DOCSLIB.ORG

R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin, the Besamim Rosh and the Chida,A Gift for Rabbi

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin, the Besamim Rosh and the Chida,A Gift for Rabbi ‘Yikar Sahaduta Dipum Bidatta’ R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin, the Besamim Rosh and the Chida ‘Yikar Sahaduta Dipum Bidatta’ R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin, the Besamim Rosh and the Chida Rabbi Moshe Maimon, Jackson NJ Some of the worst epidemics we have known in our history have indirectly been the catalyst for important contributions by scholars who produced their valuable works under quarantine. Eliezer Brodt has published in these pages considerable lists of such scholarship, from bygone plagues down to the current terrible epidemic, which highlight the vast scope of this literary bounty. I recently came across a very interesting sefer-epidemic connection which I have not seen mentioned yet. This material highlights the contribution of a scholar who was quite probably in quarantine when he produced his indices to a well-known and much debated sefer—R. Saul Berlin’s storied publication, Besamim Rosh. Perhaps most famous (or infamous) for its reputation as the ultimate rabbinic forgery, an exhaustive history of this volume has already been written (and interested readers would do well to refresh their memory with the excellent survey in this blog post by Dan Rabinowitz & Eliezer Brodt; see also Eliezer Brodt’s exhaustive bibliography on the subject in a footnote in Yeshurun, vol. 24, pp. 425-427). My own study of the saga of this sefer during the present COVID-19 quarantine era can hopefully shed light on some striking details pertaining to this account. R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin in defense of Besamim Rosh Those who have followed the rocky history associated with Besamim Rosh will recall the strenuous defense of this sefer penned by R. Saul’s father, R. Tzvi Hirsh Levin, rabbi of Berlin, and reproduced in the introduction to Rabbi Amar’s recent edition of Besamim Rosh, and most recently, together with a facsimile of the original, in R. Yisroel Chaim Tessler’s comprehensive overview of the history of R. Saul Berlin and the Besamim Rosh in Pe’alim LaTorah (vol. 34 pp. 226-229). Modern books of Hebrew Bibliography, such as Friedberg’sBet Eked Sefarim and Winograd’s Otzar HaSefer Ha’Ivri, contain an entry for a separate pamphlet published by R. Zvi Hirsch Levin written in defense of the Besamim Rosh entitled Yikar Sahaduta. This has led some to conclude that in addition to his letter of defense, R. Levin also wrote an additional pamphlet to clear his son of any suspicion. As far as I could tell, a separate pamphlet by this name is not to be found in any library or other public holding (cf. the aforementioned Pe’alim LaTorah article fn. 61), however, the Heimann Michael collection contains an entry on p. 250 for a copy of אוצרות חיים catalogue Besamim Rosh which has an additional pamphlet by R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin by this name appended to it, and this is likely the source for the entry in the aforementioned bibliographies. As the printed books from Heimann Michael collection were later purchased by the British Library, it stands to reason that we may yet be able to ascertain if this Yikar Sahaduta is indeed a separate publication, though I have a hunch it is none other than R. Levin’s famous (untitled) letter that must have been bound at a later date with the sefer (as it is in R. Levin’s manuscript copy of the Besamim Rosh held at The Russian State Military Archives, see here). The existence of a volume of R. Saul’s earlier controversial work, Mitzpeh Yakte’el (Berlin 1789), bound with R. Levin’s letter in defense of the Besamim Rosh, would lend some weight to this supposition. This copy is attested to by Moshe Carmilly-Weinberger, in his Sefer VeSayaf (New York 1967, pp. 213-215), who was somehow misled by it into thinking that the defense of Besamim Rosh was written and published with Mitzpeh Yakte’el four years prior to the actual publication of the Besamim Rosh! In any event, the British Library is at present closed to staff and public alike due to Covid-19 restrictions, and I have had to arrest my investigation