Rav Akiva Ginsburg - Frankfurter of Frankfurt zt"l
הרב עקיבא בן יעקב גינזברג-פרנקפרטר זצ"ל
Iyar 14 , 5357
Rav Akiva Ginsburg - Frankfurter of Frankfurt zt"l
Son of Rav Yaakov of Nois, Germany
Also known as Rabbi Akiva Baal Nes of Frankfurt (Kelilas Yofi – Dembitzer vol. 1 p. 78b)
His father, Rav Yaakov, was the grandson of the paytan (liturgical poet) Rabbi Akiva B’Rabi Elazar, a descendant of Rabbi Akiva Kohen of Alte Oven, who was descended from Aharon HaKohen.
He married Ella the daughter of Rav Shimon Ginsburg of Frankfurt d’Mein. On 6 Elul, שנ''ד, after she passed away, he married her sister, Frumit. She passed away 11 Nissan שע''ט. (See: Avnei Zikaron of Frankurt by Rav Mordechai haLevi Horowitz pp. 336 and 480)
He served as a shochet and also as one of the rabbonim in the mesivta and as darshan (his talmid, Rav Yosef Yuzpa Han Noerlingen of Frankfurt in his sefer, Yosef Ometz, described Rabbi Akiva as “hadarshan ha’gadol who says derashos every Shabbos and all year long”). Rav Akiva remained in Frankfurt from ש''ח until his passing at age seventy-seven on Pesach Sheini 14 Iyar שנ''ז (gematria = shem tov).
Among the famous published hespedim (eulogies) delivered was that of the Maharal of Prague which he delivered on the 17 Iyar during the days of the shiva for Rabbi Akiva.
Rabbi Akiva’s talent as a great orator and darshan were famed, and his moving sermons galvanized the kehillah in Frankfurt to establish several tzedakah institutions and organizations.
He instituted the concept of kupas yeshuos (tzedakah boxes for donations in times of distress), among the segulos he is known for, as related below. In the Tzemach David by Rav David Ganz who described him as “Rabbi Akiva of Frankfurt--the great darshan in the aforementioned kehillah [Frankfurt], who was the son-in-law of Rav Shimon Ginzburg. and who was the one who started the kupos [tzedakah.]”
HIS DESCENDANTS:
We know of a son, the Dayan Rav Yehudah Leib, whose passing was motzei Shabbos and buried on Sunday, Rosh Chodesh Elul שפ''ג, and a daughter who was wife of Rav Yehuda Yidel Kara, AvBeisDin of Gluga.
HIS DISCIPLES INCLUDE:
Rav Yosef Yuzpa Han Noerlingen of Frankfurt, author of Yosef Ometz and Rav Eliyahu Luantz AvBeisDin of Fulda, Freidberg, Metz and Worms known as Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem of Worms who published his rebbe, Rabbi Akiva’s sefer, Zemiros V’Sishbachos LeShomreinu with poems and songs for Shabbos. Rabbi Akiva’s other published sefer was named Techinos BeKol Yom LaE”l Nora V'Ayom, also containing songs and liturgical poetry. Another disciple was Rav Yaakov AvBeisDin, of Tzuzmir and author of Peirush HaMesorah and Taamei haMesorah.
Divrei Torah of Rav Akiva Ginsburg - Frankfurter of Frankfurt zt"l
your mazal depends on your ma'aser
“עשר תעשר - Give ma’aser, a tithe from all your produce.” (Devarim 14:22)
“I heard in my youth a quote from the gaon, Rabbi Akiva of Frankfurt, that aser ta’aser means ‘takes a tithe’; —one tenth from the gematria of the word ta’aser (תעשר equals 400 + 70 + 300 +200 = 970. A tenth is 97) and that is the same gematria as mazalcha - your mazal (מזלך—40 +7+30+20=97).
The idea is that the mazal that Hashem, in His abundant mercy and kindness, gives you from year to year in the produce of your fields, is due to your ma’aser.
(Cited in Shut Eysan HaEzrachi by Rav Avraham Shrentzel HaKohen Rappaport of Lwow p. 58 of Kuntres Achron)
mashiv ha'ruach u'morid hageshem
My master and teacher, Rabbi Akiva of Frankfurt, once related the following chiddish (novel Torah insight) during one of his derashos:
Why did Chazal establish the nusach for “Mashiv haruach v’morid hageshem – He Who blows the wind and sends down the rains,” in the beracha, “Atah Gibor” (the second beracha of the Amidah) which discusses the resurrection of the dead?
The answer is, that this too refers to death, “mashiv ha’ruach,” can also be translated as “the ruach, or spirit, returns to Elokim, Who gave it,” (Koheles 12:7) and “morid ha’geshem,” the physical, gashmiyus part of the person, goes down below to the earth as it says (ibid), “the dust returns down to the ground.”
(Cited by his talmid, Rabbi Eliyahu Luantz, Baal Shem of Worms in his sefer Michlal Yofi on Koheles 12:7)
Segulos of Rav Akiva Ginsburg - Frankfurter of Frankfurt zt"l
Rav David Ganz in his sefer, Tzemach Dovid, attributes Rabbi Akiva Frankfurter as the initiator of the kupas tzedakah as a source of yeshuah in times of danger, for when in need of salvation, and to avert tragedy.
Rav Shlomo Sofer, son of the Kesav Sofer, and grandson of the Chasam Sofer testified that they continued this custom in his family based on what his grandfather, the author of the Chasam Sofer, established.
The Chasam Sofer’s custom was that whenever he needed a yeshuah –some salvation in any matter, be it large or small, would donate charity for the sake of the ascension of the pure soul of the chassid, Rav Akiva of Frankfurt.
He [Rav Akiva of Frankfurt himself] was the first to establish the kupos (the tzedakah pushkas). He enjoined others to give a donation of tzedakah le’illui nishmaso at any time of danger or disaster - Heaven save us - to effect salvation. (Chut HaMeshulash p. 197)
In the name of the Chasam Sofer [a segulah] for success in finding lost objects, it is good to make a vow [to give tzedakah ] l’illui nishmas HaGaon HaKadosh Rabbi Akiva of Frankfurt. (Rav Yitzchok Weiss of Verboy, in the name of an anonymous talmid chacham who was a disciple of the Chasam Sofer. Alef Kesav vol. 2p. 840)