Shershev Yzkor Book - Chapter 3
RABBIS OF SHERSHEV
Shereshev was famous for its great rabbis. One of the best known was
Rabbi Pinches Michael, who later was known as a great "baal-moyfes"
(a genius). The following text is a fragment of a paper by the well-known
Jewish researcher E. Ben-Ezra. The title of the monograph is:
(Published in Brooklyn in 1953)
Reb Pinches Mikhael was born in about 1808. His father was Reb Yitzchak
-Isaac. and his mother was Brayne Henye. He was born in the town of Shershev,
Grodno Gubernia. Reb Yitzchak Issac was the grandson of Reb Yehoshue Pinsker, a
descendant of Reb Eliezer of Amsterdam, the author of "Maase
Rokeach". On his mother’s side, he was a descendant of the "Baal Panim
Meirot" (he gives light to faces) whose name was Rabbi Meyer Ben Yitzchak
Eizenshtat.
Rabbi Pinches Mikhael was to his parents’ an only son. But he was not
pampered like other only sons. From childhood on he devoted himself to the
Torah and to the service of G-d. His parents freed him altogether from material
worries and from the yoke of having to earn a living. He sat constantly, day
and night, studying the Torah and servicing G-d.
Of teachers who left some mark on him and who had a great influence on
him, we know only of Rabbi Osher Hakohen, the author of "Birkat Rosh"
(blessing on head). Rabbi Pinches Mikhael excerpted himself to follow in the
footsteps of his teacher and to follow his example of modesty. Until he was
fifty years old he did not want to accept the post of Rabbi, like was his
teacher, Rabbi Osher.
In his writings also, he followed his teacher’s path. Rabbi Osher had
written a book on the tractate "Nazir" (ascetic). Rabbi Pinches Michael wrote a composition on
the same tractate. It is true that the work of Reb Pinches is not so full of
"pilpul"(subtle argumentation) as is the work of Rabbi Osher Hakohen.
Like his teacher, he devoted himself to his studies with great diligence
and slept very little. But his father, appealing to the honor that is due to a
father, ordered him to sleep for an hour every afternoon. From his father Reb
Yitzchak he inherited his love of Jews and his devotion to matters of Tsedakah
(charity ]
As was customary at that time, his parents arranged a marriage for him
when he was very young. He married Mushke, the daughter of the wealthy Reb
Yekhiel Mikhel of Pasval (who was one of the grandchildren of the "Baal
Seder-Hadorot" (generations order). His wife kept a store. She supplied
the entire income of both of them. She released him form the yoke of making a
living so that he could devote himself to study.
Already in those days, when he was still a young man, Rabbi Pinches
Mikhael gained a reputation as one who swam freely in the sea of the Talmud and
its commentaries. He began to correspond with great Torah scholars on matters
of "Halacha" (Life rules in the legislative part of the Talmud). They
all became aware of his acuteness, his analytical system of solving various
problems, He began to compose his own original observations on "Shas"
("Talmud"), "Rashi", "Tosaphot", "Rif",
"Rash", and "Ran" (the last three are acronyms of rabbis).
Out of these observations grew a very weighty book (in both senses of the
word). His observations were published forty years after his death in the book
"Divrei Pinches"(Pinchas words). It was published by his grandson
Issac Rabinovitz.
Shershev, the birthplace of Rabbi Pinches was famous for its rabbis, its
great figures of Torah and wisdom. The position of Rabbi was filled by Rabbi
Dovid, the author of the book Chomot Yerushalayim (on the Orekh Chayim). Of
this rabbi it is said that following astronomical calculations he wanted to
establish three days of Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of the Jewish month), and
that he used to read the Megillah also on Shushan Purim.
Another rabbi of the town was Rabbi Pinches HaLevy ben Esriel Amsterdam,
author of the work Nakhles Esriel on Yoreh-Deyah).
The Dayen (Jewish judge) in Shershev was Rabbi Yitzchak Issac Hakohen,
the author of the book Shaare Yitskhok.
The leader of the Jewish community in Shershev was Rabbi Osher Hakohen ,
the student of Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner. He was the author of the work Brakhot
Rosh, on the tractate Brakoth, and of hagoes (annotations) on the works of
Rashi and the Tosaphists and also Brakoth Rosh on the Tractate Nozir and hagoes
and explanations of the commentaries of Rashi, the Tosaphists and the decisions
of the Rambam.
At first, Rabbi Osher Hakohen did not want to use the Torah as a source
of income. Until his fiftieth year he was a merchant in Shershev, where, in his
spare time, he would sit and study Torah. At long last, the parneysim (communal
financial leaders) of the town persuaded him and he agreed to accept the
position of rabbi of Shershev. But he was not rabbi there for long, because the
leaders of the Jewish community of Tiktin, Grodno Province had their eye on
him, and in 1853 he became the rabbi of Tiktin.
