Jewish History Soundbites

Architect of American Orthodoxy: The Life & Times of Mike Tress Part I

He was a clean shaven, American born, public school educated, successful businessman. And he was also the architect of American Orthodoxy and a leading rescue activist during the dark years of the Holocaust. Mike Tress (1909-1967) grew up as an orphan in Williamsburg. Joining the nascent Zeirei Agudas Yisroel organization, he soon emerged as its leader, giving it a sense of mission and purpose. Spearheading shabbos campaigns, activating Pirchei and Bnos chapters, and founding Camp Agudah in the midst of a world war and rescue work, are just some of the projects which he initiated to promote Orthodoxy in the United States. His encounter with Rav Elchonon Wasserman during the latter's trip to the country in 1938 defined his life mission, and reverence for Torah leaders became part of his essence which he then imparted to his young charges.

Perhaps the most fateful chapter of his storied career was his endless attempts at rescue work in the years preceding, during and following the war. Obtaining visas for refugees, raising funds for rescue and complete devotion to rebuilding both physically and spiritually following liberation, while personally commiserating with every individual and feeling their pain. Having sold his business and used all of his assets for communal work, he was truly an individual who lived his life to help others.

 

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A Guiding Light: The Life of the Chazon Ish Part II

Rav Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz (1878-1953) known by his magnum opus the Chazon Ish, was indisputably one of the greatest Torah leaders of the 20th century. In this second installment about his life, achievements and influence, the period of his residence in Vilna is examined. During his thirteen years in the 'Jerusalem of Lithuania', he formed a close relationship with Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, who often sought his advice on a myriad of issues. The Chazon Ish also studied with young students, and developed some interesting relationships, most notably with the future noted Yiddish writer Chaim Grade. 

In 1933 the Chazon Ish moved to Palestine, where he settled in the new yishuv of Bnei Brak. It was at this stage that he began to take on a more public leadership role, initiating local projects in the area.

 

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Mussar Makes a Mir Debut

The Mussar Movement was promulgated by Rav Yisrael Salanter in the mid 19th century, as an attempt to bring ethical standards of conduct to the forefront of national consciousness. In the closing decades of the century, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka, incorporated the ideas of mussar into an educational philosophy which would become part of the curriculum of the great Lithuanian style yeshivos.

In 1907, the Mir Yeshiva decided to associate with the mussar movement and hired its first Mashgiach, Rav Zalman Dolinsky. In the years leading up to World War One, Rav Yerucham Levovitz served a first stint in the position as well. Following the Yeshiva's return from its imposed exile, it continued to be associated with the ideals of the mussar movement and hired mashgichim to oversee the ethical growth of its student body. A loose association developed into the essence of the Yeshiva's identity with the return of Rav Yerucham in 1924. It was then that the yeshiva entered its 'Golden Age', and Rav Yerucham's charismatic personality and unique mussar philosophy made the yeshiva central to the mussar ideals in the years preceding the Holocaust.

 

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From Cromwell to Montefiore: The Jews of London Part II

Following the Edict of Expulsion in 1290, no organized Jewish life existed in England for centuries. Following the Spanish Expulsion in 1492, a few Conversos secretly settled in England under a Christian identity. The official resettlement of Jews in England commenced with the negotiations held between Menashe ben Israel and Oliver Cromwell in the 1650's. Though allowed to unofficially resettle in England, full emancipation wasn't achieved until 1858. Prominent Jews of the 19th century included the Rothschild family, Moses Montefiore and Benjamin Disreali, who though born Jewish, was baptized at the age of 12.

The Sephardic community of London achieved prominence and influence with the founding of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, the longest continuously in use synagogue in Europe. An early prominent rabbi was Hacham David Nieto. The Ashkenazi community built the Great Synagogue of London.

