Rabbi
Yechezkel Levenstein
Born1885
Warsaw
Died1974 (aged 88–89)
Bene Berak
EducationRaduń Yeshiva, Kelm Talmud Torah

Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein, known as Reb Chatzkel, (1885 – 18 Adar (11 or 12 March)1974),[1] was the mashgiach ruchani (spiritual guide) of the Mir Yeshiva, in Mir, Belarus and during the yeshiva's escape to Lithuania and on to Shanghai due to the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in World War II. He was a leader of several yeshivas in Europe, the United States, and Israel.[2]

Biography

Levenstein was born in Warsaw[3] (5656)[4] His mother, Zlota, died when he was five years old; his father, Yehuda, subsequently remarried.[3] He studied for 2+1⁄2 years in the yeshiva in Łomża, influenced by the mussar movement, then in Raduń Yeshiva under the Chofetz Chaim and the Yeruchom Levovitz, and finally in the Kelm Talmud Torah.

His wife was named Chaya.[3]

From 5695 (1935), for about 2 years[4][5] he was the mashgiach of Yeshivas Lomza in Petach Tikvah.

Shanghai

News reached Shanghai Adar 5703 (1943), where the Mir spent the war years, of the murders of so many of Lithuanian Jewry. The eulogy of the martyrs by the mashgiach was published in a book, Mimizrach Shemesh.[6]

Yeshivos

The Yeshivos that he founded or strongly influenced include:[7]

  • Before World War II
  • Mir Yeshiva (Poland), as Mashgiach Ruchani
  • After the War
  • Mir Yeshivah (Yerushalayim)
  • Ponovezh Yeshivah (B'nei Brak)

Works

  • Or Yechezkel, a seven volume[7] work of musar
The Mir yeshiva in the Beth Aharon Synagogue, Shanghai; Levenstein is in the front row at far left

Bibliography

  • Kasnett, Yitzchak (2007) Reb Chatzkel. Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein - Guardian of Torah and Mussar, Artscroll Mesorah Publications, ISBN 9781422605387

References

  1. ↑ "Yartzeite of Rav Yechezkel Levenstein is the 18th of Adar." "Yartzeite of Rav Yechezkel Levenstein: Learning".
  2. ↑ Goldberger, Moshe. One Minute History Lessons: Six Millennia of Great Jewish Leaders. Targum Press. ISBN 9781568712383.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rav Yechezkel Levenstein zt"l, Mashgiach of Mir and Ponevezh, On His 37th Yahrtzeit, Today". Matzav. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  4. 1 2 A. Bar Moshe (March 17, 1999). "And His Hands Were Faithful -- the Twenty Fifth Yahrtzeit of HaRav Yechezkel Levenstein Zt'l, Mashgiach of Mir and Ponevezh".
  5. ↑ "When Reb Yeruchom passed away (on the eighteenth of Sivan 5697) however, the heads of the yeshiva asked Reb Chatzkel if he would agree to return ..."
  6. ↑ "An Approach to the Suffering of the European Churban". Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  7. 1 2 Or Yechezkel : Rav Yechezkel HaLevi Levenstein (7 Vol.). Retrieved 2017-02-19.
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