Issue (# 13) A Tzaddik, or righteous person makes everyone else appear righteous before Hashem by advocating for them and finding their merits. (Kedushas Levi, Parshas Noach; Sefer Bereishis 7:1) Parshas Va’Era Kedushas Ha'Levi'im THE ELOQUENCE OF A TZADDIK Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon and commanded them regarding the Jewish people and regarding Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to take the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. (Shemos 6:13) The holy Berditchever teaches us in Kedushas Levi that there are two types of tzaddikim who rebuke and guide the nation on the path of Hashem. First, there is one type of tzaddik whose words make an impression on wicked evildoers, subjugating their hearts to turn to Hashem. There is no need for him to give them any reason to do so, and his speed need not be eloquent, since it is not necessary for him to explain anything. As he speaks about the proper path, his words make an impression that penetrates the hearts of his listeners. Then there is another type of tzaddik whose words do not make such an impression. He needs to bring proofs and reasons to convince them that this is the correct path to follow. This tzaddik must be a masterful orator who can speak eloquently and explain the matter to his audience in order that it should penetrate their hearts. This is why it says that “He commanded them regarding Pharaoh.” [Moshe did not have eloquence of speech since he stuttered] as it says, “Moshe said…, ‘I have sealed lips’ ” (Shemos 6:30). So Hashem told him that he need not be an eloquent orator and explain Hashem’s command to Pharaoh. Rather, simply command him, and your words will make such an impression that he will be compelled to listen to you. [1] The Eloquence of Rav Levi Yitzchak and How He Drew People to Repent The Tzanz-Klausenberger Rebbe once recounted the story of a certain town of sinners. The people had committed terrible sin and strayed far from the straight path. Many great tzaddikim and leaders of the generation visited the place and attempted to turn the people from their wicked ways without success — until the Kedushas Levi came and gave them his words of wisdom. He stood before them daily and delivered eloquent speeches, bringing in various schools of disciplines and proofs from philosophy and the sciences. The people were delighted with his approach. It showed that a Jewish rabbi can also have a fine grasp of secular wisdom. The Kedushas Levi used this to his advantage and succeeded in capturing their hearts. When he began to rebuke them and give them mussar, they were ready to listen, and he succeeded where no one else could: the townspeople repented and abandoned their wicked ways. 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] 25 Teves Rav Yechiel Michel Tukatchinsky [Tikochinsky], mashgiach of Slabodka in Bnai Brak, and founder of Yeshivas Mekor Chaim in Yerushalayim. In 1925, he published a sefer called Tekufas Hachamoh Uvirchosoh, in preparation for the bracha made when the sun returns to the point at which it began upon Creation. He wrote a sefer called Bein Hashmoshos, published in 1929, which dealt with the International Date Line. In 1941, he changed his mind altogether, as documented in his sefer, Hayomam Bekadur Haaretz. 26 Teves Rabbeinu Avraham bar Dovid miPosquires (Ra’avad), author of Hasagos on the Rambam and the Rif. Rav Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov, author of Orach LeChaim and P’ri Chaim on Pirkei Avos (1816). 27 Teves Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (1808-1888). His father, Rav Raphael Aryeh [2] (1777-1857), who changed the family name to Hirsch, was the son of Rav Menachem Mendel Frankfurter of Altuna (1742-1823). Rav Menachem Mendel was a talmid of Rav Yonasan Eibeshitz and was the Rav of three communities of Altuna, Hamburg, and Wandsbeck (“AHU”). At the age of 18, Rav Shamshon Raphael went to Mannheim to learn at the yeshiva of Rav Yaakov Ettlinger, author of Aruch La’ner. Rav Hirsch received smicha from Rav Ettlinger after learning there for a year. Thereafter, he attended the University of Bonn. That education would serve him well later in life as he combated the forces of Reform with eloquence. When he was 21, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. There, he married Chana Judel. He also authored Iggros Hatzafon (The 19th Letters), under the pen name Ben Uziel. One year later, he published Chorev. In 1847, he became Chief Rabbi of Moravia, a region of 50,000 Jews in 52 communities, and which is now the Czech Republic. In 