Menachem Zev Greenglass
Rabbi Menachem Zev (Wolf) HaLevi Greenglas (1917-2011) was a devoted and passionate chossid of the Rebbe who served as mashpia at Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim and in the Chabad community of Montreal. He was among the editors of Sefer HaMinhagim and a respected mekubal of great stature.
Life History[edit | edit source]
Born on Rosh Chodesh Teves 5677 to a family of Alexander chassidim in Poland. In his youth, he traveled to learn in Yerushalayim. Upon returning to Poland, he once observed the unique davening of his friend R' Moshe Eliyahu Garlitzky and decided he wanted to learn in a place that teaches how to daven properly. He then went to study at Tomchei Temimim Lodz under Rav Menachem Mendel Rozenmoter.
In 5695, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent the Baal Shem Tov's siddur to Lodz to show to potential donors who would give substantial contributions to the local Tomchei Temimim. The Frierdiker Rebbe set two conditions: 1) Going to mikvah first 2) People couldn't touch the siddur themselves - only one of Rav Shneur Zalman Schneerson's (of Vielizh, Lodz) trusted people could turn its pages for viewers. Rav Gringlas was chosen for this task.
In 5699 (1939), with WWII's outbreak, Rav Gringlas and Rav Shmuel Dovid Raitchik were chosen to receive a farewell bracha from the Frierdiker Rebbe on behalf of the yeshiva. Some talmidim escaped to Lithuania and reestablished the yeshiva there.
He learned extensively from Rav Shneur Zalman Schneerson (of Vielizh, Lodz), particularly in Kabbalah. When the Lodz yeshiva closed during WWII, he studied at Tomchei Temimim Shanghai and later Otwock.
Known for his simcha, he received guidance from the Frierdiker Rebbe about channeling joy into kedusha. The Frierdiker Rebbe was especially mekarev him, once addressing him as "my talmid" - a letter Rav Greenglas requested to be buried with. During his time in Otwock, the Frierdiker Rebbe once blessed the talmidim saying "Temimim! The smallest among you revives the dead!" Rav Gringlas was found to be the youngest present.
In Montreal[edit | edit source]
Sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe, he established Tomchei Temimim and the Chabad shul. As mashpia, he taught thousands, saying "I never put down a bochur, I only lifted him up."
The Rebbe appointed him and Reb Yuda Leib Groner to edit Sefer HaMinhagim. He maintained correspondence with Rav Yeshaya Asher Zelig Margalios of Yerushalayim, often conveying messages from the Rebbe regarding matters like voting in Eretz Yisroel.
At the Rebbe's request, he documented stories from Otwock chassidim. His talmidim compiled "Likutei Sipurei Hisvaaduyos," published in 5772 after his passing.
The Rebbe called him "Montrealer Mekubal" at a 5718 Simchas Beis Hashoeiva farbrengen. He had an extensive library and often lent seforim to the Rebbe.
After 27 Adar 5752, he dedicated himself to davening for the Rebbe's refuah, temporarily leaving his yeshiva position. After 3 Tammuz 5754, he returned to teaching, emphasizing complete emunah in the Rebbe's eternal words.
In 5766, he fell during davening, underwent surgeries, and recovered. A year later, he developed pneumonia and never fully recuperated.
He passed away on 22 Teves 5771 and was buried in Montreal's Chabad section. His matzeiva bears the Rebbe's handwritten words: "HaRav HaChossid Mashpia in Tomchei Temimim HaTomim."
His Nigunim[edit | edit source]
- A Sheygets
Family[edit | edit source]
- Son-in-law: Rav Dovid Cohen - Montreal, rav of Beis Menachem Zev named after Rav Gringlas, sofer, and community askan
- Son: Rav Avrohom Yechiel Gringlas - Montreal
- Son: Rav Yosef Gringlas - passed away 28 Teves 5782 in Montreal
Among his Talmidim[edit | edit source]
- Rav Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi
- Rav Levi Bistritsky
- Rav Avrohom Shmuel Bukiet
- Rav Aharon Yaakov Schwei
- Rav Zushe Posner
- Rav Aharon Eliezer Zeitlin
- Rav Yisroel Yosef Hendel
- Rav Shneur Zalman Eliyahu Hendel
- Rav Yosef Shmuel Yehoshua Gurlitzky
- Rav Boruch Boaz Yurkowitz
- Rav Nissan Mangel
- Rav Yosef Yitzchok Feigelstock
- Rav Yitzchok Yaakov Rosenstein
- Rav Asher Farkash
- Rav Dovid Mondshine
- Rav Shlomo Chananya Maman
- Rav Yaakov Yisroel Schneider
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- "Likutei Sipurei Hisvaaduyos" by Rav Dovid Cohen - biography and farbrengens, Chazak, 5772
- "The Mashpia" - memories and teachings (English), 5781
- "Otzar HaChassidim" by Yosef Ashkenazi - Chabad mashpi'im biographies, Chazak, 5774
- "Mashpi'im L'Doros" - biographies of twenty prominent Chabad mashpi'im