Rav Yisrael Haufstein zt"l
הרב ישראל בן שבתאי האפשטיין זצ"ל
Tishrei 14 , 5575
Rav Yisrael Haufstein zt"l
Rav Yisrael Haufstein, the son of Rav Shabsi, was born in the year 5498 (1737) in Apta.
There are various traditions concerning the circumstances of Rav Yisrael’s birth. There is a well-known story that his parents were impoverished and once, as Shabbos approached, they had nothing to eat nor any money with which to purchase food or even candles. His mother then (miraculously) found a gold button while cleaning their tiny home and sold it for Shabbos provisions.
Many versions go on to relate that Rav Shabsi danced merrily with his wife on that Shabbos out of joy and gratitude to Hashem (and in that merit they were subsequently blessed with such a holy child). However, the Sulitza Rebbe ztz”l of Far Rockaway, NY, who is a descendant of the Kozhnitzer Maggid, writes in his sefer that his family tradition emphatically rejects this story and regards this version of events as legendary fiction and simply not true. Other versions relate the same story, but with Rav Shabsi dancing on his own. On this version, the Baal Shem Tov is quoted as remarking: “All the Heavenly Hosts rejoiced together with him,” and that the Baal Shem’s brachah bore fruit and he later served as the Kozhnizter Maggid’s sandak.
Still other traditions relate that there was a great machlokes (argument) in shul between the mispallelim, and everyone had been drawn into the conflict, taking sides. Everyone that is, except Rav Shabsi, who remained neutral and would not involve himself in the dispute. He steeled himself and remained immersed in his davening, paying no heed to the strife. This created a great impression in Shamayim and in this merit he was gifted with such a holy son.
As a child, Rav Yisrael, despite his weak constitution and sickly nature, revealed great talent and prodigious ability in his studies. On Chol Hamoed Pesach When Rav Dov Beirish Katz was appointed as chief rabbi of Apta, Rav Yisrael became his disciple and talmid muvhak, as well as the study partner of the Rav’s son, Rav Yitzchak Avraham, who would one day become the Av Beis Din of Pinsthuv.
Rav Yisrael eventually left Apta to study in the yeshivah of Rav Yechezkel, the Av Beis Din of Ostrovtza. He also studied with Rav Mordechai Tzvi Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Horochiv, as well as with Rav Menachem, Av Beis Din of Torlo. After marrying, he settled in Peshischa, where his father-in-law lived, earning a living as a melamed for youths from the surrounding villages.
Rav Yisrael was greatly influenced by the Maggid of Peshischa, one of the first chassidim in Poland, who taught him the art of delivering oration and derashos as a maggid. Soon Rav Yisrael himself turned to the ways of chassidus. By way of the Maggid, Rav Yisrael met Rav Shmuel Shmelka of Nikolsberg, who was then rav in Ritshival and one of the gaonim of the generation. Rav Yisrael acquired from the Rebbe Reb Shmelka the proper methodology of Torah study and soon rose to become one the gaonim (Torah giants) of the generation. Additionally, under his rebbe’s guidance and influence, Rav Yisrael began to visit the chassidic court of the great Maggid of Mezritch, where he was warmly received. The Maggid even asked Rav Yisrael to take on the scholarly task of editing his copy of the Siddur Ha’Arizal.
After the Mezritcher Maggid’s passing, Rav Yisrael became a chassid of Rav Shmuel Shmelka and the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk.
According to one tradition, when the Kozhnitzer Maggid arrived in Lizhensk, the Rebbe Reb Melech was resting. He soon awoke, explaining that the great archangel Metatr-n himself woke him up to tell him that Rav Yisrael had arrived!
In Lizhensk, Rav Yisrael was considered one of the four greatest and primary disciples that later inherited their rebbe’s traits and abilities; Rav Yisrael inherited the Rebbe Reb Melech’s power of the heart. Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev was also one of his rebbes and mentors, and Rav Yisrael went on to become one of the greatest leaders in both Galicia and Poland.
In 5525, Rav Yisrael was formally appointed as Maggid of Kozhnitz and its surrounding villages of Magnishov and Gritza. He also established a yeshivah there.
