Rav Yosef Rabinowitz of Yampola zt"l
הרב יוסף בן יחיאל מיכל רבינוביץ זצ"ל
Teves 24 , 5572
Rav Yosef Rabinowitz of Yampola zt"l
Rabbi Yosef of Yampola had, as enumerated in his will (published in Birkas Yosef, p.117), three sons and two daughters. His sons, in age order: Rabbi Chaim of Satanov, Rabbi Yisroel of Tshehan and Rabbi Yitzchok of Yampol. His daughters were Miriam and Yenta, one of whom - it is uncertain which - was married to Rabbi Getzel Liebersohn.
His descendants had many different family names (Moszkowicz, Rabinowicz, Jungerleib, Zak, etc.), so it is impossible to know what Rabbi Yosef's own family name was, if he had any.
https://www.geni.com/people/Admor-Yosef-Rabinowitz-of-Yampoela-son-1/6000000007427625410
Stories of Rav Yosef Rabinowitz of Yampola zt"l
Rav Yosef of Yampola and Rav Boruch of Mezhibuzh were mechutonim (Rav Yosef’s son Yitzchok married Rav Boruch’s daughter Chana Chaya). The two mechutonim were on excellent terms and there was great love and friendship between Rav Yosef and Rav Boruch. It was Rav Yosef’s custom to visit Rav Boruch at least twice a year, on Parshas Bechukosai and on Parshas Ki Savo, when both the rebukes of the tochocha are read. After Shabbos, when Rav Yosef took his leave, Rav Boruch often accompanied his mechuton well past the town’s border to escort him with honor.
During one of their visits, Rav Boruch urged Rav Yosef to meet him secretly in the forest. “I must speak with you urgently regarding an important matter in total secrecy. No one else should be around – no family, no gabbo’im – just you and me. Make sure that even the coachman should be a gentile!”
Rav Yosef heeded Rav Boruch, but as the two made their way they failed to notice Rav Yosef’s son Yitzchok, Rav Boruch’s son-in-law, secretly following them. When he saw that his father and his father-in-law had secreted themselves in the forest, he went to eavesdrop and learn what urgent matter had caused them to behave in a manner so secret, so bewildering and and so bizarre!
As the two Tzaddikim spoke, he stood listening intently, rooted to the spot in shock! This is what he heard:
“Mechuton leiben!” began Rav Boruch, “surely you saw what I saw written in the Heavens this year during Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur.”
“Yes, indeed,” replied Rav Yosef, in a sad, somber tone, as he shook his head. “I saw a grave and great kitrug – a prosecution, against Am Yisrael, that is a heavy, dark decree!”
“Mechuton leiben, what did you do?” asked Rav Boruch.
“Unfortunately, everything I did failed. Nothing I did was able to cancel or rescind the decree,” he concluded sadly.
“Mechuton leiben,” this time Rav Yosef addressed Rav Boruch, “what do you propose that we should do?”
“There is no other way to end this decree. There must be two Tzaddikim, heads and leaders of the generation, who accept upon themselves to leave this world and with their passing atone for the generation and so cancel the decree!” Rav Boruch replied.
“I see no other greater Tzaddikim in this generation than you and I. I am ready and willing and so now I ask, Mechutan leiben, will you agree at once and do this? Will you join me? We must save the people! We must save the generation! Will you join me and do this?”
Rav Yosef hesistated. “Is there no other way? I need some time to think this over.”
“Time? There is no time! Way? There is no other way! Klal Yisrael is in mortal danger and you ask for time and other ways?!” bellowed Rav Boruch.
Rav Yosef saw that there was no other way and he acquiesced to Rav Boruch’s demands.
Hearing this terrible pronouncement and seeing that his father had agreed, Rav Yosef’s son Yitzchok could no longer hold back. How could he contain his anguish and bitter sobs at the thought that he would lose beloved father and father-in-law all at once? As he sighed and sobbed in misery, the sounds of his pain reached the two Tzaddikim.
Rav Boruch’s anger flared. “This was a secret meeting! No one else was supposed to be present or hear what we agreed to here! If you dare reveal anything you have seen or heard there will be nothing left of you but a pile of bones and your family a barren hillside! I am warning you, promise that you will never, ever reveal our plans so long as we live!”
Rav Yitzchok agreed.
By Cheshvan of that year, Rav Boruch grew weaker and weaker, until finally on Chai Kislev his holy soul departed. Before leaving this world, Rav Boruch said to those present about himself, citing pesukim from the berocha preceding Pesukei Dezimra: “Boruch she’omar vehoya ho’olom – whenever Boruch says something, then all the worlds rejoice, because Chazal say that vehoya is a language connoting happiness and joy. Boruch gozer umekayem – Boruch rescinds and cancels harsh negative decrees from Am Yisrael and he fulfills all positive good decrees for Bnei Yisrael. Boruch omer ve’oseh – Boruch omer – Boruch says something, veHaKodosh Boruch Hu oseh – and the Holy One fulfills. I have never lied; the only falsehoods I utter are the words of my confession.” And so he recited the sins of the viduy and was niftar. He commanded that his Rabbeinu Tam tefillin, his bed and some articles of silver be given to his beloved mechuton Rav Yosef of Yampola so that he would recite Kaddish for him.
Rav Yosef tried to visit his beloved mechuton Rav Boruch, and he journeyed to see him just one last time but it was too late. When he reached Tsherni-Ostra he felt the night fall and realized that Rav Boruch had passed on. After the shiva, he received the inheritance and recited the Kaddish that Shabbos night. Then he himself grew weaker until he passed away on 24 Teves. (Based on Kehal Chassidim HeChodosh 384 p. 18 and Siach Eliezer HeChodosh Introduction.)