In the Preparation of This Article, We Were Greatly Assisted by the Extensive Profile of Rabbi Zevin Inshemen Sasson Mechaverecha Vol
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RABBI ZEVIN ADDRESSES A SPECIAL EVENT MARKING 15 YEARS SINCE THE FOUNDING OF KFAR CHABAD, YUD-BEIS TAMMUZ 5724. In the preparation of this article, we were greatly assisted by the extensive profile of Rabbi Zevin inShemen Sasson Mechaverecha vol. 2. Special thanks as well to Rabbi Tuvia Blau, rabbi of the Chabad community in Neve Yaakov, Yerushalayim, Rabbi Yitzchak Yehuda Yeruslavsky, rabbi of Nachlas Har Chabad, and Rabbi Yisrael Tzvi Glitzenstein, for sharing their stories with us. SIVAN 5779 *z 38 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 5724-1964 לע״נ ר׳ משה בן ר׳ זלמן צבי ע״ה לרגל ה׳יארצייט׳ הראשון נלב“ע אסרו חג השבועות ה׳תשע״ח ת'נ'צ'ב'ה' נתרם ע״י נכדו הרה״ת ר׳ שלום דובער וזוגתו מרת חי׳ מושקא ומשפחתם שיחיו שוחאט LEVI FREIDIN VIA JEM 286175 Gaon and Chossid RABBI SHLOMO YOSEF ZEVIN SIVAN 5779 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 39 Jack Of All Trades scholars of the previous generation. Rabbi Zevin was also a Chabad “He sits at the desk,” a reporter for From his earliest rabbinic posts in Chossid. Panim El Panim describes, “and edits Russia, to his prominent positions His grandfather had traveled to one of the most complicated entries in Eretz Yisroel, he gained renown the Tzemach Tzedek, and his father in the encyclopedia. It is difficult for his breadth of knowledge in all traveled to the Rebbes of Kopust. work, and he is fully engrossed in his aspects of the Torah. Whether nigleh, Rabbi Zevin himself first studied in writing. Kabbalah, Chassidus, and especially the Mir Yeshiva, and then joined a “Suddenly, the phone behind him halacha, Rabbi Zevin was proficient chaburah studying under Reb Shmarya rings. He isn’t irked at all; he picks up in it all. Although he was a member Noach of Babroisk, the last in the the phone and carries a conversation. of the Mizrachi movement, his Torah dynasty of Kapuster Rebbes, who .(תרפ“ג) *This discussion—about helping a scholarship won him respect across all passed away in 5683 shochet find a job—is very distant from walks of Jewry. After his father’s passing in 5663* ,when he was only 18 years old ,(תרס“ג) the topic he was writing about… He was also famous for his humility “Then comes a knock at the door. and good heartedness. He was one Rabbi Zevin was called to assume his An elderly rabbi wants to know where of the most prominent rabbanim in father’s rabbinic responsibilities in his he can find sources that speak about Eretz Yisroel, with connections to hometown of Kazimirov. the Sanhedrin. After offering him a the highest levels of government, The young rav quickly gained drink, Rabbi Zevin lists a number of yet he never demanded respect or renown, in a great measure due to his books and quickly collects them from recognition, and was always willing prolific writing in the Torah journals the bookshelves in his study. The rabbi to help another Jew in need, without of the age (years later, he would also begins to peruse them, and Rabbi fame or fanfare. contribute to the Hatomim journal). Zevin returns to his entry. However, Rabbi Zevin is most He became a favorite of many geonim, “Fifty lines are written, and there remembered for his clarity of thought. among them Reb Eliyahu Baruch is another knock and two Chabadniks He not only retained all the Torah he Kamai, Reb Shimon Shkop and Reb enter. He seems very happy to see learned; he was able to present it in Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. He also them. He brings some cake and the most brilliant manner, so clearly received semicha from the Rogatchover l’chaim from the kitchen, and a mini and succinctly, that any person was Gaon and the author of the Aruch farbrengen begins…”1 able to understand. When Rabbi Zevin Hashulchan. delivered a concept in speech or in Rabbi Zevin later served as rav in Who Was Rabbi Zevin? writing, no matter how profound or the towns of Klimon and Novozybkov Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin was complicating in its original form, its as well. When Harav Dovid Tzvi arguably one of the most unique Torah lucidity was breathtaking. (Radatz) Chein left the larger town of Chernigov for Eretz Yisroel in 5685* Rabbi Zevin was offered his ,(תרפ“ה) prestigious position, but he refused the offer due to his involvement in building the local mikveh. He knew that if he left town, the construction work might not continue. Rashi - Shir Hashirim Like many Kopuster Chassidim, Rabbi Zevin gravitated to the Frierdiker Rebbe after his own Rebbe’s passing, and thus began a fascinating relationship between Rabbi Zevin and the Frierdiker Rebbe, and later—the Rebbe. Rabbi Zevin’s first encounter with He .