As the influence of chassidus expanded, so did its opponents, and one Shabbos the misnagdim chased Rav Yisrael out of town. He fled to Zelichov, where Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev was living at the time. Especially sharp were the insults heaped upon him by Rav Dovid of Makov in his work, Zamir Aritzim V'Charavot Tzurim, the first work in history to oppose chassidus.
Rav Yisrael was crowned as rebbe in 5546 (1785), and thousands of adherents flocked to his newly established court. With the possible exception of the Chozeh of Lublin, the Kozhnitzer Maggid was considered the central authority of chassidus in Poland of his generation.
Besides being a major Chassidic leader, the Kozhnitzer Maggid was a gaon both in the revealed and hidden Torah. Reportedly, he had studied over eight hundred Sifrei Kabbalah even before arriving in Mezritch, and his collected Kabbalah works, notes and glosses are considered foundational within the genre. His tefillos were typified by intense rapture and total divestment of his physical being; they were loud and accompanied by shouting and gestures, and afterward he would collapse with exhaustion.
He also made use of his knowledge of Polish, often quoting popular Polish sayings and adapting them for use in avodas Hashem. Rav Yisrael wrote many haskamos (approbations) to sefarim. He stood at the forefront of Torah-true social justice and reform in his generation. He was involved in myriad acts of chessed, caring for the sick, orphans and widows. Many orphans were raised in his home, among them Rav Yitzchak Meir, later famed as the Chiddushei Harim, first Gerrer Rebbe, as well as the rebbe’s mother. Vast sums of tzedakah donations flowed through Rav Yisrael’s hands, but he himself lived in poverty. His simple, humble home was still standing until the Holocaust.
Almost all the great tzadikim from the courts of Mezritch and Lizhensk of the next generation were among his disciples, including:
Rav Eliezer of Taringrad, Rav Isamar of Konskvala, Rav Aryeh Leib of Vizhnitza, Rav Aryeh Leib of Kishinov, Rav Gavriel Malach of Mogolintza, Rav Gedalya of Zelichov, Rav Gershon of Ritishival, Rav Yissacher Ber of Radoshitz, Rav Moshe of Voldova, Rav Moshe Teitelbaum of Ujhel, Rav Noach Shmuel Lipschitz of Turbin, Rav Feivel of Kaminetz, Rav Pinchas of Gnivshov, Rav Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov author of Bnei Yissaschar, Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Zidachov, Rav Shalom of Belz, Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, Rav Dovid of Lelov, Rav Dovid Charif of Pietrakov, Rav Zelig of Sarantzk, Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel of Moglenitz, who was also his grandson, Rav Yechezkel of Kozhnitz, Rav Yitzchak Meisels, Rav Yitzchak of Ozerov, Rav Meir of Scheps, Rav Yaakov Aryeh of Radzimin, Rav Yaakov Tzvi of Dinov, Rav Yeshaya Muskat of Praga, Rav Yitzchak Meir of Ger, Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, Rav Menachem Mendel Stern of Sighet, Rav Shmuel of Vorka, Rav Shmuel Shmarya of Ostrovtza, Rav Shimon Deitsch of Zelichov, and many others.
As Napoleon Bonaparte’s military campaigns spread ‘enlightenment’, freedoms and reforms throughout Europe, these events were seen by many as forerunners of messianic times and its promises. The Kozhnitzer Maggid became involved in a secret movement to hasten the coming of Mashiach and the final redemption on the heels of these world events. He grew ill from these efforts, and although he somewhat recuperated, he remained weak and he sent a letter to Rav Yisrael of Pikov, the son of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, asking him to daven. “I am still very weak,” he wrote, “and my strength is sapped away. Please daven for my wellbeing and be my agent; send shlichim as well to daven for me at your father’s kever, that Hashem should send me a complete and full recovery and that I return to my former full health.”
Sadly, on Erev Sukkos, 5575 (1814), Rav Yisrael passed away in the midst of these mysterious acts, and thus the inner circle of the movement was broken. Soon after his passing, the other great tzadikim and rebbes involved in the same inner circle, such as Rav Menachem Mendel of Rimanov and the Chozeh of Lublin, also passed away.
