“RABBI’S MUSINGS (&
AMUSINGS)”
AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Behar
24 Iyar 5779/May 24, 2019
Avos perek 4 – 34th day of the Omer
THE FIRE OF LAG BAOMER
There are certain people whose accomplishments seem to
traverse normal human limits. They seem to possess uncanny and selfless
devotion to their causes which influence Klal Yisroel and promote Torah. What
is the secret to their unmitigated energy?
traverse normal human limits. They seem to possess uncanny and selfless
devotion to their causes which influence Klal Yisroel and promote Torah. What
is the secret to their unmitigated energy?
How did Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman (All for the Boss) continue
to devote himself to Torah causes when there were so many odds against him on a
constant basis?
to devote himself to Torah causes when there were so many odds against him on a
constant basis?
How did the Chofetz Chaim infuse hope and instill Torah
values in his generation, to such a degree that his influence is still poignantly
felt until today?
values in his generation, to such a degree that his influence is still poignantly
felt until today?
How did the Ponovetcher Rav build his yeshiva, after escaping
the ashes of Europe?
the ashes of Europe?
How did Rav Aharon Kotler rebuild Torah in the spiritual
desolation of America?
desolation of America?
How did Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel promote the greatest Torah
institution in the world?
institution in the world?
How did the Bluzhever, Bobbover, Belzer, Gerrer, Satmar,
Klausenberger, and Kaliver Rebbes rebuild after all of the devastation they
endured, and the loss of so many of their chassidim?
Klausenberger, and Kaliver Rebbes rebuild after all of the devastation they
endured, and the loss of so many of their chassidim?
On a personal note, I wonder how someone like my Rebbe, Rabbi
Berel Wein, continues to travel and teach, and to recently publish another book,
after so many years of devotion to education and teaching?
Berel Wein, continues to travel and teach, and to recently publish another book,
after so many years of devotion to education and teaching?
A few weeks ago, I was in a local seforim store perusing the
newest English publications when a book caught my eye. It was about the life of
Rav Zusha Wilamowsky, known in the circles of Lubavitch as “the Partisan”. Although
it wouldn’t seem that such a book should pique my interest, I was actually very
excited and immediately purchased it. Rav Zusha is my great uncle, the brother
of my Zaydei, Rav Yaakov Meir Kohn z”l.
newest English publications when a book caught my eye. It was about the life of
Rav Zusha Wilamowsky, known in the circles of Lubavitch as “the Partisan”. Although
it wouldn’t seem that such a book should pique my interest, I was actually very
excited and immediately purchased it. Rav Zusha is my great uncle, the brother
of my Zaydei, Rav Yaakov Meir Kohn z”l.
I wish there was such a book about my Zaydei’s life. But my Zaydei
didn’t talk much about the painful war years and his experiences, and we only
know bits and pieces from the few anecdotes he shared and from stories related
by others. But the book about Rav Zusha contains a few quotes and insights that
my Zaydei shared about his younger brother who predeceased him.
didn’t talk much about the painful war years and his experiences, and we only
know bits and pieces from the few anecdotes he shared and from stories related
by others. But the book about Rav Zusha contains a few quotes and insights that
my Zaydei shared about his younger brother who predeceased him.
It may seem strange that they had different last names, but
that was a result of the war years. At one point my Zaydei’s passport was taken
away and he was thrown into prison. He found a passport with the name Kohn on
it (there were no pictures on the passports then). From then on that was his name,
despite the fact that he was not a kohain.
that was a result of the war years. At one point my Zaydei’s passport was taken
away and he was thrown into prison. He found a passport with the name Kohn on
it (there were no pictures on the passports then). From then on that was his name,
despite the fact that he was not a kohain.
The book describes Rav Zusha’s youth which mostly paralleled
that of Zaydei. Their father was the Rav of the town, and a saintly Jew, who,
along with their mother and only sister, was killed by the Nazis. They learned
in the great yeshiva of Baranovich, the yeshiva of Rav Elchanan Wasserman zt’l
hy”d. During the war years they were separated. Zushe ended up with Tuvia
Bielski’s Partisans in the forests.
that of Zaydei. Their father was the Rav of the town, and a saintly Jew, who,
along with their mother and only sister, was killed by the Nazis. They learned
in the great yeshiva of Baranovich, the yeshiva of Rav Elchanan Wasserman zt’l
hy”d. During the war years they were separated. Zushe ended up with Tuvia
Bielski’s Partisans in the forests.
In the Displaced Persons camp after the war, Rav Zishe
discovered Lubavitch and forged an inextricable lifelong connection with it.