(תרפ“ד) *Lubavitch was in 5684 RABBI ZEVIN WORKING IN HIS OFFICE. was 37-years-old, and already a noted SIVAN 5779 *z 40 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 5683-1923, 5663-1903, 5685-1925, 5684-1924 rabbi in the Soviet Union. At the time, the Frierdiker Rebbe asked him to A Story Teller? join a secret vaad together with three In the early 5700s, Rabbi Zevin published his first books (he had other rabbanim, Rabbi Yechezkel published countless Torah dissertations and articles during his years in Abramsky, Reb Yaakov Klemes and Russia, but these were his first seforim): Moadim B’halacha, which deals Reb Menachem Gluskin. They assisted with the basic halachic concepts of each Yom Tov, and Sipurei Chassidim, the Frierdiker Rebbe in supervising an anthology of Chassidic stories. and managing the vast underground “Rabbi Zevin once related to me,” Rabbi Nochum Rabinovitch network of chadarim, yeshivos and recalled, “that his illustrious colleague Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky (the mikvaos. rosh yeshiva of Slobodka) was upset when he wrote his book of Chassidic When the Frierdiker Rebbe stories. His problem was in two points. First of all, it gives legitimacy to arranged an asifas harabbanim for the stories which may not have been believed beforehand; and second, it was Russian rabbinate, he appointed Rabbi unbefitting for such a brilliant talmid chacham to publish a book of simple Zevin to be its chairman. stories…”3 Correspondence was written In contrast to those arguments, the Frierdiker Rebbe greatly through code. Rabbi Zevin’s name was encouraged Rabbi Zevin in his storytelling, precisely because of the effect Rashi—the acronym of his name, Reb he could have on his readers. He even suggested that Rabbi Zevin, along Shlomo Yosef—and sometimes Shir with Rabbi Shimon Glitzenstein, establish a publishing house for Jewish Hashirim (...asher lishlomo). Rabbinic stories. Often, the Frierdiker Rebbe would ask Rabbi Zevin to repeat his work in the Soviet Union was perilous, most recent sermons, and once commented that they fell in the category and Rabbi Zevin had a few very close of drush shebesod. calls with the government. Many years later, after Rabbi Zevin’s passing, someone told the immediately understood the message across the spectrum. Everything the Rebbe in yechidus that he had been and enjoyed the clever ruse. Rebbe needed to accomplish, whether close with Rabbi Zevin and began After the Frierdiker Rebbe through Shazar, other elements of the to extoll his virtues. The Rebbe left Russia, he continued his government or in matters of rabbanus, commented, “I knew him in Russia correspondence with Rabbi Zevin, and he sent through Rabbi Zevin. Kfar where he was working under duress, began to work to obtain a visa for him Chabad, Kfar Chabad Beis, the under conditions where engaging in to leave Russia as well. Efforts were Reshet—Rabbi Zevin had a hand in it and all. For example, he was very involved ,(תרצ“ד )*such work meant, literally, putting finally successful in 5694 one’s life in peril. He was not cowed by he immigrated to Eretz Yisroel. in the fight over Mihu Yehudi, and I anything, and worked with complete His first post was rabbi of the remember how he always participated self-sacrifice to fulfill the mission of Chabad shul in Tel Aviv. A short in the kinusim. spreading Yiddishkeit with which my time later, upon the advice of the “In his personal life, he had a 2 father-in-law entrusted him.” Frierdiker Rebbe, he accepted a role strong bittul to the Rebbe. When the When the Frierdiker Rebbe as a maggid shiur in a Beis Midrash Rebbe told him not to run for the was arrested, Rabbi Zevin received L’Rabbanus in Yerushalayim. He was position of chief rabbi, he didn’t run. a telegram that read, “Uncle fell also involved in various matters of (The Rebbe once wrote to him that ill.” A short time later, a second askanus. The Frierdiker Rebbe’s letters if he was offered a position on the telegram arrived; “Uncle recovered.” have references to his work for Russian Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas He understood that the Frierdiker Jewry, as well as the Jewish refugees Yisrael, he should accept.) When Rebbe had been released and wanted following World War II. the Rebbe told him not to travel to to send a congratulatory telegram, America, he listened, and indeed but being afraid of the censor, he The Rebbe’s Yada never came to the Rebbe. Whatever decided to incorporate his message Arichta In Eretz Yisroel the Rebbe asked, he did.” in the telegram’s signature. He signed “Rabbi Zevin was literally the Hundreds of letters in Igros Kodesh “Baruch” as his first name, and then Rebbe’s ‘extended hand’ in Eretz are testimony to the sheer amount of “Matir Asurim” as his last. Seeing the Yisroel,” relates Rabbi Yisrael work Rabbi Zevin did on the Rebbe’s city of origin, the Frierdiker Rebbe Tzvi Glitzenstein.