of the matter for now. While In Seclusion… This untitled letter starts with some rhymed prose, beginning with the and continues on with a passionate defense of the ,איש עניו words integrity of the sefer, and includes a barely restrained attack on those who dare to impugn it. R. Levin writes that anyone who disparages this sefer is besmirching the good name of R. Levin himself, for it was he who had given the sefer his imprimatur after reading it in manuscript form (prepared for him by his other son, R. Shlomo, later famous as R. Solomon Hirschell, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain). The manuscript had been in his possession for close to ten years prior to its 1793 printing, and it was R. Levin himself who had helped prepare the indices for this volume during his stay in Pyrmont: והנה מעידני עלי שמים וארץ כי הספר הלז הועתק לי מבני הרבני המופלג ומושלם כמוהר”ר שלמה נר”ו זה כעשר שנים, ואני בעצמי עשיתי לו המפתחות כסדר הטורים בפרמונד… ואם כדברי המתקדשים הללו בי אני העון אשר הסכמתי להוציאם לאורה ולא על בני הגאון נר”ו לבד תלונתם כי אם גם עלי. [I call heaven and earth as my witnesses that this sefer was copied for me about ten years ago by my son, the distinguished and perfect rabbi, R. Solomon, may G-d protect and keep him, and I personally prepared the indices according to the order of the Tur in Pyrmont… and if these sanctimonious hypocrites are correct, then the fault lies with me for sanctioning the publication; their grievance is not just with my son [R. Saul], the exemplary scholar, may G-d keep and protect him, but rather with me as well] R. Menachem Silber pointed out to me that this Pyrmont is most probably the resort and spa town Bad Pyrmont. Here is a contemporary depiction of the promenade between the baths and the town of Pyrmont from 1780, about the time of R. Levin’s stay there, courtesy of Wikipedia. R. Levin does not explain in this letter the significance of his stay in Pyrmont. However, in an entry in his journal, published by his descendant, R. Tzvi Michaelsohn, in his responsa Tirosh VeYitzhar in the section at the end of the sefer devoted to his antecedents’ novellae (new pagination, p. 35), we read the following: כל זה כתבתי לי זה רבות בשנים ועתה בשנת תקו”ם לפ”ק בהיותי בפירמונד ונשב בד בבד ואין ספרים הצריכים בידי כי אם מעט אשר לקחתי מביתי ומהם ס’ בשמים ראש כ”י )ברור שכך צ”ל, ובמקור “כו'” וכנראה נשתבש המעתיק בהעתקת כתה”י – .(MM [I had written the above some years ago, but now in the year 1786, while dwelling in solitude in Pyrmont, I have few sefarim with me save for the few that I was able to take with me from home, including the sefer Besamim Rosh in manuscript]. This manuscript’s placement in Pyrmont is further evidenced by an inscription on the manuscript by one Yechiel Michel b. R. Isserl who, writing in Pyrmont (the date 1757 given in the JNULcatalogue is obviously an error in transcription), attests that the volume was in the possession of “the exemplary scholar and great rabbi of Berlin and its environs” (a reference to R. Levin himself). Later (p. 41), R. Levin writes further of his stay in Pyrmont: ב”ה פירמונד. לאשר אין אתי כי אם ספרי משניות ושאר ספרי דבי רב אינם נמצאים כאן אמרתי לרשום כל העולה בלבי עד ירחם ה‘ לנו ונעיין בה. [By the Grace of G-d, Pyrmont: Having no sefarim with me here, save for a set of Mishnayot and a few other rabbinic volumes, I have determined to note whatever thoughts occur to me until God has mercy on us and I have the opportunity to do further research on them]. I have not found confirmation of an epidemic in the environs of Berlin in the year 1786, but the fact that R. Levin bemoaned his having to remain in solitude in Pyrmont, bereft of his holy works, until God shows mercy on his people, does strongly indicate that he was not there on vacation, but was forced to shelter in place there to avoid the plague. Perhaps one of the readers can supply more information and shed light on this episode. Be that as it may, it is clear that R. Levin took advantage of his time in Pyrmont to thoroughly review the manuscript volume of Besamim Rosh (see also further references to Besamim Rosh in his novella, ibid. p. 38 section 41:3, 42:6 and p. 44 section 56:1), and it was then that he created the indices for the sefer. This must have been no small feat, as he was likely forced to rely