Rav Tzadok HaKohen Rabinowitz of Lublin zt"l
הרב צדוק בן יעקב רבינוביץ זצ"ל
Elul 9 , 5660
Rav Tzadok HaKohen Rabinowitz of Lublin zt"l
Rav Tzodok HaKohen was born on the twenty-second of Shevat 5583/1823. His father was Rav Yaakov, the Rav of Kreisburg, Latvia; his mother was Rebbetzin Yuta, a descendant of the Shela HaKodosh.
From his earliest years people predicted that he was destined for greatness. At a very young age he studied Gemora intensely, at times under the light of the moon, since his parents could not afford candles.
When he was six years old his father was niftar. He moved into the home of his father’s brother, Rav Yosef, mechaber of Kapos Zohov, and when his uncle became Rav in Krinik, near Bialystok, the young Tzodok went with him. He was known later on as “the iluy of Krinik”.
At twelve he was already answering she’eilos in halacha. At his bar mitzva he delivered an intricate pilpul, astounding everyone.
At fifteen he became the son-in-law of a wealthy wine merchant, in whose home he continued to serve Hashem with growing fervor. In 5600/1840, when he was seventeen, he completed Shas, as he mentioned in a letter. He wrote a number of seforim in those years: Otzar HaMelech on Rambam, Meishiv HaTa’ana on ibur hashanah (leap years) and Sefer HaZichronos.
His success brought down upon him the fury of some of the townspeople, who disseminated vicious, unfounded rumors about his household. Unfortunately, Rav Tzodok was forced to leave the home of his father-in-law and seek a Heter Meah Rabbonim.
Due to this sad reality, he had to travel extensively and thus met many Rabbonim and Admorim. He was drawn closer to Chassidus and eventually became a close talmid of Rav Mordechai Yosef Leiner, the Bais Yaakov of Ishbitze.
After the petira of Rav Mordechai Yosef in 5614/1854, many Chassidim went to his son, while others chose Rav Yehuda Leib Eiger of Lublin as their Rebbe. Rav Tzodok became a devoted follower of Rav Leibele, traveling to him in Lublin. During that period Rav Tzodok lived in seclusion, devoting himself entirely to Avodas Hashem.
In 5648/1888, after the petira of Rav Leibele, Rav Tzodok was chosen by many Chassidim as their Rebbe.
At one point Rav Tzodok was offered the Rabbonus of Lublin, but he refused it. He devoted his life to writing his seforim and serving Hashem.
Rav Tzodok eventually remarried and raised his Rebbetzin’s children. He eschewed all worldly pleasures, conducting himself with humility and kedusha. He would barely eat; in fact, he only ate at the daily siyum that he conducted. He did not accept any money from Chassidim other than that given to him at a Pidyon HaBen, which was rightfully his by Torah law, since he was a Kohen.
Chassidim said that on Shabbos he looked entirely different from during the week, and that on Motza’ei Shabbos he would have to be revived as he parted from his Neshoma Yeseira (additional soul that a Jew receives for Shabbos).
Rav Tzodok led his Chassidim for nearly thirteen years. In 5660/1900 he became considerably weakened. As he never had any children of his own, he asked his stepchildren to print his seforim. He was niftar on the ninth of Elul and was buried in the ohel of his beloved Rebbe, Rav Yehuda Leib of Lublin.
Among the many seforim he was mechaber are Pri Tzaddik, Tzidkas HaTzaddik, Resisei Laila and Takanas HaShovim. In his seforim, he records many chiddushim that were revealed to him in dreams.
Many of his manuscripts remain unpublished. Rav Tzodok’s seforim are a precious legacy to Yidden from all walks of life who seek closeness to Hashem, since in them he covers the gamut of revealed and hidden aspects of the Torah.
Zechuso yagen aleinu.
www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-9-elulseptember-4/
Stories of Rav Tzadok HaKohen Rabinowitz of Lublin zt"l
A Jew should never give up, neither on material things nor in regard to spiritual matters. Even if you are mired in a morass of immorality, don’t be despondent, thinking that you’ll never be able to extricate yourself. For a Jew there exists no such thing as despair. Hashem has countless ways of helping you.
As a matter of fact, the entire Jewish nation was founded on a seemingly hopeless situation. Avrohom and Sora were well on in years, and no one would have believed that they would still have children. Sora – who certainly believed that everything is within Hashem’s power – doubted the malach (angel) who announced the birth of a child to her. Indeed, Hashem could have given them a son at an earlier age. Why did He perform a seemingly unnecessary miracle?
It was Hashem’s design that the Jewish nation should be established on the notion of “believing in the impossible”, that a Jew should never despair but believe that Hashem can always help, that nothing is too difficult for Him. (Divrei Sofrim 16)
May the merit of the Tzaddik, Rav Tzodok HaKohen of Lublin, protect us all, Amen.