Rav Gedalya Rabinowitz of Linitz zt"l
הרב גדליה בן יצחק רבינוביץ זצ"ל
Kislev 29 , 5564
Rav Gedalya Rabinowitz of Linitz zt"l
Rav Gedalya was born in 5498/1738, the son of Rav Yitzchok HaDayan of Linitz. He later became the son-in-law of Rav Moshe Tshortirer, the brother of Rav Tzvi of Kaminka.
Rav Gedalya was from among the founders of the Chassidic movement. He knew the Ba’al Shem Tov from his younger years and received the Chassidic tradition from him, from Rav Dov Ber, the Mezritcher Maggid, from Rav Yaakov Yosef of Polnoy, mechaber of Toldos Yaakov Yosef and from Leib Mochiach of Polnoy.
He was counted among the highest-ranking talmidim of Chassidus, and was famed as an orator and darshan, who would awaken the masses, moving them with his deroshos.
At age eighteen, he served as Rav of Ostropoli. From there he moved to Miripoli and from there to Linitz, where he served as Rav and Rebbe.
He had a good relationship with the other Tzaddikei Hador, such as Rav Pinchas Koritzer, Rav Leib of Shpola, Rav Nuchem of Czernobyl and Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev.
His Divrei Torah and Chassidic discourses contain many wondrous teachings, insights and chiddushim. Many of his oral stories were incorporated into the Shivchei Ba’al Shem Tov. His own sefer, Teshuos Chen, was published in Berditchev with Rav Levi Yitzchok’s enthusiastic approbation, as well as the haskoma of his son Rav Yisrael of Pikov.
Among his talmidim was Rav Sholom of Probitsh, the father of the Rizhiner.
His sons were: Rav Yitzchok Yoel of Linitz and Rav Shmuel Leib, who served one after the other as Rabbonim in Linitz.
His sons-in-law were: Rav Eliyohu Dov, Av Bais Din of Ivnatza, Rav Tzvi, son of Rav Yosef of Kaminka, Rav Yisrael Chaim of Ludmir, Rav Aharon of Czernobyl and Rav Yosef of Vishnitza.
His descendants were among the Sokolovka, Knitkozva, Monstritsh and Arel dynasties.
Stories of Rav Gedalya Rabinowitz of Linitz zt"l
Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev writes in his letter of approbation to the sefer Teshuos Chen:
“Rav Shmuel Yehuda Leib, the son of the Tzaddik, the Gaon and holy flame, our Master Gedalya, showed me his father’s holy writings. I saw them and studied them and they are among the loftiest things in the world.” (Haskoma to Teshuos Chen)
The Berditchever Rav said further that many people were unable to delve deep enough to understanding the meaning behind the holy mechaber because his writings are so profound.
(Publisher’s Introduction to Teshuos Chen)
Divrei Torah of Rav Gedalya Rabinowitz of Linitz zt"l
The following is taught in the name of Rav Gedalya of Linitz, who in turn used to say this in the name of his Rebbe, the Tzaddik Rav Yehuda Leib, the Moshiach of Polnoy:
The Moshiach will advocate on behalf of all Klal Yisrael and give them the benefit of the doubt, teaching their merits, even for those who are wicked, saying that az zay zenen girecht – that they are also Tzaddikim and because of this limud zechus they will all do teshuva. This will cause them all to be redeemed and bring about the geula because “through teshuva we will be redeemed” (Sanhedrin 97b).
He used to say that a minor Tzaddik loves minor resho’im, whereas a great Tzaddik loves even resho’im gedolim – he has the capacity to love even greatly wicked people. Moshiach, however, can even love the completely wicked – resho’im gemurim! Whoever advocates on behalf of all creatures, teaching their merits and giving them the benefit of the doubt shares this aspect of Moshiach. Therefore, before the coming of Moshiach, Eliyohu HaNovi has to come first to bring peace to the world (Mishna Eduyos 8:7; based on Malachi 3:23) in order for Moshiach to be able to be melamed zechus, because if there is no peace it is impossible for everyone to be meritorious, because if one is considered a Tzaddik then his enemy is not considered a Tzaddik. (Midrash Pinchas HeChodosh p. 1)
The citation above is based on the following quote from Teshuos Chen of Rav Gedalya of Linitz:
In the Trei Asar at the end of Sefer Malachi, the pasuk says: “Behold, I am sending you Eliyohu HaNovi before the coming of the great and awesome day of Hashem.”
I received from my Rebbes and teachers a tradition that Moshiach’s characteristic will be his advocacy on behalf of all of Klal Yisrael, judging them favorably, giving them the benefit of the doubt and teaching their merits. This advocacy and limud zechus will cause thoughts of repentance and pangs of remorse, called hirhurei teshuva, to make everyone do teshuva, so that they all transform into Tzaddikim.
This sheds light on the meaning of the statement that “the son of Dovid [Moshiach] will only arrive in a generation that is either entirely liable or meritorious.” Do not wonder how Moshiach could possibly arrive in a generation that is entirely composed of liable people, because his characteristic is his advocacy and limud zechus. He will judge everyone favorably, and they will all do teshuva and be transformed into Tzaddikim. The entire generation will be meritorious!
However, the only problem lies with ba’alei machlokes, experts at fighting and arguing. If we judge one favorably or give him the benefit of the doubt, his opponent is then liable. The opposite would also be true – to exonerate one side implies that the other is guilty. Therefore, Hashem, the Holy One, must first send us Eliyohu HaNovi preceding the coming of Moshiach. When Eliyohu arrives first, he will bring peace into the world and end all the quarrels, fighting, disagreements and machlokes. Only then can Moshiach properly advocate and judge everyone favorably. This limud zechus will transform everyone into meritorious people, and the entire world will be zakai! (Teshuos Chen Likkutim)
The prophet Malachi proclaims (3:23), “Behold I am sending you Eliyohu HaNovi before the great and awesome day of Hashem.” Rav Gedalya of Linitz writes that he received a tradition from his masters and teachers that Moshiach will be able to advocate on behalf of all Klal Yisrael and find their merits. This limud zechus will cause everyone to be filled with feelings of remorse and regret, known as hirhurei teshuva, leading them to become Tzaddikim.
This concept unlocks the gates of light; it illuminates the words of Chazal and allows them to be understood. For Chazal taught that [Moshiach] ben Dovid will only come to a generation that is either totally unworthy and guilty or to a generation that is all totally worthy and meritorious – kulo chayav or kulo zakai. Moshiach will be melamed zechus (find merit), give everyone the benefit of the doubt and advocate on behalf of all of them; they will then all do teshuva and be meritorious.
The problem is those who are baalei machlokes, masters at causing arguments, strife and disagreements. If Moshiach will try to find merit with one side, the other will be guilty by default, and if Moshiach attempts to justify the other side, the opposing faction must also by default be wrong.
And so Hashem must send Eliyohi HaNovi first, one day before Moshiach arrives, in order to make sholom in the world. Then afterward Moshiach will arrive speedily in our days and will be melamed zechus on everyone; the entire world will then be meritorious. (Teshuos Chen p. 114)