Thursday, July 5, 2012

when רבי חיים וואלאזשינער sent RebYitzchok Zev Solowejczyk הראשון to the Heiliger Rizhiner זצ"ל for help with a גזירה...

A very kind reader Upon reading about RAYS reading the תנאים at the Sadigerrer תנאים מאהל, took the time to send me links to the sefer זכרון יעקב by Reb Yaakov HaLevi Lipschutz which discuss a connection that Beis Brisk had to Rizhin, the fore bearer to Sadiger, back in the 19th century. Knowing Reb AvromYeshua and his knowledge of Brisker history I'm sure he knows this chapter of the family history as well, but I couldn't say if there was some kind of ongoing connection בין בריסק לסאדיגורא today as well. Although the fact that the Shapiras are somewhat affluent would help... A brief synopsis: The year 1826 was when the Czar Nikolai I decided to take Jews for military service. It seems from Rabbi Lipschutz that these rumors already started soon after the defeat of Napoleon over a decade before, but 1826 was when it was confirmed that the idea was being seriously considered in the halls of power in the Russian capital. What seems normal now - says RYL - was considered unjust in '26 and an effort was made to try and stop it. By "stop it" we mean that instead of paying with bodies the Jews would pay their share with a heavy tax, since long-term conscription into a Christian army was a death sentence to the Jewish future - which is why the Czar wanted to do it in the first place. But in the end the idea of a tax did not work and army service became mandatory, even for Jews.

As far as what hishtadlus was done; Being that Reb Yitzchok Zev was Reb Chaim Volozhiner's eynikel he was asked to travel to Rizhin to see Reb Yisroel, זצ"ל, who "had connections." He had gevirim who knew and had influence with the Russian ministers and could do something  about the decree. RYZS told Rabbi Lipschutz about his visit to the Rizhiner and how he would take "kvitlach" with pidyonos in his prave shtieb. But the tzaddik could do nothing for him. "I have done all that I can," were his words, "I can do no more. I have already sent two letters to the מומע לאה, what more can I do?"  Alas, the gates of heaven were closed and the decree would be carried out. Who? Mume Leah? Who was this, and how would she help? We've heard of the Mume Sarah, but who was the Mume Leah? Lipschutz tells us that the Mume Leah was the Jewish wife of the Russian Admiral of the Black Sea fleet of the Imperial Navy who lived in Nikolayev, Ukraine - [ birthplace of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע.] She was a very frume Yiddene, despite being married to a Russian admiral and was very active in Jewish causes, helping her brethren with parnosoh, as well as klal issues. She was a big chasidis'te of the Rizhiner, and would often send kvitlech to him. The greatest hishtadlus he could do was to send her two letters בכתב יד קדשו - you hear that David Assaf? - and since there was nothing she could do then the decree was sealed, אין להשיב.


 [ It seems like this was done several years before 1826, since Reb Chaim Volozhiner, RYZS's zeide, was the one who sent RYZS, and he passed away in 5581/1821, which would make the Rizhiner 25 years old at most!]




Brisk-Ruzhin From Y Lipschutz

15 comments:

Berish said...

R Y Lipschutz was elter zaide of the distinguished publisher of the American Yated and leading defender of Sholom Mordechai ben Rivka

מר בר רב אשי, האחרון said...

דער הייליגער ריזשענער וואס ראשו מגיע השמימה האט גירעדט אין געשריבּען דָא מיט רמזים און תפילות להקבּ"ה כדרכם בּקודש! מ'קען זייערע ווערטער נישט מגשם זיין בּשו"א, ואינו נפסק בדיבוריו מדביקות השי״ת, ואפי' דברי חולין שלו צריכין לימוד

נ"בּ: ע"פּ קבּלה, 'האמהות' רחל ולאה הם שני היפכים, לאה שהיא בחי' חסדים מכוסים, ורחל שהיא חסדים מגולים, לכן נקרא יעקב שלימתא, מפני שהיו לו שתי הבחינות. ואכמ"ל

An Ailmesher said...

