Rav Yoel Segal Pelner of Újhely zt"l
הרב יואל בן שמעון חיים סגל פעלנער זצ"ל
Tammuz 13 , 5685
Rav Yoel Segal Pelner of Újhely zt"l
Rav Yoel Segal Pelner was born in Tzelem on Tu B'Shvat, he was an only son to his father the AvBeisDin Rav Shimon Chaim who was also AvBeisDin Beled. He was named Yoel after his grandfather Rav Yoel the Dayan and Moreh Tzedek of Mattersdorf.
His education began with his studies under his maternal grandfather Rav Menachem Katz Frotiz AvBeisDin Tzelem, afterwards he went on to Rav Shmuel Ehrenfeld, The Mattersdorfer Rav's yeshivah, author of Chasan Sofer and he also studied under Rav Simchah Bunim Sofer of Pressburg the Shevet Sofer.
He married the daughter of Rav Akiva Sofer of Pupa, author of Tzuf Devash, the son of Rav Shimon Sofer of Cracow author Michtav Sofer.
He studied some years in the home of his new father in law and afterwards served as the Rav in the Bais Medrash of Rav Gershon Shtendler BeShteinmanger for some fifteen years and after his father passed away on 27 Iyar he succeeded him in Beled as AvBeisDin. There he studied with his own disciple Rav Avraham Unger Ravad Kapavar author of Machene Avrohom.
There he opened a yeshivah with many excellent disciples and star students. Among his talmidim were R' Yaakov Sneiders AvBeisDin Basel, Rav Yitzchok Zev Wolf Meir author Maharsha HaAruch, Rav Yisroel Toisig of Mattersdorf, Rav Avrohom Daskal of Tshenger and his brother Rav Yitzchok Dov and Rav Leibush Schwartz.
He was Rav in Újhely ( Satoraljaujhely ) for three years before he passed away on 13 Tammuz 5685.
Stories of Rav Yoel Segal Pelner of Újhely zt"l
Rav Moshe Katz the AvBeisDin of Nitra related how on the year that Rav Yoel was appointed the Rav of Újhel during the month of Tammuz he delivered his first derasha - opening sermon during which he told his new congregants the following with fiery enthusiasm:
My brothers do not believe the rumors that I am only strict and that I never rule leniently, in fact I do not only have stringencies and chumros regarding our holy laws of the Torah, in fact this year I am also meikel to rule leniently and I will now permit for you three things that our sages, Chazal expressly forbade.
These are the three kulos and leniencies:
From Rosh Chodesh Av through Tisha B'Av Chazal forbade three things: they forbade the consumption of meat, they forbade the wearing of new clothes and they forbade us to get haircuts. I am now permitting these under the following circumstances:
For those of my brethren who cannot afford or are unable to purchase Cholov Yisroel products I hereby permit you to eat kosher meat instead, for it is certianly preferable to eat kosher meat even during the three weeks as opposed to Cholov akum and butter or cheese made by gentiles that are completely forbidden issur gamur!
Second, regarding the wearing of new clothes that our sages forbade, I hereby permit all the women who own immodest clothes and short skirts to go shopping and purchase a new wardrobe of long skirts and modest clothes. It is better that they wear these new clothes during the three weeks as opposed to transgressing against the Torah by wearing forbidden immodest, short or tight fitting clothes!
Finally, my third kulah and leniency to permit shaving and haircuts, I hereby permit all those women who leave their hair uncovered to get proper haircuts and shave, even during the three weeks, so that they can cover their hair properly according to Das Moshe veYisroel! Needless to say his powerful words made a lasting impression. (Melitzei Aish)
Rav Yoel was very close and on very friendly terms with Rav Shayaleh of Kerestir and from time to time they would visit one another and send regards and greetings. Rav Yoel used to say that Rav Shayalah was a world class genius a velts Chacham!
It so happens that there was a well known problem in Uhjel, a serious breach in the fence erected by Chazal and the Torah. There were many simple uneducated Jews whose work among the goyim forced them to have to wear leather shoes even on Tisha B'Av and therefore they made the error that they mistakenly believed that since they were forced to wear leather shoes while working for the gentiles they therefore believed that they could continue to wear these shoes all day long, even coming to shul on Tisha B'Av morning itself while wearing leather shoes for Shacharis and to recite kinnos and from there they each went to their jobs to work for the goyim.
