Rav Moshe Yechiel Elimelech Rabinowitz of Levertov zt"l
הרב משה יחיאל אלימלך בן נתן דוד רבינוביץ זצ"ל
Sivan 27 , 5701
Known As: Vayedaber Moshe
Father's Name: Nosson Dovid Rabinowitz
Rav Moshe Yechiel Elimelech Rabinowitz of Levertov zt"l
Rav Moshe Yechiel Elimelech Rabinowitz, born in 5655/1895 in Biala, was the son of Rav Nosson Dovid of Partzova, who was the son of the Divrei Bina of Biala. His mother was the daughter of Rav Yechiel Yaakov of Kozhnitz; she passed away when he was a young child.
He was zocheh to be brought up by his grandfather, the Divrei Bina, until the age of ten. He dedicated himself to learning, despite the trials of being a young orphan, and suffering from hunger.
At the age of sixteen, Rav Moshe Yechiel married the daughter of Rav Yisroel Shapiro of Grodzinsk, the Emunas Yisroel.
He began printing his seforim shortly after he married, some written when he was just thirteen years old. He continued to write all his life, even after he became a rebbe. Many of his sefarim are based on the works of the Maharal and his depth of thought.
Following the petira of his father on the 7th of Shevat 5690/1930, Rav Moshe Yechiel was appointed rebbe. He settled in Levertov, a suburb of Lublin. (His brother Rav Boruch Yerachmiel was Rebbe in Munkacz.)
His court attracted many Chassidim. Rav Moshe Yechiel put special kochos into the youth, even those who had already distanced themselves from Chassidic ways.
Among his noted Chassidim was Rav Shimon of Zelichov, the famed Mashgiach in Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. Although Rav Shimon was many years older than the Rebbe, he was totally devoted to him and even sent his talmidim to him.
Rav Moshe Yechiel was known for mofsim, and many petitioners came to him for yeshuos.
When the Nazis reached Levertov, they first sought to kill the rabbanim, as usual. Rav Moshe Yechiel fled to Lublin, just ahead of the Nazis; there, his wife took ill and passed away. After he got up from shiva, Rav Moshe Yechiel decided to move to his summer home in Demtchaba, which was then under Russian rule. He stayed there for nearly two years, until that city too, was taken over by the Nazis.
On Motzoei Shabbos Parshas Shelach, on the 27th of Sivan, Rav Moshe Yechiel was eating melaveh malka with his children by the light of a dimmed candle. The Rebbe's gabbai, who had left for a few minutes to tend to something, was shocked upon his return to find the Rebbe and his children brutally murdered. The Nazis had suddenly barged into the house and shot them all dead. Hashem yinkom damam.
Rav Moshe Yechiel was forty-six at his death. His children killed along with him were his sons Reb Yitzchok and Reb Chaim, and his daughter Reizel.
Many of his manuscripts were lost or burned during the war.
Zechuso yagen aleinu. Hashem yinkom damo.
www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-27-sivanjune-25/