Rav Avrohom Shimshon HaKohen Ashkenazi Katz of Rashkov zt"l
הרב אברהם שמשון בן יעקב יוסף אשכנזי כץ זצ"ל
Elul 8 , 5559 / Elul 18 , 5559
Rav Avrohom Shimshon HaKohen Ashkenazi Katz of Rashkov zt"l
The Only Son of Toldos Yaakov Yosef.
Reb Avraham Shimshon moved to Eretz Yisrael, but in 5502/1742 he returned to chutz laAretz. After his return from the Holy Land, he was appointed Rav of Rashkov which was where his father had served as rav before taking up the rabbinate in Polnoy. Several years later, in 5520/1760, Reb Avraham Shimshon returned to Eretz Yisrael.
In תק"ך, he returned to Eretz Yisroel. In the תק"ם edition of Toldos Yaakov Yosef, he is listed as co-publisher alongside his brother-in-law, Rav Avrohom Dov. He is remembered as the “honorable rav whose great light shines in Torah and yira, chassidus, the complete sage who pitched his tent in the Holy Land.”
It remains an enigma that among the many collections of chassidic letters to and from Eretz Yisroel we do not find mention of Rav Avrohom Shimshon even once.
In the copy of the sefer Toldos Yaakov Yosef that was preserved in Yerushalayim, Rav Avrohom Shimshon writes: “This is the sefer that my father—mentor, master teacher and rebbe—wrote. I published it in order to disseminate his teachings of Torah in the Kollel in Yerushalayim in order to give merit to the masses who study and teach as I did in Tzefas and Teveria and in order to leave a testimony since I have left behind no living children. This shall serve as my monument. [signed] Avrohom Shimshon, son of the author, Yaakov Yosef HaKohen of Polnoy, living in Teveria and having now moved to establish my residence in Tzefas.”
Rav Avraham Shimshon Hakohen was the only son of Harav Yaakov Yosef of Polnoa, the Toldos Yaakov Yosef.
According to some sources, the Baal Shem Tov and Harav Pinchas of Koritz participated in the wedding of Reb Avraham Shimshon, and the Baal Shem Tov said during the wedding that he saw that Reb Avraham Shimshon would move to Eretz Yisrael. According to another source, Reb Avraham Shimshon moved to Eretz Yisrael while still a bachur. Among Reb Avraham Shimshon’s manuscripts is a siddur based on the nusach of the Arizal. There are also some divrei Torah from the Baal Shem Tov and from Reb Avraham Shimshon’s father — the Toldos — not printed anywhere else.
Rav Avrohom Shimshon passed away on the 8th (others say 18th ) of Elul, 5559 (1799) and was laid to rest in Teveria (Tiberias) Eretz Yisroel. He did not have any children.
Stories of Rav Avrohom Shimshon HaKohen Ashkenazi Katz of Rashkov zt"l
Many tzaddikim attended the wedding of Rav Avrohom Shimshon. The Baal Shem Tov himself was the guest of honor, and Rav Pinchos Koretzer was among the many notables in attendance. As was customary, the chuppah was held outdoors in the courtyard of the shul. On the windowsill, a bird stood merrily chirping. The Baal Shem Tov turned to Rav Pinchos Koretzer and asked him, “Do you hear what that bird is saying?” He continued, “The bird is saying the pasuk, “Le’eleh techalek ha’aretz (“Among these shall the land be divided”). Hearing this, many of the guests rejoiced, as they imagined that, during this couple’s lifetime, the great Division of Eretz Yisroel would begin – a sign of the imminent redemption!
However, years later, when Rav Avrohom Shimshon decided to move to Eretz Yisroel, his wife protested and refused to go. The couple appeared before Rav Pinchos of Koretz seeking a resolution to their marital strife. “What can I do?” Rav Pinchos exclaimed. “This case has already been decided by the holy Baal Shem Tov! At your wedding, he heard a bird saying “Le’eleh techalek ha’aretz” – and now I understand that you shall be divided because of the Land of Israel that lies between you.” The halacha states that, if a husband wishes to move to Eretz Yisroel and his wife refuses to accompany him, she may accept a get (legally divorce him) so he will be free to go. And so it was that Rav Avrohom Shimshon left for Eretz Yisroel alone. (Zechuyos Yosef)