 

Listen to Part I here: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/british-royals-baalei-tosfos-blood-libels-the-story-of-london-part-i/

 

 

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A Moroccan Legacy: Rav Yitzchak Ibn Walid

One of the greatest leaders of the Moroccan Jewish community in the 19th century was Rav Yitzchak Ibn Walid (1777-1870). The Jewish community of Tetuan was founded by Spanish exiles and saw commercial success over the coming centuries. 

Despite his reluctance to assume a rabbinical position, Rav Ibn Walid was appointed rabbi of Tetuan in 1830 and led the community until his passing four decades later. As a noted halachic posek he corresponded with rabbis across the Sephardic world, much of it published in his magnum opus Vayomer Yitzchak. As a leader of his community, he cared especially for the poor, the downtrodden and orphans.

 

For more on the customs and traditions of Moroccan Jewry check out the newly published book Magen Avot Daily Halachah published by Mosaica Press. You can check it out on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1639723064?ref=myi_title_dp or on the publisher's website: https://mosaicapress.com/product/magen-avot-daily-halachah/

You can also check out more seforim on Moroccan Halacha and minhagim on moroccanhalacha.com

 

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From Poland to Petach Tikva: The Lomza Yeshiva Part II

The Lomza Yeshiva in Poland and later in Petach Tikva, Israel, was unique in many respects. Founded in 1883 by a student of Rav Yisrael Salanter named Rav Eliezer Shulevitz, it was the first Lithuanian style yeshiva in the area of chassidic Poland. In its heyday, the majority of its students would come from chassidic backgrounds.

With its expansion, his capable sons in law took over - Rav Yechiel Mordechai Gordon, Rav Yehoshua Zelig Roch and Rav Moshe Leib Ozer. The latter's son Rav Eliezer Ozer, ran the Kollel in Lomza Petach Tikva until his recent passing.

The famed mashgiach Rav Moshe Rosenstein left a big impact on the yeshiva's growth and education during the interwar period. Rav Yechiel Mordechai Gordon led the yeshiva, and spent much time in the United States fundraising on its behalf, before eventually settling in Petach Tikva in 1950.

In 1926, Lomza took the pioneering step in opening a branch of the yeshiva in Palestine, and the building on Rechov Herzl in Petach Tikva was dedicated in 1930. This would be the premier institution of Torah learning in the Land of Israel in the coming decades.

 

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From Poland to Petach Tikva: The Lomza Yeshiva Part I

The Lomza Yeshiva in Poland and later in Petach Tikva, Israel, was unique in many respects. Founded in 1883 by a student of Rav Yisrael Salanter named Rav Eliezer Shulevitz, it was the first Lithuanian style yeshiva in the area of chassidic Poland. In its heyday, the majority of its students would come from chassidic backgrounds.

With its expansion, his capable sons in law took over - Rav Yechiel Mordechai Gordon, Rav Yehoshua Zelig Roch and Rav Moshe Leib Ozer. The latter's son Rav Eliezer Ozer, ran the Kollel in Lomza Petach Tikva until his recent passing.

The famed mashgiach Rav Moshe Rosenstein left a big impact on the yeshiva's growth and education during the interwar period. Rav Yechiel Mordechai Gordon led the yeshiva, and spent much time in the United States fundraising on its behalf, before eventually settling in Petach Tikva in 1950.

In 1926, Lomza took the pioneering step in opening a branch of the yeshiva in Palestine, and the building on Rechov Herzl in Petach Tikva was dedicated in 1930. This would be the premier institution of Torah learning in the Land of Israel in the coming decades.

 

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Leader Among Peers: Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski at Rabbinical Conferences

Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863-1940) was one of the greatest rabbinic leaders of the 20th century. A recent book by Rabbi Dovid Kamenetsky profiles some of the aspects of his leadership of Russian and world Jewry through the first decade of the century. One of the highlighted facets of his activities is his dominant role in various rabbinical conferences between the years 1907-1910.