When Rabbi Osher Hakohen left Shershev, the leaders of the Shershev
community started looking for a rabbi who would fit the rabbinical tradition of
the community. At last they appointed Rabbi Pinches Mikhael to be Rabbi Osher
Hakohen’s successor. In him they say, was someone who resembled their great
former more-deasre (teacher), an expert on Talmud, on the Rishonim and
Aknaronim, and moreover a modest person with dignified manners.
When Rabbi Pinches assumed the rabbinical crown he did not change his
previous way of life. He behaved modestly as in the time before he became
rabbi. As before, he acted towards the ordinary people as a friend and a
brother. He listened to their conversations; he joined them in their grief and
helped them in their need. He was especially loved by the children. He treated
them with great respect and addressed them as "ir" [the polite form
of "you" in Yiddish].
Although he had the common touch, Rabbi Pinkhes Mikhael was a great
Torah Scholar. He was a center to which people came from all directions. On the
one hand, famous rabbis sent him their shayles v’Ttshuves (questions and
answers) on Halakhah and on practical matters. On the other hand, ordinary
people began to come to him, wanting his advice, directions on how to live. His
house was open to all, to the poor, and to those who were in trouble.
Thus he was rabbi of Shershev for six years, until 1864. Then a new
chapter opened in the life of Rabbi Pinches. In that year, he left his
birthplace Shershev where he had grown up and become famous. He settled in the
town of Antipole, in the regional district of Kobrin, Grodne - Province. He was
rabbi there until 1890. On the first day of the month of Adar in that year, he
fell sick with typhus. He was sick for more than two weeks. On the 17th
day of Adar he passed away.
Editorial Note:
The book Maase Rokeach, by Reb Eliezer of Amsterdam was first printed in
Amsterdam in 1740 and later appeared in another edition in Mohilev in 1804. It
is commentary on the Mishnah and also contains some Khidushin (new
observations, interpretations) and mysteries of Kabbalah.
We should say more about Rabbi Meyer ben Yitschak Aizenshtat, the Baal
"Panim Meirut", from whom Rabbi Pinkhes Mikhael was descended on his
mother’s side
This Rabbi Meyer ben Yitskhok was known in the scholarly and rabbinical
world as the Maharam Ash. Maharam means (acrostically) "great teacher
Rabbi Meyer", and Ash means the town Aizenshtat in Hungary. The name of
this town was customarily written with the abbreviation Aleph-Shin.
Aizenshtat was the main city among seven communities in Burgerland, known
in Jewish history as the Sheva Kehiloth (Seven Jewish Communities). To the
Sheva Kehiloth belonged as well as the capital Aizenshtat also Matersdorf,
Lakenbakh, Doytshkreyts (called by the Jews "Tseylem" (cross)),
Froyenkirkhan, Kitsee.
Rabbi Meyer was born in about 1670, a descendant of a very famous
family, related to the celebrated Shakh. He was a son-in-law of the then well
known Shtadlen (intercessor for the Jewish community) and leader of the Jewish
community of Poyzn, Reb Moishe Sokhatshever. He was supported by his
father-in-law for ten years, and studied Torah. But something happened to the
father-in-law that compelled the son-in-law to earn a living and accept a
rabbinical post. In the introduction to his book Panim Meirut, he tells about this
in the following words:
(The following passage is translated from Hebrew)
Briefly,
this means that after being supported for ten years by his father-in-law, the
leader of the community of Posen, and after having studied in his great
synagogue which was full of holy books - there occurred the libel on 24 Jews
who were brought to trial in the tribunal of Lublin, bound in chains. They were
threatened with death. His father-in-law, the leader and wealthy man Moyshe
Sokhatshever, took their part. Thanks to the favor he enjoyed in the eyes of
the Polish King, and of the courtiers he succeeded in getting the endangered
Jews freed. The libelers were punished with enormous fines, in the thousands
and the tens of thousands. Bur for his rich father-in-law, who had thrown both
his soul and his fortune into the cause - as is well known both to the leaders
of the Galil region of Posen and to the rich men of the holy community of
Lublin - it was a disaster. He had lost both his own fortune and that of his
sons.
