Rav Binyomin Zeev Wolf of Ozerian zt"l
הרב בנימין זאב בן יצחק צבי מנחם וולף זצ"ל
Tishrei 16 , 5659
Father's Name: Yitzchok Tzvi Menachem Wolf
Rav Binyomin Zeev Wolf of Ozerian zt"l
Rav Binyamin Zev Wolf of Ozhiran, born in 5585 (1825), was the son of Rav Yitzchak Menachem of Leshnov (who was son-in-law of Rav Binyamin Zev of Zbaraz).
Rav Binyamin Zev Wolf was the son-in-law of Rav Nachman of Skalit, and a scion of the Zlotshuv dynasty from both his father and father-in-law. He was also a descendant on his father’s side of Rav Yaakov Yosef HaKohen of Polnoy and Rav Baruch of Mezhibuzh, the grandson of the Baal Shem Tov.
Rav Binyamin Zev Wolf was known among the masses as a beloved tzaddik, with a renowned wealth and breadth of knowledge in Shas and Shulchan Aruch. It is said that he never transgressed even the smallest seif in his ways and customs in chassidus and yiras Shamayim, and its rulings were so immersed in his being that it was said that the Shulchan Aruch was embedded in his kishkes (innards)! Whoever observed Rav Binyamin Zev Wolf saw him fulfilling mitzvos and doing avodas Hashem according to the Shulchan Aruch with yiras Shamayim and dveikus, even while engaged in mundane matters. It seemed that everything he did was clear fulfillment of Shulchan Aruch!
He refused to live off the donations of his Chassidim and made his living as a sofer stam. People naturally ascribed great importance and value to his workmanship and whatever he wrote was sold at a very high price.
Even though he had his own Chassidim, he regularly travelled as a chassid himself to visit Rav Dovid Moshe of Chortkov.
Rav Binyamin Zev Wolf passed away suddenly on the second day of Sukkos, the 16th of Tishrei 5659 (1898), while making the bracha on the daled minim (lulav and esrog) while wrapped in his tallis.
His daughter married Rav Chaim Dovid of Nazon, a grandson of Rav Yisroel of Ruzhin. His granddaughter was the wife of Rav Elazar Shapira of Lanczut who succeeded him.