in great part on his prodigious memory due to the dearth of basic source material available at Pyrmont. Noteworthy in itself is that the manuscript of Besamim Rosh was among the few volumes R. Levin took with him to Pyrmont, indicative of his interest – unique among his contemporaries – in manuscript works of Rishonim. Further testament to this interest is R. Levin’s copy of a manuscript of Sefer Ra’avyah (today known as The Beth Din & Beth Hamidrash Library, London, England Ms. 11) which later formed the basis of the new edition published by R. David Deblitzky (Bnei Braq 2005), and which contains many glosses in R. Levin’s hand. One such gloss actually concerns the Besamim Rosh, and it is published here for the first time in its entirety (it is cited in R.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mattos Chassidus on the Massei ~ Mattos Chassidus on the Parsha +
    LIGHTS OF OUR RIGHTEOUS TZADDIKIM בעזרת ה ' יתבר A Tzaddik, or righteous person , makes everyone else appear righteous before Hashem by advocating for them and finding their merits. Kedushas Levi, Parshas Noach (Bereishis 7:1) MATTOS ~ MASSEI _ CHASSIDUS ON THE PARSHA + Dvar Torah – Mattos Keep Your Word The Torah states (30:3), “If a man takes a vow or swears an oath to G -d to establish a prohibition upon himself, he shall not violate his word; he shall fulfill whatever comes out of his mouth.” In relation to this passuk , the Midrash quotes from Tehillim (144:4), “Our days are like a fleeting shadow.” What is the connection? This can be explained, says Rav Levi Yitzchok, according to a Gemara ( Nedarim 10b), which states, “It is forbidden to say, ‘ Lashem korban , for G-d − an offering.’ Instead a person must say, ‘ Korban Lashem , an offering for G -d.’ Why? Because he may die before he says the word korban , and then he will have said the holy Name in vain.” In this light, we can understand the Midrash. The Torah states that a person makes “a vow to G-d.” This i s the exact language that must be used, mentioning the vow first. Why? Because “our days are like a fleeting shadow,” and there is always the possibility that he may die before he finishes his vow and he will have uttered the Name in vain. n Story The wood chopper had come to Ryczywohl from the nearby village in which he lived, hoping to find some kind of employment.
    [Show full text]
  • The Further Reforming of Conservative Judaism
    The Further Reforming of Conservative Judaism in this issue ... THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN 002]-6615) is published monthly, except July and August, by the Changes in Perspective Through Torah Encounters ........ 6 Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N.Y. The Sunday Night Class, Hillel Belsky ..•.....•.•.... 7 10038. Second class postage paid The Joyful Light, Amos Keinen ........•.••....••••.• 9 at New York, N.Y. Subscription $15.00 per year; two years, $27.00; Concerns of a Parent, Harvey S. Hecker . ...•..••.•..• 10 three years. $36.00 outside of the United States, US funds only. "Dear Mom," Molly, Moshe and I .............•.••.. 13 $20.00 in Europe and Israel. $25.00 in So. Africa and Australia. Single The Age of Teshuva, a review article ..••.•..•..•••.. 14 copy, $2.00. Send address changes Return to The Jewish Observer, 5 Beek­ man St., N.Y. N.Y. 10038. Printed Pathways in the U.S.A. Our Miraculous World With Perfect faith HABnt N1ssoN WoLPJN Editor The further Reforming of Conservative Judaism, Nisson Wolpin .................................•••••.. 17 Editorial Board The Critical Parent's Guidebook, Avi Shulman .•.•..•.••••.• 20 OR. ERNST BoDENHrtMER Chairman The "Chaver," Yisroel Miller ...•....•.....•.....•.•..•... 25 RABBI NATHAN BULMAN RABBI josrrtt Eu ... s Saddiq of the Sahara, Nehama Consuelo Nahmoud . ......•.•..• 28 Josu'H fRIEDENSON RABBI MOSHE SHERER Books in Review ...................................... 33 Management Board The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet NAFTOU HIRSCH !SAA( K!RZNER Chumash Bereshith (Three Sidros); NACHUM 5TF.!N A Linear Translation Business Manager Letter to a Soviet Jew, a poem by Varda Branfman .......••..• 35 PESACH H. KONSTAM Second Looks at the Jewish Scene T Hr Jrw1sH OesERVrR does not assume responsibility for the The Dioxin Connection ........................