Rav Yisrael passed away on the 14th of Tishrei 5575 (1814) and was laid to rest in Kozhnitz. By the Chozeh’s command, he was succeeded by his son Rav Moshe Elyakim Beriya. (At first the residents thought to appoint the Maggid’s son-in-law, Rav Avi Ezra Zelig Margolios, the Rav of Grenitz, but the Chozeh’s word was the final authority.) Ultimately, Rav Moshe Elyakim Beriya proved to be a capable rebbe, a scholar, prolific writer and exponent of chassidus. The Maggid’s daughter, Pereleh, was the wife of the Rav of Grenitz.
The Kozhnitzer Maggid was a prolific writer and left behind many sefarim, including:
Avodas Yisrael Chassidus on the Torah, Tehillos Yisrael on Tehillim, Yakar Mipaz, Geulas Yisrael on Maharal, She’aris Yisrael on Midrash Rabba and Tehillim, Avos Yisrael on Pirkei Avos, Gevuras Yisrael on the Haggadah shel Pesach, Beis Yisrael on Masechos Pesachim, Beitza, Chagiga and Moed Katan, Maggid Mesharon on Shabbos, Agunos Yisrael, glosses on the Shulchan Aruch, Ohr Yisrael on Tikkunei Zohar, Nezer Yisrael on Zohar, Ner Yisrael on Likutei Rav Hai Gaon and Shaar Hashamayim of Rav Yosef Gikatilla, Rimzei Yisrael on Sefer Temuna, and his Seder Hakafos which is found in many machzorim.
Divrei Torah of Rav Yisrael Haufstein zt"l
kosher tefillos
It is told (in the sefer Mevaser Tov) that when the holy Kozhnitzer Maggid heard the pasuk “Your carcass shall be food for every bird of the heavens and beast of the earth, and none shall fear” (28:26), he cried out loud and sighed longingly, “Ribbono Shel Olam – Master of the World! When – when will this pasuk finally be fulfilled?” Later during the tisch the Maggid explained why he so wished that this pasuk would be actualized:
Our tefillos must be recited with proper kavona – with love, awe and fear of Hashem. Then they are called kosher tefillos. A tefilla that lacks proper devotion is the opposite of kosher; it is a neveila – like a carcass. Hashem, however, is merciful, much more than we. He awakens us from On High with such a hisorerus that we daven properly. This proper devotional tefilla then gathers all the other improper tefillos previously left disgraced in some forgotten corner and brings them up together to the Heavenly Abode. These tefillos– together – crown Hashem.
This is what our pasuk means, “your carcass – nivlos’cha – your dead tefillos that lacked devotion, shall be as food for the birds of shomayim – they shall fly like birds, soaring up to the Heavens, because your proper tefilla will uplift them all together to where they belong. However, the pasuk warns us that if Ein Macharid – if none shall fear Hashem– then the tefillos will instead be given as fodder for the “beasts of the field”, alluding to the negative forces of the klippos.
about the pesach haggoda
The Pesach Haggoda states: “At first our fathers worshipped idols, but now Hashem has brought us close to His worship.” The authors of the Haggoda arranged that we should speak of this at the time of our redemption. From this we learn that one should not say, “I have done so many evil deeds that there is no longer any way for me to be rectified and come close to Hashem.” One should say the precise opposite and resolve to repent at least from this day on. He should declare, “Is it true that our forefathers originally worshipped idols? But still, Hashem brought us close to His worship.” The Medrash states that Avrohom was forty-eight years old when he first recognized Hashem. He was concerned by the sins of his youth, but Hashem consoled him by saying, “Dew is your childhood” (Tehillim 110:3) – your childhood shall be considered as pure as dew. (Haggodas Avodas Yisrael – Kozhnitz)
May the merit of the Tzaddik, Rav Yisrael of Kozhnitz, protect us all, Amen.
“The Jewish people are blessed [from Hashem] in that each of their limbs has been given a mitzva. The meaning is that each person should make himself holy in each of his 248 limbs by accepting upon himself the holiness of the 248 positive mitzvos [and doing them]. If he does this, Hashem will be able dwell within him. “ (p. 153 sefer Avodas Yisrael)
Segulos of Rav Yisrael Haufstein zt"l
There is a segulah from the Kozhnitzer Maggid to recite three well-known stories (reproduced below) related to Pesach, (usually on the Shabbos when we bless the new month of Nissan). The segulah is that the stories will bless the Jewish people with an abundance of provisions and necessities for the upcoming Pesach.