This was the first year that Rav Yoel was serving as the Rav of Uhjel, and the leaders of the community were worried that when he would witness this breach of the halachah and the acts of the unlettered uneducated Jews he would publicly humiliate and rebuke the offenders and cause a new rift in the community!
Therefore, in order to prevent communal strife they sought out the new Rav to placate him and explain the erroneous beliefs and mistake of these ignorant congregants.
The heads and leaders of the kehillah sought an audience with the Rav and told him that when he would witness this foolish custom and see how the ignorant Jews come to shul on Tisha B'Av wearing leather shoes and that they have already become accustomed to this foolish incorrect custom for so many years he should forgive them and not rebuke them since better that they remain shogeg and sin unintentionally than mezidim willful and rebellious transgressors! no?
When the Rav Yoel heard this he was completely taken by surprise and he asked them: "Do you mean to tell me that on the day that our holy bais hamikdash was destroyed and went up in flames these Jews will come to shul in leather shoes?!"
"What should we do?" exclaimed the leaders of the community, "I hereby declare," said the Rav, "that I cannot remain heading the rabbinate in such a place where some members of the community so brazenly go against the halachah in a public display of disregard for Jewish law and something so clearly stated black and white in Shulchan Aruch!"
The communal leaders did not know what to do and so they departed the house of the Rav downcast. Meanwhile, Rav Yoel did not know what to do. . .after a few days it so happened that Rav Yoel was in Kerestir for a din Torah and as was his custom he went to visit Rav Shayaleh and inquire as to his welfare and well being.
During their conversation Rav Yoel presented his problem to Rav Shayaleh, asking for his sage advice, how could Rav Yoel possibly extricate himself from this predicament?! "Regarding this matter your best bet is to discuss the matter with rabbiner Roth!" was Rav Shayaleh's terse response. Needless to say such a response astonished Rav Yoel, who could not understand how the rabbi of the status quo congregation could possibly advise or aid him in this matter?!
Rav Shayaleh did as was his custom and he closed his eyes and laid back in a trance like manner and appeared almost as if he was asleep. Rav Yoel posed his question, "what connection does rabbiner Roth have to the matter and what possible answer could he have for me?" Rav Shayaleh again responded: "Discuss this matter with rabbiner Roth and your honor shall see success!" was his blessing and reply.
The strange and bizarre advice seemed out of place, and Rav Yoel had misgivings and said to himself: "Although Rav Shayaleh is a world renowned sage but I think this time he has missed his mark. . ."
However, when he arrived back in Uhjel he decided to give Rav Shayaleh's advice a shot, what did he have to lose already?!
Rav Yoel asked that someone go visit rabbiner Roth and request him to visit, explaining that Rav Yoel had an urgent matter to discuss with him.
Rabbiner Roth was extremely surprised that the Rabbi of the Orthodox congregation wanted to seek a meeting and speak with him, out of respect he hurried over to Rav Yoel's home to see what was the matter. "Please rabbiner Roth I have an urgent request of you, during your Shabbos sermon please mention to your congregants about the upcoming day of Tisha B'Av and how it commemorates our national tragedy, teach them the history of the destruction of Jerusalem and our holy temple that was set aflame twice on this fateful tragic date and how throughout the generations Jews world over have fasted and mourned over the destruction and that one of the customs was to refrain from wearing leather shoes."
When rabbiner Roth heard the modest request it seemed odd but he agreed and so his sermon did indeed contain the content as requested. When Rav Yoel heard the news that rabbiner Roth had indeed kept his word he had the solution, he himself spoke before his congregants and chastised and rebuked them: "What shame and how will you face the fact that even the status quo congregation has heard the strict stringency of mourning on Tisha B'Av and refraining from wearing leather shuls and how will it look when even they all know this and yet the Orthodox congregants blatantly flagrantly ignore the law and publicly walk around in leather shoes on Tisha B'Av?! What shame and disgrace!?"
The sage advice of Rav Shayaleh did the trick and it worked, all the members of the kehillah that year showed up in shul on Tisha B'Av and not one was wearing the shameful leather shoes on their feet! (Mofes HaDor)