    [Show full text]
  • צב | עב January Tevet | Sh’Vat Capricorn Saturn | Aquarius Saturn
    צב | עב January Tevet | Sh’vat Capricorn Saturn | Aquarius Saturn Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 | 17th of Tevet* 2 | 18th of Tevet* New Year’s Day Parashat Vayechi Abraham Moshe Hillel Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov Rabbi Salman Mutzfi Rabbi Huna bar Mar Zutra & Rabbi Rabbi Yaakov Krantz Mesharshya bar Pakod Rabbi Moshe Kalfon Ha-Cohen of Jerba 3 | 19th of Tevet * 4* | 20th of Tevet 5 | 21st of Tevet * 6 | 22nd of Tevet* 7 | 23rd of Tevet* 8 | 24th of Tevet* 9 | 25th of Tevet* Parashat Shemot Rabbi Menchachem Mendel Yosef Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon Rabbi Leib Mochiach of Polnoi Rabbi Hillel ben Naphtali Zevi Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeira Rabbi Yisrael Dov of Vilednik Rabbi Schulem Moshkovitz Rabbi Naphtali Cohen Miriam Mizrachi Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler 10 | 26th of Tevet* 11 | 27th of Tevet* 12 | 28th of Tevet* 13* | 29th of Tevet 14* | 1st of Sh’vat 15* | 2nd of Sh’vat 16 | 3rd of Sh’vat* Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat Parashat Vaera Rabbeinu Avraham bar Dovid mi Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch HaRav Yitzhak Kaduri Rabbi Meshulam Zusha of Anipoli Posquires Rabbi Yehoshua Yehuda Leib Diskin Rabbi Menahem Mendel ben Rabbi Shlomo Leib Brevda Rabbi Eliyahu Moshe Panigel Abraham Krochmal Rabbi Aryeh Leib Malin 17* | 4th of Sh’vat 18 | 5th of Sh’vat* 19 | 6th of Sh’vat* 20 | 7th of Sh’vat* 21 | 8th of Sh’vat* 22 | 9th of Sh’vat* 23* | 10th of Sh’vat* Parashat Bo Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowitz
    [Show full text]
  • CONGREGATION TORAH OHR Education and Program Brochure
    CONGREGATION TORAH OHR EducationEducation andand ProgramProgram BrochureBrochure 57795779 EDUCATION COMMITTEE 2018-2019 Benjamin S. Yasgur, Rabbi Dr. Chaim Shapiro, Rabbi Emeritus Josh Samborn, President Rabbi Kenneth Greene, Chairman Dr. Jack Prince, Chairman Emeritus David Cheslow Sam Colman Andrea Dolny Elly Edelman Barbara Gononsky Rabbi David Jacobowitz Judah Klein Rabbi Dr. Moshe Kranzler Marty Levine Dr. Sonny Meiselman Marcia Schrager Marvin Weinstein This brochure provides information about the many educational activities available to our Torah Ohr community throughout the year. Please read this brochure carefully and mark your calendar for special programs and the starting dates of classes you wish to attend. Further information will be available in the weekly bulletin when necessary. 19146 Lyons Road Boca Raton FL 33434 561-479-4049 TABLE OF CONTENTS SHABBAT MINYANIM & LEARNING 2 WEEKDAY MINYANIM & LEARNING 3 MINI-SERIES 4 CLASSES/SHIURIM 5-7 MEN & WOMEN EVENING KOLLEL 8 PROGRAMS 9 MEN’S CLUB BOOK REVIEWS 10 SISTERHOOD 11 LUNCH & LEARN 12 SHABBAT SHIRAH 13 ANNUAL SIYUM MISHNAYOT 13 SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE 14 ANNUAL YOM IYUN 14 RABBI JACOB AND PEARL WEITMAN MEMORIAL LECTURE 15 YOM HAZIKARON, YOM HA’ATZMAUT, YOM YERUSHALAYIM 16 SPECIAL GROUPS 17 We would like to express our thanks to all those who have forwarded suggestions to the Education Committee relating to the spectrum of programs we offer. IN LOVING MEMORY Torah Ohr recognizes with sincere thanks the ongoing support of many of our programs by the following Memorial Funds.