1851, he became the Rav of Frankfurt am Main, which he transformed into a Torah bastion. His best known works are the classic six-volume Commentary on Chumash. Rav Shmuel Hillel Shenker (1956). His father, Rav Avraham Shenker, was one of Rav Yisrael's Salanter’s greatest disciples. Reb Shmuel spent his early years in Slobodka, but he was orphaned of his father at an early age. He thus traveled to the Talmud Torah in Kelm to absorb the Torah and mussar of the Alter, Reb Simcha Zissel of Kelm. After a number of years, he traveled to Eretz Yisrael with his relative, Reb Tzvi Pesach Frank, who later became chief rabbi of Yerushalaim. In 1895, Reb Shmuel Hillel married Laya Genendle, the oldest daughter of Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. On 9 Iyar 1944, his beloved son Reb Mendel Shenker passed away when he was only forty-six. Another year passed and another son was taken from him. Reb Yisrael, his you gest and most beloved son, passed away in the prime of his life on 27 Teves 1945. Rav Kalman Avraham Goldberg (1895-1968). A devoted disciple of the Alter of Novardok, he became Rav in Vasilkov. He moved to America in 1926. In 1928, he was hired to head the beis din for Adas Yisrael, under Rav Velvel Margulies. After Rav Velvel’s petira, he became Rav. Rav Menashe Yitzchak Meir Eichenstein of Ziditchov -Petach Tikvah (1971). Rav Avraham Simcha HaKohen Kaplan (1990). Chief Rabbi of Tzefas. Rav Pinchas Hirschprung, Chief Rabbi of Montreal (1915-1998). At the age 15, he published a Torah journal, Ohel Torah, along with his friend, Rav Yeshaya Yosef Margolin, in Galicia. He then joined Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, learning under Rav Meir Shapiro. At the outbreak of War World II, Rav Pinchas fled to Vilna, which was still neutral territory. In 1942, he acquired a visa to travel to Canada with a group of students from Mir and Lubavitch. When he arrived in Montreal, he was offered the position of Rav Kehillas Adas Yisrael. When Yeshiva Merkaz Hatorah was established, Rav Pinchas was made its Rosh Yeshiva. Eventually, he was Rav Ha’Ir of Montreal. 28 Teves Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir in Brooklyn (1921-2008). Born in the small Polish- Lithuanian town of Kinishen, Reb Shmuel began his formal learning at Yeshiva Ohel Torah of Baranovitch in 1935 under the leadership of Rav Elchonon Wasserman. During his years in the Mirrer Yeshiva, he became very close with the famed Mashgiach of the Mir, Rav Yechezkel Levenstein. Rav Shmuel escaped from Europe together with the Mirrer Yeshiva and spent six years with the yeshiva in exile in Shanghai. He arrived in the United States with the yeshiva led by the mashgiach, Rav Chatzkel, in 1947, and continued to learn in the yeshiva. In the early 1950s, Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz zt”l, who had sustained and saved the yeshiva in Shanghai and rebuilt it in America , took Rav Shmuel as a son-in-law. After his marriage, Rav Shmuel joined the kollel of the Mirrer Yeshiva. In 1964, with the passing of Rav Kalmanowitz, Rav Shraga Moshe Kalmanowitz, oldest son of Rav Avrohom, together with Rav Shmuel, became roshei yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva. [3] 29 Teves Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin (1818-1898), the Rav of Brisk, Yerushalayim leader, son of Rav Binyamin Diskin, rav of Volkovisk. He was born in Horodno. Reb Yehoshua Leib was engaged before his bar mitzva and at the age of fourteen he married the daughter of HaRav Brode and lived with his father-in-law in Wolkowitz. He became rov in various cities such as Lomza, Mezritch, Kovno, Shklov, and finally in Brisk. Moved to Eretz Yisrael after Yom Kippur in 1876. Rav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchak of Alexander, the Yismach Yisrael (1853-1910). At an early age, his father, Rav Yechiel of Alexander, took him to Rav Menachem Mendel of Vorka, then Rav Beirush of Biala. After the latter’s passing, he became of a chasid of his father. After his father’s passing in 1894, he became the Alexander Rebbe. Rav Marcus (Nosson) Adler, author of Nesina L'ger (1803-1890). He was Rav of Oldenburg, 1829-1830, and Hanover, 1830-1844, and Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, 1844-1890. Rav Meir Chodosh, mashgiach of Yeshivas Chevron, Ateres Yisrael, and Ohr Elchanan (1898-1989). Born in Patrich, Lithuania, he was a talmid muvhak of the Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel. He lived through the Arab massacre of Chevron's Jews on Shabbos morning, 16 Av, 1929. Rav Daniel Levy (1935-2004).