Issue (# 12) A Tzaddik, or righteous person makes everyone else appear righteous before G-d by advocating for them and finding their merits. (Kedushas Levi, Noach Bereishis 7:1) Parshas Shemos Kedushas Ha'Levi'im AND A TZADDIK BY ANY OTHER NAME… And Yosef was in Egypt. (Shemos 1:5) The Berditchever in Kedushas Levi examines why the verse says “in Egypt.” It needed only to have said, “And Yosef was there” [since it is obvious that the verse is referring to Mitzrayim]. The Kedushas Levi says the verse means: “And Yosef was in Egypt” [with the emphasis on the name Yosef], indicating that he did not change his name [even in Mitzrayim — a land of licentiousness and great spiritual danger]. Although Pharaoh called him Tzafnas Paneach, he only called himself by the name Yosef. Even Pharaoh himself still used his Hebrew name, as when he said, “Go to Yosef and do what he tells you” (Bereishis 41:55). This, that Klal Yisrael did not change their names, is one of the three reasons they were redeemed. And this is why it says, “And Yosef was in Egypt” [that even in Egypt, he kept the name his father had given him]. The Power of the Tzaddik’s Name Sometimes the holy Berditchever would write kameyos, amulets, to help heal the sick. Once, someone opened one of the amulets. To his surprise, he saw that it didn’t contain any secrets nor any divine or angelic names. All that the Tzaddik had written on the amulet was his own name and the following statement: “I, Levi Yitzchak ben Sarah Sasha, hereby decree that this sickness depart!” Rav Shalom Guttman of Yas, himself a descendant of the Berditchever, wrote that his [1] grandfather Rav Pinchas had an amulet that Rav Levi Yitzchak had written, and sometimes he would lend it out to a person who was ill. The patient would hold onto the kameya, and inevitably he would recover and regain his health. Shemos/What’s in a Name? The Cornerstone, the Star, and the Merciful One The Berditchever’s family name, Derbarmidiger (which means “merciful one” in Yiddish), was truly fitting. Rav Levi Yitzchak was particularly known for showing mercy toward every individual, no matter what calamities befell them. Rav Klonymus Kalmish of Piaseczna once told the following story during one melaveh malkah meal: Once, the Chozeh of Lublin was sitting with the Koznitzer Maggid and Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev when government officials came to the house. This was during the time when the Russian government ordered that its agents should go around and record the family names of the Jews. The officials had come to record their family names. The Koznitzer Maggid quoted the verse “Even ma’asu habonim hayesah l’rosh pinah — The stone that the builders rejected became a cornerstone” (Tehillim 118:22). In Yiddish a cornerstone is a hofstein, and so his family name was established and recorded as Hofstein. The Seer, the Rav of Lublin, said “My name is Yaakov Yitzchak, and the verse says about Yaakov, ‘Darach kochav miYaakov — A star has gone forth from Yaakov’ (Bamidbar 24:17). A star is a shtern in Yiddish. And the Torah relates about Yitzchak, ‘Vayeitzei Yitzchak lasuach basadeh — Yitzchak went out to pray in the field’ (Bereishis 24:63). A field is a feld in Yiddish. So my name shall be Shternfeld.” The Rav of Berditchev said, “Our Sages teach in Shabbos 133b that we must attach ourselves to the attributes of Hashem. Just as He is merciful, so too shall you be merciful. ‘Merciful one’ is derbarmidiger in Yiddish, so my name shall be Derbarmidiger.” And so it was. Refuah Sheleima Besoch She'ar Cholei Yisroel ~ זיסל בת אידל סומא | Zisel Bas Aidel Sima ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ לעילוי נשמת הרה''ח ר' אברהם חיים ב''ר שלום ז''ל ▪ נפטר מוצש''ק כ''א שבט תשס''ו ▪ ת. נ. צ. ב. ה. To subscribe and/or add to the Refuah Sheleima list– Please email: [email protected] [2] 18 Teves Rav Huna bar Mar Zutra, Reish Galusa killed al kiddush Hashem (470). Rav Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov (1783-1841), born to Reb Pesach and his wife, the niece of Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk. A talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin, Tzvi Elimelech was told by the Chozeh that he was from Shevet Yissascher, which explained the talmid’s special feelings towards Chanukkah, as it is known that the Sanhedrin of the Chashmonaim had many members from Shevet Yissascher. This is the source of the name of his sefer, Bnei Yissascher [Hamodia 2005 says 1850]. Rav Moshe of Korestchov (1866). Born to the Chernobyler Maggid, Rav Mordechai, Rav Moshe was the grandson of the Meor Einayim of Chernobyl on his father’s side and Rav Aharon HaGadol of Karlin on his mother’s side. His brother was Rav Yochanan of Rachmistrivka. A few years after his father’s petira, he abided to the urging of the Chassidim and set up his court in Korestchov. He was succeeded by his son, Rav Mordechai. Rav Chaim Shmuel Horowitz of Chentchin (1915). Rav Moshe Chalfon of Djerba, Tunisia, author of Shoel Venishal and Bris Kehuna (1874- 1950). Rav Mendel Geffner, initiator of mass Chol Hamoed Birchas Kohanim. Moshe Heller of Yerushalayim; only son of Rav Refoel Tzvi Mechel Heller (2002). Rav Aryeh Leibish Halberstam, the Zhmigrader Rebbe (1912-2007). Two of his sons succeeded him – the Sanz-Zhmigrader Rebbe of Boro Park and the Sanz-Zhmigrader Rebbe of Europe. 