    [Show full text]
  • Presenter Bios
    PRESENTER PROFILES RABBI DR. ELIE ABADIE Rabbi Elie Abadie, M.D. was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and grew up in Mexico City, coming to the United States to attend Yeshiva University. He earned his B.A. in Health Sciences in 1983, B.S.C. in 1984 in Bible Studies, Hebrew Teacher’s diploma in 1985, and a Master’s degree in Jewish Philosophy 1n 1986 from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University. Rabbi Abadie received his ordination in 1986 from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He attended SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where he graduated in 1990 with an M.D. degree. He did his residency in Internal Medicine, and later his fellowship in Gastroenterology at Maimonides Medical Center finishing in 1995. Rabbi Abadie is the founding Rabbi and Spiritual Leader of the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in New York City, the Head of School of the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan and the Spiritual Leader of the Moise Safra Community Center in Manhattan. He is also the Director of the Jacob E. Safra Institute of Sephardic Studies, at Yeshiva University and is a scholar and college teacher of Sephardic Judaism, history, philosophy, and comparative traditional law. He received the Orden Del Merito Civil, the highest civil decoration by His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain. Rabbi Abadie maintains a practice in Gastroenterology. RABBI DR. J. DAVID BLEICH Rabbi J. David Bleich is an authority on Jewish law and ethics and bioethics. He holds the Herbert and Florence Tenzer Chair in Jewish Law and Ethics, is a Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University and heads RIETS’ postgraduate institute for the study of Talmudic jurisprudence and family law.
    [Show full text]
  • Master-GUTNIK 26 Av 5779 ENGLISH.Indd
    from the wedding of GGurkovurkov שיחיו YYaakovaakov and CChayahaya BBasyaasya 26th day of Menachem Av 5779 (August 27, 2019) The bride's grandmother and grandfather receive a blessing from the Rebbe B"H Preface ,יחיו Honored guests We offer profound thanks toHashem for the good He has bestowed upon us, that through His great kindness we have reached this momentous occasion of the marriage of .שיחיו our dear children, Yaakov Yosef and Chaya Basya We are deeply grateful to all the guests who have come from far and near to celebrate at our simcha. May Hashem grant you the opportunity to participate in many more joyous occasions in good health! We are pleased to present this memento (teshura) in their honor, which includes: 1) The life story and family history of Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber Hakohen Gutnick and his Rebbetzin Devorah, grandparents of the Kalla, distinguished pioneers in establishing and strengthening Yiddishkeit in Australia. 2) Letters of the Lubavitcher Rebbeim sent to the Gutnicks relating to their shlichus in Australia. 3) Letters sent by the Rebbeim to the distinguished Chassidim, Rabbi Meir Gurkov, emissary of the Rebbe RaShaB and great-great-grandfather of the Chosson, and to his son Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Gurkov, great-grandfather of the Chosson, together with stories about the latter’s father-in-law, the renowned Chossid Rabbi Leizer Tchetchersker, great- great-grandfather of the Chosson. We hope and pray that this simcha of the Chosson and Kalla will hasten the celebration of the great “marriage” between Hashem and the Jewish people, with the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days! 26th Menachem Av, 5779 (August 27, 2019) Parents of the Chosson Parents of the Kalla Rabbi Michel and Chani Gurkov Rabbi Meyer and Shaindy Gutnick 3 GGurkovurkov שיחישיחיוו YYaakovaakov aannd CChayahaya BBasyaasya Shlichus in Australia “Every neshama has a specific mitzva which is the gateway through which the flow from Above descends, and since you have been privileged .