1) A certain Jew was selling brandy before Pesach, to provide for the upcoming holiday expenses. He went from country to country, but at one border, the guards seized his barrel, since he lacked the proper licenses. The Jew quickly traveled to the Rebbe Reb Meilech and poured out his heart. The Rebbe Reb Meilech told him to tell the guards to taste the contents of the barrel; it was only water. The Jew did as the Rebbe had told him. They were surprised to find that the Jew was telling the truth! They returned the barrel to him, but then he went back to the Rebbe, crying: "Now how can I provide for my family for the holiday? The barrel of brandy was my only way of earning a livelihood and now it's full of water!" The Rebbe Reb Meilech told him to taste the contents of the barrel. To his delight, it was full of brandy once again! And the Jew had all the necessities for Pesach in abundance!
***
2) A king lost his ring. He proclaimed that he would pay a handsome salary to everyone who searched for it. There was a poor Jew who had no money for Pesach. His wife advised him to take up the king's offer. So he joined in the search, and with the money he earned, he bought all the necessities for Pesach. This Jew was also a generous fellow; he invited many guests for the seder that year.
Among the king's advisors was a wicked anti-Semite. On the seder night he went to the Jew's home and peeked in through the window. When he saw the Jew eating and drinking and not searching for the king's ring, he saw his chance. He quickly went back to the palace. "Your Majesty," he said. "You've been fooled.
I'll show you!" The king followed his advisor to the house of the poor Jew,and peered in the window. There was the Jew at a table full of guests, eating and drinking like a king! Still, the king was loath to think ill will of his Jewish subject. He told the advisor, "This Jew is probably interrogating these men to see if they know the ring's whereabouts."
This Jew's custom was that at "Dayenu," he would recite each verse and all the guests would respond, "Dayenu." It so happened that the advisor's name was none other than Dayenu. Just then, they all answered in chorus "Dayenu!" The king's advisor paled.
The king understood this to mean that his trusted advisor had in fact stolen the ring. He commanded his royal guards to seize the advisor and jail him, and he confessed to the crime. And the Jew had all the necessities for Pesach in abundance!
***
3) There was a certain Jew who worked hard for his landlord, the poritz. One day, the poritz said, "It's lucky for you that I support you. Otherwise, you would starve!" In his simple faith, the Jew answered, "What are you saying? There's a G-d in Heaven and He provides for all His creatures. If the poritz won't serve as G-d's agent, G-d will find me another."
The poritz angrily banished the Jew from his property. This occurred right before Pesach. This poor Jew now had no money to buy the necessary provisions. The poritz had a huge treasury where he kept all his gold. He would go in from time to time to count and polish his coins. He would spit on each coin and then polish it till it shone. The poritz' pet monkey would go with the poritz into the treasury and watch him. He saw his master put the coins close to his mouth; he thought that the poritz was eating the coins! Monkey see, monkey do. The monkey copied his master. It stole alone into the treasury and feasted on the gold coins. The monkey ate so many coins that it died.
When the poritz came into his treasury and saw the dead monkey, he didn’t realize the cause of its death. His anger had not abated, and he commanded his servant to throw the monkey into the Jew's house, to teach him a lesson. "If I don't provide for him, no one will!" The servant threw the monkey in through the window. When it landed, its stomach burst and all the gold coins came pouring out. Then the Jew was able to buy an abundance of provisions for Pesach.
On the seder night, the poritz sent his servant to see how the Jew was suffering without food. But the servant reported that the Jew's house was full of food and drink. The poritz later sent for the Jew and asked him from where he'd had money. The Jew told the poritz how someone had thrown a dead monkey into his house and that hundreds of gold coins had burst from it. The poritz then admitted, "Now I truly see that it's Hashem Who provides for us all." And the Jew had all the necessities for Pesach in abundance!
May you all be blessed with abundant resources for a Freilicha and Kosher Pesach. May your tables abound with guests who enlighten your seder with gems of Torah, May you and your children and your children's children not know from want all of your days, May your seder table be blessed with the visible revelation of Eliyahu HaNavi in preparation for the coming of Melech Moshiach, Amen.