19 Teves Rav Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller, author of Ketzos Hachoshen, Avnei Miluim, and Shev Shmaatsa (1813). Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, the Kesav Sofer (1815-1872). Born and died in Pressburg, Hungary, oldest son of the Chasam Sofer and grandson of Rav Akiva Eiger via his mother, Rebetzen Sorel. After his father’s death in 1839, the Ksav Sofer succeeded him as Rav and Rosh Yeshiva in Pressburg, at the unusually young age of 24. He served Pressburg for 33 years, the exact number of years his father had served before him. Rav Menachem Mendel Zaks, son-in-law of the Chafetz Chaim. 20 Teves Rabbeinu Moshe ben Maimon, the Rambam (1135-1204). Born at Cordova, Spain, the Rambam received his rabbinical instruction at the hands of his father, Maimon. Moshe was only thirteen years old when Cordova fell into the hands of the fanatical Almohades, and Rav Maimon and the other Jews were compelled to choose between Islam and exile. Rav Maimon and his family chose the latter course, and for twelve years led a nomadic life, wandering throughout Spain. In 1160 they settled at Fez, Morocco. In 1165 they went to Acre, to Jerusalem, and then to Fostat (Cairo), where they settled. After the death of Maimon, Moses' brother Dovid supported the family by trading in precious stones. Dovid perished at sea, and with him was lost not only his own fortune, but large sums that had been entrusted to him by other traders. These events affected Maimonides' health, and he went through a long sickness. After several years of practice, the Rambam’s authority in medical matters was firmly established, and he was appointed private physician to Saladin's vizier, who recommended him to the royal [3] family. In his commentary on the Mishnah (Sanhedrin, chapter 10), Maimonides formulates his "13 principles of faith". They summarized what he viewed as the required beliefs of Judaism: 1. The existence of Hashem. 2. Hashem's unity and indivisibility into elements. 3. Hashem's spirituality and incorporeality. 4. Hashem's eternity. 5. Hashem alone should be the object of worship. 6. Revelation through Hashem's prophets. 7. The preeminence of Moshe among the prophets. 8. The Torah that we have today is the one dictated to Moshe by Hashem. 9. The Torah given by Moshe will not be replaced and that nothing may be added or removed from it. 10. Hashem's awareness of human actions. 11. Reward of good and punishment of evil. 12. The coming of the Jewish Moshiach. 13. The resurrection of the dead. Rambam compiled the principles from various Talmudic sources. These principles were controversial when first proposed, evoking criticism by Rabbi Hasdai Crescas and Rabbi Joseph Albo, and were effectively ignored by much of the Jewish community for the next few centuries. However, these principles have become widely held; today, Orthodox Judaism holds these beliefs to be obligatory. Two poetic restatements of these principles (Ani Ma'amin and Yigdal) eventually became canonized in the "Siddur" (Jewish prayer book). Between the years 1158 and 1190 Maimonides produced a commentary on the Mishnah, the Mishneh Torah, and the philosophical work "Moreh Nevuchim.” Rav Yaakov Abuchatzera (1880), grandson of the founder of the Abuchatzera family, Rav Shmuel (Elbaz), and son of Rav Masoud, who was Rav of Tafelaletch (Tafilalt), Morocco. He took his father’s position upon the latter’s petira and built the yeshiva there, which produced thousands of students. He wrote many sefarim on all aspects of Torah, including Abir Yaakov. His grandson is Rav Yisrael, the Baba Sali, and his great-grandson is Rav Meir Abuchatzeira. In 1880, he attempted to move to Eretz Yisrael, but was nifter in Damanhur, Egypt, where he is buried. Rav Simcha Yissacher Dov of Chechenov (1914). Rav Yisrael Reich of Budapest (1933). Rav Raphael Eliyahu Eliezer Mishkovski (1917-1981). Rav of the town of Rechasim and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu in Kfar Chassidim, both in northern Israel). Author of Mishnas Eliyahu. Rav Elimelech (Meilich) Izak (1943-2006). He was named after his mother’s ancestor, the Noam Elimelech. He was born in Yerushalayaim, learned at the Chayei Olam yeshiva, and became a leading chassid of Karin-Stolin.