    [Show full text]
  • Shabbat Matters September 28
    בסד” SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 --- 28 ELUL 5779 PARSHAT NITZAVIM SHABBAT MATTERS Friday, September 27 Friday, October 4 Shabbat, September 28 11:15 am Post-Mussaf Drasha: Torah Reading: 6:55 pm Mincha 6:45 pm Mincha 7:30 am Hashkama Minyan Rabbi Selevan Devarim 29:9 - 31:30 6:48 pm Candles 6:35 pm Candles 8:15 am Chumash-Rashi Shiur 5:35 pm Pre-Mincha Shiur: Hertz P. 878 (Earliest 5:53 pm) (Earliest 5:42 pm) with Melech Halberstadt Rebbetzin Selevan Stone P. 1086 9:00 am Shacharit: Sanctuary & 6:35 pm Mincha: Sharp Sanctuary Haftorah: Downstairs Minyan 6:55 pm Seudah Shlishit: Yeshayahu 61:10 - 63:9 10:00 am Youth Programs Rabbi Selevan Hertz P. 883 10:00 am Teen Minyan 7:43 pm Shabbat Ends Stone P. 1202 TODAH RABAH to the sponsors: CONGREGATIONAL KIDDUSH: MAZAL TOV AND OTHER MEMBERS MATTERS Jesse & Alexa Tepperman in honour of the birth of their son Mazal Tov to Jesse & Alexa Tepperman on the birth of a son. Proud grandparents are Casey Theodore Croitoru & Edith Devico in Tepperman and Noel & Andie Solomon. Elated great-grandparents are Joe Tepperman and commemoration of the yahrzeit of Rica Solomon. Ecstatic aunts and uncles are Katie Tepperman, Jeremy Elhadad, and Rachel Theodore’s mother, Jackie Croitoru z”l Solomon. DOWNSTAIRS MINYAN: Stephen & Janice Halpern in commemoration of the yahrzeit of PLEASE WELCOME Stephen’s father, Cecil Halpern z”l BREAKFAST: This Shabbat, we welcome Scholars-in-Residence RabbiRabbi Aaron & Leslie SelevanSelevan. Thursday October 3, 2 nd Minyan Rabbi Aaron Selevan performs various rabbinic duties in Hamilton and Lawrence & Ilana Kurtz in Toronto, including as a member of the Hamilton Beit Din.
    [Show full text]
  • Support to Build Their Building So More Boys Can Experience Chinuch As It Was Meant to Be
    BUILDING ON FOXMAN TORAH INSTITUTE Serving Cherry Hill and Greater Philadelphia MESIVTA BAIS DOVID STEIN BAIS MEDRASH iyyc fpc ubywy eyns The eJoy Joy of of TorahTorah - For - LifeFor Life Success THEYeshiv a Nestled in the quiet suburban neighborhood of Building upon its success, the yeshiva now needs Cherry Hill, NJ, lies Southern New Jersey’s only a larger building to accommodate its current Jewish high school, Foxman Torah Institute (FTI). student body and to provide space for the future FTI is an extraordinary yeshiva high school with continued growth of the yeshiva currently being a post-high school program that is dedicated stunted due to lack of physical space. to providing Jewish adolescent boys with a robust educational experience. FTI's programs Please consider the opportunity to partner with encompass extraordinary Torah scholarship, a the yeshiva in this critical stage of its development. comprehensive college preparatory curriculum, and a unique focus on character development Partnering with the yeshiva is an investment in through the study and practice of mussar. authentic Jewish education. Over the last eight years, the yeshiva has Partnering with the yeshiva is a contribution to experienced exponential growth, attracting local the vibrancy of the Jewish future. students as well as students from the Tri-State region and beyond. The keys to the success of Partnering with the yeshiva is a commitment to the yeshiva lie in its clear mission, exceptional the continuity of the Jewish people. staff, warm and comfortable environment, and its commitment to see each student as a unique Partnering with the yeshiva is a decision that will individual with enormous potential.
    [Show full text]
  • Twenty-Eight Teachings from Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (Free Translation)
    LIGHTS OF OUR RIGHTEOUS TZADDIKIM בעזרת ה ' יתבר A Tzaddik, or righteous person , makes everyone else appear righteous before Hashem by advocating for them and finding their merits. Kedushas Levi, Parshas Noach (Bereishis 7:1) VAY ECHI _ CHASSIDUS ON THE PARSHA + Dvar Torah Cures Precede Ailments Every word in the Torah has a purpose and a meaning. There are no superfluous words in the Torah, and yet there seems to be a redundancy in the passuk that describes how Yaakov blessed Ephraim and Menashe. He said, “May the Lord render you like Ephraim and Menashe.” And then, the Torah tells us, that “he placed Ephraim before Menashe.” There is a deeper meaning here, explains Rav Levi Yitzchak. The Gema ra tells us (Megillah 15a), “ Come and see how the Holy Blessed One’s attributes differ from those of mortals. Mortals place the pot on the fire and then fill it with water, but the Holy Blessed One fills it with water and then puts the pot on the fire.” Wh at does this mean? It refers to the preparation of the remedy before the affliction appears. The physical suffering is symbolized by the pot, and the divine kindness that restores health and serenity is symbolized by water. A person pours water into the po t after it has been placed in the oven, in other words, he is faced with an ailment and seeks water to pour over it. But the Almighty begins with the water. He wants to do certain acts of kindness for a person, but the person may be unworthy; his pot may b e too small, so to speak.