There was the attempt to establish the Knesses Yisrael organization, which was the first ever attempt at the organization of traditional Jewry in Russia. Then there was the Vilna conference of 1909, which was a preliminary meeting to the rabbinical commission in St. Petersburg which was to be called by the Czarist government the following year. Also in 1909 was the Bad Homburg conference, which laid the foundation for the founding of Agudas Yisroel. Finally there was the famous rabbinical conference in St. Petersburg in 1910.

In all of these gatherings, Rav Chaim Ozer's organizational ability, leadership and practical approach led him to be one of the central figures at each subsequent meeting. This firmly established him as one of the primary leaders of Russian Jewry.

 

Related Episodes: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/a-father-to-his-people-r-chaim-ozers-leadership-in-turbulent-times/

https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/scholar-statesman-rav-meir-simcha-and-the-1910-conference-in-st-petersburg/

 

This episode has been sponsored by Genazym Auction House. Join the auction this coming Wednesday, July 28, 2021. Check out the catalogue at www.genazym.com , for fascinating artifacts of Jewish history. Questions or details contact Genazym - https://bit.ly/Genazym10full
office@genazym.com      Or at: +1-845-826-1645  ,  845-501-9990 

 

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In the City of Death: The 1903 Kishinev Pogrom

Special Tisha Ba'av Episode

 

The 1903 Kishinev Pogrom was a tragic massacre, with reverberations within the wider Jewish world remaining until this very day. Goaded on by anti-Semitic newspapers with cries of 'Death to the Jews', a blood libel was fabricated and a mob was unleashed on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1903. Leaving 49 killed, hundreds maimed and injured in its wake, Jewish property was destroyed and looted as well. Claims of complicity of the police and government were voiced in many quarters.

But it was primarily the after effects of this pogrom which had a long term transformative effect on Jewish society in Russia and worldwide. The great immigration to the United States was already long underway, but it significantly intensified in the years following Kishinev and the subsequent 1905 revolution. American Jewry was galvanized to assist the victims, and this cemented the relationship US Jewry was to have with their brethren back in Eastern Europe.

Within Russia, many of the Jewish youth became radicalized as a result of the massacre, joining clandestine revolutionary organizations with the goal of overthrowing the Czar.

The most profound impact was felt within the nascent Zionist movement. Chaim Nachman Bialik was dispatched by the historian Shimon Dubnow to gather testimonies from survivors. Following his five week stay in Kishinev, Bialik penned 'Be'ir Hahareiga' - In the City of Death, a poem about the pogrom. Powerfully written, it also included strongly worded accusations in regards to the perceived passivity of the victims. The poem and its message was to have an immense impact, as it was published and translated and became immensely popular. Vladimir Jabotinsky's conclusion was to organize Jewish self defense, and Theodore Herzl's conclusion was the Uganda proposal at the Sixth Zionist Congress. 

The shadow of the Kishinev tragedy was to hover over the many subsequent, and ever greater tragedies of the bloody 20th century.

 

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From Brisk to Beitar: The Life of Menachem Begin Part I

One of the most influential leaders in the history of the State of Israel, Menachem Begin (1913-1992) led a very colorful life and career. Though known for his public persona, he was a very complex character who faced many setbacks at every stage. Growing up in a somewhat traditional home in Brisk, he later joined the Beitar movement of Revisionist Zionism led by Vladimir (Zev) Jabotinsky.

Arrested by the Soviets in the early part of the war, he was sentenced to slave labor in Siberia. In the interim, the Holocaust arrived in Brisk, and most of his family became its victims. The long shadow of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust would accompany him throughout his decades of public service, and would impact his decisions as a leader of both the underground and later as a politician. 

He emerged as the leader of the underground organization Etzel (Irgun), with the stated goal of forcing the British out of Palestine. With the founding of the State of Israel, he spent three decades in the opposition, leading campaigns against the reparations agreement with West Germany and the like, until finally winning the elections in 1977. 

Though he accomplished much as prime minister, including a historic peace treaty with Egypt, the unfolding disaster of the Lebanon War led to his retirement and ultimate seclusion during his later years.

 

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