It was then that he (the son-in-law) accepted the position as rabbi of
Shidlovtse, in the region of Radom. Later, through the recommendation of the
famous Hoyf-Lieferant (court purveyor), Shimshen Vertheymer (the founder of the
financial company Vertheymer in Germany) he became rabbi in the famous German
Jewish community of Worms in 1700. Later, he became rabbi of the celebrated
community of Prosniks in Morovia. There, Reb Jonathan Eybeshitz (Freger) of
later fame was, as a young man, educated in his house. In 1714 he became rabbi
of the principal town among the "seven communities", in Aizenshtat,
where he continued to serve as rabbi for both town and countryside until his
death on June 7, 1744. On his tombstone are inscribed these words:
(Inscription in Hebrew)
Is Kept The Great Rabbi
Meyer, Honored Excellence and Our Teacher
Chief Justice of the Court of the Holy Community,
Of Righteous and Blessed Memory
The 27th Day of Sivan of the Year 504
Our Time Counting
May His Soul Be Tied to the Continuity of Life
Rabbi Meyer had six sons and two daughters. They (presumably the sons)
had very important leading positions in Jewish religious life. They were rabbis
and authors of works and they also published the works, which their father had
left in manuscript form. His sons were:
1. Reb Yitskhok. A son-in-law of Rebbe Tsvi ben Yankev Ashkenazi, known
in the world of rabbinic scholarship as the "Khokhem (wise) Tsvi".
Reb Yitskhok was rabbi in Niesvizh and later in ByelePodlask and Slovatitsh.
2. Reb Michael. Died young. His son was rabbi of Kletsk.
\3. Reb Eleazer. Rabbi of Shidlovtse, in the town where his father had
been rabbi before.
4. Shabsi (Sabbatai). Earlier: rabbi of Byele-Podlask later of Shershev.
When in Shershev in 1765 he gave his haskome (permission) to the book Meore Ash
that had been written by his father and that was printed after his father’s
death (1766, Furth). In the same book (page 86) are his two comments dated the
sixth of Tammuz 1745, and signed "Shabsi haKoth" [the small,
insignificant one] of the holy community of Shershev.
This son of Rabbi Meyer, Shapsi, lived to an old age and was rabbi of
Shershev for a long time. On the seventh of Oder, 1777 he gave his permission
to the book Atores Yosef, by the rabbi of Liskev Reb Yosef Ber Ruber, which was
printed in Zhulkev in 1778.
5. Moshe- Yehude. Rabbi, like two of his brothers before him, in Byale.
He had a tragic experience there on the day of the King of Poland’s coronation.
It took place on June 8, 1764. In his introduction to his father’s book Or
Ha-Ganoz, which he published, he related the following
(Translation of text from Hebrew)
Because of our great transgressions
when our in community Byale-Podlask, two years ago at the time when the King of
Poland was crowned someone drank wine that was poisoned. In that same year Rosh Khodesh came out on
the eve of Shabat (parshat - Chukat). The words of the commentator, Unkilus,
became real.
On
the first day of Rosh Khodesh Tamuz, the people who hate us came to our city in
a loud and noisy manor that was frightening. It was proclaimed that they could
do whatever they wish to the Jews for a period of three hours. It is called
Shlorin (in German)or Plindren. Permission was given to destroy for 3 hours.
They stole and
destroyed (may Hashem have mercy). Who can estimate the extent of the
immense damage. In particular damage to the Great Synagogue and the Beit
Midrash (House of Learning) in our community. They stole all my belongings and
stripped my wife, my son and myself and took all our cloths. Despite all this I
gave thanks to Hashem that we weren't harmed. My Lord remembered me favorably.
The Jewish leaders of Brisk issued a declaration making a boycott that anyone
who bought stolen goods from the robbers must give them back [to the original
owner] without making a prute (small coin) of profit. This helped the community
( Byale-Podlask ) very much.
From this we learn not only of his personal losses, but also of a very
interesting historical fact. There was a change of monarchs in Poland. A band
of robbers attacked Byale-Podlask. It was given a “privilagye” (privilege-
special license) to rob for not more than three hours; but the robbers were not
well disciplined and their work of looting carried on for a full 24 hours. The
great synagogue and the Bes Medrash (house of study) suffered terribly. The
robbers stole the fine clothes of the rabbi and his family, leaving them stark
naked. It is also known that the robbers left Byale and went to Brisk. There,
they apparently began to sell their stolen property. The leaders of the Jewish
community in Brisk decreed a Khyrem (boycott); that anyone who bought stolen
goods from the robbers must give them back [to the original owner] without
making a prute (small coin) of profit. This, writes the rabbi of Byele, helped
his community very much.
6. Benyumin. Rabbi in Lakenbakh (one of the "Seven
Communities") and later in "Ungarish Brod" (Hungarian Brod).
The two daughters of Rabbi Meyer, Khave and Brayndl were also wives of
great scholars of that generation.
This
is the lineage of Reb Pinches-Mikhael on his mother’s side. As we have seen,
one of Reb Meyer’s sons, Shabsi, was rabbi of Shershev for many, many years.
Perhaps the name of Reb Pinches-Michael’s mother Brayne-Henye is connected with
the name of Reb Meyer’s daughter Brayndl.