    [Show full text]
  • Download (PDF, 3.33MB)
    ~~\~-·~~~ 4q_-$' &~~ ,;., . • <\'..~.• . /~"' S) .. •• ·•• ···•·····•··.·.·.·.•.·.••·•·.·.· •• ·.•••······.·~."' ~<....•••• •• ·.•.·•• ··<'(~·.. ··.:~.· .. ·~· ..· ....• ·.····• ... ; ..·.······~~ ·s,~?...••\)-<;··· •• ··<j.\j .•.. $."" ~&7 ~·~~··· Jewish history may be lying around in your basement. Don't let it be lost to thew d. Thousands of documents and photos are languishing in trunks, attics and forgotten drawers in private homes and basements. Now is the time to retrieve this precious material­ before it becomes dust instead of history. Your help-the public's help-is needed in this effort. Do you have any relevant old photos, documents, or records? THE CATEGORIES OF ITEMS REQUESTED: • Documentation of Orthodox ,Jewish rescue work dur­ "' Document<;: and photos pertaining to Orthodox activ~ ing the Holocaust. ism in the social service and civic action fields. • Photos depicting life in the shtetl, the Orthodox com­ ~ Photos of Gedolei Yisroel past and present. munities of the eities, the yeshiva world, and Chassidic • Sets of Orthodox journals and periodicals. centers of Europe before the Holocaust. • Documents and photos relating to the religious Yishuv '" Documents, records 1 letters, 'journals and newspapers in Eretz Yisroel 1 its institutions and struggles for that portray Turah life in Europe as it was, and cast Jewish life. light on the issues and problems facing Jews at the time. • Documents and photos pertaining to world-wide Agudath Israel hisfllry, all Knessios Gedolos, and the "' Documenl<>, records 1 correspondence, newsclippings, development of the American Agudah movement since journals, memorahilia, and phows depicting Orthodox 1922. life in the U.S. from colonial times to the present. ({f you arr hesitant to pa.rt with cheri._<;hidiU>m..i;, arrange· .. Documents and photos pertaining to the development me11t.s can bf' m.adt' fo reproduce certain kind.<; of documents of yeshivos throughout the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh
    Share the Ch ofetz Chaim's vision of a world built on Ahavas Yisrael ... Gedolim of our h'rne - members ofour Rabbinical Board - speak out on the Chafetz Chaim Heritage Foundation "J admire the work that the foundation is "The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation "I think it's a tremendous z'chus and doing to promote Shmiras Haloshon. .\\'!if' . :. is the only major organization working accomplishffi€n! for the Chofetz Chaim They make many thousands of people · · exdusivelv on the kev mitzvos of Ahavas Heritage Foundation to have taken upon aware of the responsibility of proper S[Jl'€Ch Yisrael and Shmiras l!aloshon. It is a great itself the responsibility and mission to and thev do it ven·. ven: successful!\··: ichus to have a part in their work .. promote Shmiras Haloshon to our -HaRat• A1!r'aba111 Pa~11, z"tl -HaRar SIJ11111el Ka111e11etskr·. entire community': II Sblitr1 - Chairman • - 1Voi•on1insker Rebbe, Sbfita .. .And get some of the world's most important tapes FREE! Become a member of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation - the only organization devoted to removing what the Chofetz Chaim declared is the single biggest barrier to the Geulah. As a new member you will enjoy a package of special membership benefil5 including a gift of some of the most important chizuk tapes available today. More importantly, you'll be helping to fulfill the Chofetz Chaim's vision by supporting the strongest initiative ever for Shmiras Haloshon and Ahavas YisraeL !ff, CHOFETZ F~mily $360 $180 $100 $54 $36 • Dedication in daily .. Sponsor a • One da\'
    [Show full text]
  • Kedushas Levi, Noach Bereishis 7:1)
    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.
    [Show full text]