bloi’s masterful they led is thus a part of our broader history at the beginning of the book. Benei Hatzemach Tzedek tells this little- as Lubavitchers. Even on the most simple R. Bloi’s work is unique due to his ability to remembered fascinating story for the first level, our Rebbe was a direct descendant draw together disparate sources and weave time. of the Tzemach Tzedek’s oldest son Harav them into one cohesive narrative. In the past, Lubavitcher chassidim generally Baruch Sholom; the Frierdiker Rebbe was did not discuss this topic much. It is no the grandson and namesake of Harav Yosef Benei Hatzemach Tzedek draws extensively secret that there were periods of tension Yitzchak of Avrutch; and the Rebbetzin was from traditional internal Chabad sources, and points of contention between Lubavitch a descendant of Harav Yisrael Noach of of which there are three primary channels: and the other Chabad courts. Niezhin. Many Lubavitcher chassidim today the traditions of Beis Harav as related by are similarly descended from chassidim of the Frierdiker Rebbe in his voluminous But the Frierdiker Rebbe, and especially the different branches of Chabad. writings, the stories related by the mashpia our Rebbe, displayed a conciliatory attitude in Lubavitch R. Groinem (preserved in towards the other Chabad Rebbes, even Overview the books written by his students, such ,כ"ק אדמו"ר referring to them with the title of as Shemuos Vesipurim, Reshimos Devarim, an honorific they generally reserved for our In this review, we will begin with an overview etc.), and the stories of R. Mordechai Yoel Rebbeim. When the editors of kovetz Yagdil of the methodology of Benei Hatzemach Duchman transcribed in Lesheima Ozen. Torah placed a letter by one of the other Tzedek, continue to survey its contents, Chabad Rebbes in the section for “Chassidim and conclude with some comments on the R. Bloi is able to use this large and disparate Harishonim,” the Rebbe instructed it be moved to the section titled “Rabboseinu Nesi’einu” (Avodas Hakodesh, p. 23). Available at: The Rebbe explained that the split within SeforimDeals.com/ Chabad was not a machlokes in the simple LookInBook sense, it was a division leshem shamayim. As such, both sides are destined to endure body of stories to paint a detailed picture the tzadikim and nuanced descriptions of conversation with Harav Yisrael Noach, later of a person by identifying defining their individual personalities and character of Niezhin, and a meal in his house. characteristics expressed by multiple traits. The book is thoroughly researched, A quote from a Russian government report stories, and presenting them to the reader but it is not dry and technical and will be an describing the great respect chassidim in a logical order. enjoyable read even for those not inclined accorded the Tzemach Tzedek and his sons towards the minute details of history. The novel element of R. Bloi’s work lies in the concludes this chapter. external sources he brings to the table. He The Sons of the The following five chapters introduce us to draws extensively from eyewitness accounts each of Tzemach Tzedek’s sons, except for published in memoir literature, newspapers, Tzemach Tzedek the Rebbe Maharash, who has already been and journals, by people that had firsthand We will now turn to survey the content of written about at length in Lubavitch sources. encounters with the holy protagonists of the book, highlighting the way in which the The Tzemach Tzedek’s oldest son Harav this book. These sources are very important previously mentioned sources are used. in order to paint a full historical picture of Baruch Sholom—the Rebbe’s great-great Benei Hatzemach Tzedek begins with an these tzadikim. Traditionally chassidim grandfather—was the only one son who did introductory chapter about the later years didn’t place an emphasis on the details not become a Rebbe of chassidim after his of the Tzemach Tzedek’s nesius, laying out of history and externalities, focusing on father’s passing, and even during his father’s the background for the story of the division Torah and avodas Hashem. The stories they lifetime was less involved in communal of Chabad. told were for the purpose of learning from affairs. A number of stories describe his tzadikim, not learning about them. This We learn that already during the lifetime of deep humility. focus is perhaps best illustrated by the many the Tzemach Tzedek his sons filled rebbe-like Nevertheless, both before and after his examples in this book of biographical details functions. They each had their own shuls in father’s passing, R. Baruch Sholom did such as years of birth, marriage, etc. that Lubavitch, taught their father’s maamarim, travel to outlying Chabad communities, we only know from the titles of maamarei and visited outlying communities on saying chassidus and accepting panim. The Chassidus delivered on these occasions. their father’s behalf, where they would say aforementioned R. Goldenshtein met with Chassidus and even accept panim. The outside sources R. Bloi cites give R. Baruch Sholom on one of his journeys incredible descriptions of every element of These underlying facts are established and describes his appearance, scholarship, the courts of the Tzemach Tzedek and his based on Reshimos Hayoman and other and humility. Interestingly, this source— descendants, describing their appearances, internal sources, but they are then brought among others—describes how together conduct, and teachings in intimate detail. to life with an eyewitness account from with his berachos, R. Baruch Sholom would For us materially grounded readers, these the memoir of R. Pinchas Goldenshtein, also dispense medical prescriptions for depictions draws us into the atmosphere a non-Chabad chasid who later served as health issues. He passed away only three of the chatzer, and develop a feeling for the a shochet in Petach Tikvah. This account years after his father. tzadikim described. provides a detailed description of Tzemach The second son, Harav Yehudah Leib, known Tzedek’s delivery of the maamar and the Of course, these external sources need as Maharil, was the most prominent son chazaros each of his sons made separately, to be used with great caution. Most of during most of the lifetime of the Tzemach at their homes. these accounts were written by outsiders, Tzedek. Maharil had a particularly close or by insiders who left. As a result, their A collection of stories from Chabad sources relationship with his grandfather the accounts are colored by their perspectives illustrates the relationship between the Mitteler Rebbe, and a number of stories and agendas, which are often very distant Tzemach Tzedek and his sons, highlighting show how Maharil was an even closer talmid from the chassidishe world they are the importance he ascribed to their learning of his grandfather than he was of his father. writing about. R. Bloi perfected the art of and davening. Maharil was known for his very intense discernment, extracting the valuable fruit of These internal stories about the spiritual avodas hatefilah in the style of the Alter these accounts, while discarding their shell. dimension are then followed by a carefully Rebbe, with great visible excitement, Another unique source of information for curated selection from the writings of completely oblivious to his surroundings. R. Bloi is archival material, drawn primarily contemporary misnagdim and maskilim An eyewitness account describes his from the archives of the National Library who visited the Tzemach Tzedek’s chatzer conduct on his journeys among the of Israel. This material includes previously and gave accounts describing the external chassidim, including a moving description unpublished writings of chassidim and dimension of its functioning. of his emotional reading of the haftorah. outsiders, as well as Russian governmental Worthy of special mention is one lengthy Before the passing of the Tzemach Tzedek, records. incredible account by a maskil describing Maharil was the best known of his sons. Benei Hatzemach Tzedek masterfully weaves his wondrous yechidus with the Tzemach Upon the Tzemach Tzedek’s passing all of these sources into a seamless tapestry. Tzedek, the delivery of the maamar, the machlokes broke out among the chassidim, Written with a rare combination of historical yoshvim and their davening. This account also primarily between supporters of Maharil scholarship and chassidishe reverence, we describes the Tzemach Tzedek’s sons, their and the Rebbe Maharash.
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