For the remainder of his life, Rav Zusha became devoted to the Lubavitcher
Rebbe, who affectionately referred to Rav Zusha as “my partisan”. In fact, on the
monument above his grave it says “R’ Chaim Zusia who was known as the Rebbe’s
Partisan”.
discovered Lubavitch and forged an inextricable lifelong connection with it.
For the remainder of his life, Rav Zusha became devoted to the Lubavitcher
Rebbe, who affectionately referred to Rav Zusha as “my partisan”. In fact, on the
monument above his grave it says “R’ Chaim Zusia who was known as the Rebbe’s
Partisan”.
On Succos 1986, a weakened Rav Zusha, briefly joined the
major Simchas Bais Hashoaivah at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, the main
headquarters of Lubavitch. But after a few minutes he wasn’t feeling well and
he entered the succah and laid down on a bench. It was there that he passed away.
He died as he had lived his life, as a faithful devotee fulfilling his mission.
major Simchas Bais Hashoaivah at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, the main
headquarters of Lubavitch. But after a few minutes he wasn’t feeling well and
he entered the succah and laid down on a bench. It was there that he passed away.
He died as he had lived his life, as a faithful devotee fulfilling his mission.
The book describes the incredibly selfless dedication that
Rav Zusha had to the Rebbe and his causes. Rav Zusha dedicated his life to
fulfilling the word of the Rebbe, and considered any request the Rebbe made of
him to be a holy mission. He often spoke of “reporting to duty”, “the
battlefront”, and “onward march”.
Rav Zusha had to the Rebbe and his causes. Rav Zusha dedicated his life to
fulfilling the word of the Rebbe, and considered any request the Rebbe made of
him to be a holy mission. He often spoke of “reporting to duty”, “the
battlefront”, and “onward march”.
The common thread between those who persevere beyond all odds
and accomplish incredible things is that they have an unyielding sense of mission
and responsibility. They aren’t merely doing what they want to do; they are striving
to accomplish what they feel needs to be done. They feel the weight upon their
shoulders.
and accomplish incredible things is that they have an unyielding sense of mission
and responsibility. They aren’t merely doing what they want to do; they are striving
to accomplish what they feel needs to be done. They feel the weight upon their
shoulders.
The gemara (Shabbos 138b) relates that when the rabbis
arrived in the vineyards of Yavneh they related that they feared that Torah
would be forgotten from the Jewish people. At that point, Rabbi Shimon bar
Yochai declared, “Heaven forbid, that Torah will be forgotten from the Jewish
people, as it says, ‘for it will not be forgotten from the mouths of your progeny’.”
arrived in the vineyards of Yavneh they related that they feared that Torah
would be forgotten from the Jewish people. At that point, Rabbi Shimon bar
Yochai declared, “Heaven forbid, that Torah will be forgotten from the Jewish
people, as it says, ‘for it will not be forgotten from the mouths of your progeny’.”
The Bais Yisrael of Ger explained that by declaring that
Torah would never be forgotten, Rabbi Shimon was essentially taking responsibility
to ensure that it would never happen. It wasn’t just a prediction; it was a commitment.
Torah would never be forgotten, Rabbi Shimon was essentially taking responsibility
to ensure that it would never happen. It wasn’t just a prediction; it was a commitment.
That is what we celebrate on Lag Baomer. The fire of Torah
was ignited within our souls at Sinai. But a fire will only endure as long as
it has fuel. In the time of Rabbi Shimon, it seemed that the fuel source had
been depleted. Rabbi Shimon himself fueled the fire with every fiber of his
being and reawakened the surging flames.
was ignited within our souls at Sinai. But a fire will only endure as long as
it has fuel. In the time of Rabbi Shimon, it seemed that the fuel source had
been depleted. Rabbi Shimon himself fueled the fire with every fiber of his
being and reawakened the surging flames.
In the generation following the Holocaust, the flames of
Torah again seemed to have been weakened by the nefarious flames of the crematoriums.
But then too, there were those who declared that Torah would not be forgotten,
and in so doing committed themselves to its preservation, despite impossible
odds.
Torah again seemed to have been weakened by the nefarious flames of the crematoriums.
But then too, there were those who declared that Torah would not be forgotten,
and in so doing committed themselves to its preservation, despite impossible
odds.
Those heroic personalities have refueled the fire which
continues to burn in the hallowed halls of our shuls, yeshivos, and homes.
continues to burn in the hallowed halls of our shuls, yeshivos, and homes.
The fire of Sinai and the fire of Rabbi Shimon continues to
burn within our hearts, ensuring that it will indeed never be forgotten!
burn within our hearts, ensuring that it will indeed never be forgotten!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum