Detailed
Description |
|
Two unrelated mussar works bound together. The first work is Ma’amorim maran Jeroham ha-Levi. It is comprised of two lectures given by R. Jeroham, the first “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose” Ecclesiastes 3:1) given in Elul 1928, the second Torat ha-Teshuvah, given during the ten days of repentance 1929. The lectures are taken from the notes of an attendee. Baranowicze was an important center of orthodoxy in Poland, largely on account of Rabbi Elhanan Wasserman (1875–1941), the dean of the Ohel Torah Yeshivah, which had an enrollment of more than 400 students. The Riga-born Rabbi Wasserman had studied in the Volozhin and Telz yeshivot and was influenced in particular by Rabbi Israel Meir Ha-Kohen of Radun (Hafez Hayyim, 1838–1933), one of the greatest Orthodox thinkers of his age. R. Wasserman came to Baranowicze at the end of World War I, after stays in several communities. R. Wasserman was not only a Halakhic authority but was also well versed in philosophy and knew German. His brother-in-law was Rabbi Hayyim Ozer Grodzinski (known as the “Ahiezer,” 1863–1940), the most important Orthodox leader of the period. His personality and connections made R. Wasserman one of most prominent leaders of World Agudat Israel. His attitude toward the contemporary scene was reflected in his essay “Footsteps of the Messiah,” written in the spring and autumn of 1938. Viewing the spread of Nazism and, mutatis mutandis, of Communism and Zionism, Wasserman asserted that the loss of identification with da’at Torah—the steadfast adherence to the Torah in its ultra-Orthodox acceptation—and the pursuit of vain ideologies such as Zionism, socialism, communism, and liberalism, were the reasons for Divine punishment of the Jews. While it was the Nazis who were implementing this punishment, they were merely a tool.
The second work is Madregot ha-Adam by R. Joseph Yozel Hurwitz of Navaradok (Alter of Novardok, 1849-1919). A student of Rabbi Israel Salanter, R. Hurwitz established a large yeshiva in Novardok, and is also well-known for this work. In Madragat Ha-Adam (Stature of Man) the most basic and important theme is Bitachon (trust in God). R. Hurwitz and his followers were famous for miracles that resulted from their absolute trust. There is in particular one event of trust told in his book that is thought to be about him himself. It describes a person learning alone at night and his candle running out and he trusted and someone in the middle of the night brought him a new candle. His followers would board trains in time of civil war with no fear and establish hundreds of yeshivot in Russia. Eventually the movement got involved in a Din Torah with other yeshivot in terms of funding. The leaders were claiming each Navardok yeshiva should be considered as one entire yeshiva. Opponents wanted all Navadok yeshivot to be considered as one. In spite of the lowering of standards that this indicates, the movement from all indications that are available formed and produced people of great ethics. There is nothing left of the movement today. However many who have studied the book of Navardok have gone in the direction of Rebbi Nachman from Bretzlov. |