Hirshel,

Please explain what you mean by "you hear that David Assaf?". I know he wrote a book on the Rizhener but what does it have to do with this story?

רב יוסף said...

Berish said.: "R Y Lipschutz was elter zaide of the distinguished publisher of the American Yated and "


distinguished for what?

אני צויתי למקודשי, תני רב יוסף אלו הפרסיים 'המקודשין' ומזומנין לגיהנם. -ברכות ח

'distinguished' = 'המקודשין'

yankel said...

Actually, when I read that piece in Zichron Yaakov, I was astounded by the simplicity of the letter. Whenever publish letters of people like the Rizhiner, they chassidimhave all kinds of hints and secrets there. This letter is normal, leitish and tzum zach. Where is the truth? Ask Chaim Gravitzer.

Anonymous said...

Where did you see the Muma Leah was a "frumma yiddene"? She married a non-Jew. RYL calls her a poishe yisroel. You mistranslated "aduka biyihadus". It is should be translated as connected or proud of her Jewishness and Jewsih heritage.

JS said...

Excuse my ignorance. How was this Yitzchok Zev related to the Bais Halevi?

Hirshel Tzig - הירשל ציג said...

An Ailimisher

Assaf claims that the Ruzhiner could not write...

Hirshel Tzig - הירשל ציג said...

JS: The Beis Halevi was his son...

נאום אַסוּף said...

Tzig: An Ailimisher, "Assaf claims that the Ruzhiner could not write..."

אסוף אסיפם נאום 'אַסוּף' אין ענבים בגפן ואין תאנים בתאנה
?

הצדיקים האלו הי' למעלה מן הזמן! ונהירין להם שבילין דרקיע כשבילי דנהרדעא, וכרכא דכילי בּיה איתניה, מ"מ הי' צניעין במאוד בּכתובתם כמו בּדיבּורם, ואולי כשהוא כותב 'שאמו לאה' אמר לו.. רמז לו שא"א לעשׂות כלום, ושא"א לפעול כלום ע"פּ 'נגלה' דהיינו בּהשתדלות.. רק ע"פּ אמנו לאה שהיא בחי' חסדים מכוסים..! וד"בּ

נ"בּ: ע"פּ קבּלה, 'האמהות' רחל ולאה הם שני היפכים, לאה שהיא בחי' חסדים מכוסים, ורחל שהיא חסדים מגולים, לכן נקרא יעקב שלימתא, מפני שהיו לו שתי הבחינות. ואכמ"ל

tibi lotzi said...

Anon
"Anonymous said...
Where did you see the Muma Leah was a "frumma yiddene"? She married a non-Jew"
I guss it was the geder like Esther hamalka, as chazal say in Sanhedrin and Kesubos, Esther Karka Olem.....

heter said...

tibi lotzi said...
I guess it was the geder like Esther Hamalka, as chazal say in Sanhedrin and Kesubos, Esther Karka Olem.....

What in the world are you talking about?!? Are you comparing a "forced" marriage with Mordechais (a Navi) approval to marring a goy? Why wouldn't you allow this "hetter" for every Jewish woman/girl?

Anonymous said...

IIRC, Yekatrineslav (Dniepepetrovsk) was outside the Pale of Settlement, & it was Mume Leah that got permission for Jews to settle there. I think there are some connections between her & the Chabad hoif too.

--ZIY

דוד אסף said...

I heard your call, Hirshel, but for nothing.

1. I never wrote that the Ruzhiner couldn't write letters. On the contrary, I based my research on more than 30 letters that he wrote and quoted them frequently. I argue that he had some difficulties in writing. In fact, it is not my original claim since Hasidic sources already said so.

2. The story of Yaacov Lipshits about Mume Lea was discussed in my book (derekh ha-malkhut, p. 273-274). It is impossible to fit it into reasonable chronology and therefore it is probably baseless.

Do you hear me Tzig?

Hirshel Tzig - הירשל ציג said...

I hear you, David Assaf, but for nothing?