Ephraim Yolles

Rabbi Yolles speaking with the Rebbe at a farbrengen (Chassidic gathering)

Rabbi Ephraim Eliezer HaKohen Yolles (spelled in Yiddish: יאלעס; 5 Shevat 5651 / January 15, 1891 – 25 Cheshvan 5749 / November 4, 1988) was the Gaavad (head of the rabbinical court) of Sambor and the Chief Rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish community of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Biography

Rabbi Yolles was born in Sambor, Galicia, on 5 Shevat 5651 (1891), to Rabbi Shalom HaKohen, who served as the rabbi of the city of Stry, and to Esther Sheindel. He was a descendant of Rabbi Uri of Sambor. He received his education from his father, who was himself a student of the Shoel u'Meshiv — Rabbi Yosef Shaul Natanson, the renowned halachic authority.

In 5673 (1913), he was ordained for the rabbinate by Rabbi David HaLevi Horowitz of Stanislav and Rabbi Natan Levin of Rzeszów. From 5676 (1916) onward, he served as a dayan (rabbinical judge) on the rabbinical court of Stry.

In 5681 (1921), he emigrated with his family to the United States, where he was appointed rabbi of the congregation Kerem Yisrael in Philadelphia. In 5708 (1948), he was appointed head of the rabbinate of the Orthodox Jewish community of Philadelphia.

In his later years he was known by the title Gaavad of Sambor, or the Admor (Chassidic Rebbe) of Sambor, and served as honorary president of the Agudath HaRabbanim (Union of Orthodox Rabbis) of the United States and Canada. The leadership of the Sambor Chassidic dynasty is continued today by his grandson, Rabbi Uri Goldshlager.

Relationship with the Rebbe

After the arrival of the Frierdiker Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe) in the United States, Rabbi Yolles approached him with a request to study Kabbalah and Chassidus (Chassidic philosophy and mysticism) together. The Frierdiker Rebbe directed him instead to his son-in-law, the Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson).

Following the passing of the Frierdiker Rebbe in 5710 (1950), Rabbi Yolles strongly urged the Rebbe to accept the leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch upon himself. From that point onward, Rabbi Yolles attended the Rebbe's farbrengens regularly. He accepted the Rebbe as his personal rebbe and would come to him several times a year. The series of volumes known as Igros Kodesh — the collected correspondence of the Rebbe — attests that hundreds of letters on Torah subjects, both in nigleh (the revealed dimension of Torah law) and in Kabbalah, passed between them.

When Rabbi Yolles was once posed a question touching on the relationship between science and Torah — specifically, an apparent discrepancy between the size of the sun as recorded in Jewish sources and as measured by modern science — he referred the question to the Rebbe. His profound sense of connection and self-nullification before the Rebbe was widely noted.

Rabbi Yolles meeting with the Rebbe at 770

He had a long-standing custom: each year on 19 Kislev (the Chabad "Festival of Liberation," marking the release of the Alter Rebbe from Czarist imprisonment in 1798) — at the moment when the Rebbe would draw lots to select which tractate of the Talmud he would study as part of the annual Chalukas HaShas (division of the Talmud among Chassidim) — Rabbi Yolles would hand the Rebbe his own pen. Afterward, the Rebbe would return it to him with a "Yasher koach" (well done), and sometimes added a few additional words.

In Cheshvan 5716 (November 1955), he was privileged to receive a maamar (formal Chassidic discourse) from the Rebbe during a yechidus (private audience). The maamar, entitled Ashrei Tivchar 5716, was delivered in honor of the bris (circumcision) of his grandson.

At the farbrengen of Yud Shevat 5736 (January 20, 1976) — the anniversary of the Frierdiker Rebbe's passing, which also marks the anniversary of the current Rebbe's formal acceptance of the leadership — the Rebbe called upon rabbis present to publicly declare that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people. Rabbi Yolles was among the rabbis who rose to speak.

Rabbi Yolles kissing the Rebbe's hand. 11 Nissan 5743 (April 4, 1983)

At the farbrengen of 11 Nissan 5743 (April 4, 1983), as the Rebbe was departing at the conclusion of the gathering, Rabbi Yolles approached and exchanged a few words with him. When he finished, he took the Rebbe's hand and drew it to his lips, kissing it warmly before the entire assembled crowd.

His Annual Visits to the Rebbe on Chol HaMoed

Rabbi Yolles had a firm annual practice of traveling to 770 to visit the Rebbe during Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days) of both Passover and Sukkos. His rationale, which he would cite explicitly, was the Talmudic obligation: chayav adam lehakbil pnei rabo b'regel — "one is obligated to greet his rebbe on the festival." Each Chol HaMoed, Rabbi Yolles would arrive for Shacharis (the morning prayer service) and Mussaf (the additional festival prayer) on one of the intermediate days. He would be honored with an aliyah (being called up to the Torah reading), and after davening (prayers) he would be received by the Rebbe in what functioned as a private audience.

His Visit on Chol HaMoed Pesach 5742

The following account is drawn from a contemporary diary entry dated 18 Nissan 5742 (April 12, 1982):

...Afterward, Rabbi Yolles approached — dressed in his shtreimel (the fur-trimmed hat worn by Chassidic rabbis on Shabbos and Yom Tov) and tallis — and the Rebbe smiled at him and spoke with him for a few moments. Rabbi Yolles then followed behind the Rebbe and rode up with him in the elevator; when they emerged, the Rebbe smiled again (apparently having continued the conversation in the elevator). They then entered Gan Eden HaTachton together, along with Rabbi Yolles's son-in-law and three grandchildren. The Rebbe smiled at him and went to the table that stood in Gan Eden HaTachton, at the head of which was a padded (rubber) chair reserved for the Rebbe.

Rabbi Yolles sat, apparently on the small bench that was there, while the others stood. The conversation proceeded as follows: The Rebbe first asked him about his book — whether he was on track to have it finished and bound for use. He then told him that they would need to count the Sefirat HaOmer (the 49-day counting period between Passover and Shavuos) until the book would be ready. Afterward, Rabbi Yolles asked the Rebbe why the Rambam (Maimonides) does not write regarding the mitzvah of greeting one's rebbe on the festival. [This, he noted, is the reason he comes to the Rebbe each Chol HaMoed Pesach.] He then asked whether it is necessary to prepare the Land of Israel for Moshiach (the Messiah) by conquering it.

The Rebbe replied: One may not go to conquer, because conquest can only take place through Moshiach when there is a Sanhedrin, and so forth — only then is conquest possible, and not before. What is being discussed regarding the Holy Land is not a matter of warfare, but rather of halachah: the ruling in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, siman 329, that if non-Jews besiege Jewish towns — even over matters of straw and hay — one is obligated to violate Shabbos and go out armed. This applies even if such a situation were to arise, God forbid, in Brooklyn. Here we are speaking of pikuach nefesh (life-threatening danger), and even though the territories being discussed — Yamit, Atzmona, Chatzar Adar — are not formally part of Eretz Yisrael, by returning them the border moves 10 kilometers closer to Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Kfar Chabad — which represents a greater danger to life. The Rebbe expressed himself forcefully: "Have you heard of such foolishness?!" — returning territories. Regarding Begin having signed that in five years, God forbid, he would be together with the Palestinians — the Rebbe also mentioned that Chabad Chassidim had gone to Begin to enroll him in a Sefer Torah, and said: Yamit is not part of Eretz Yisrael — to which the Rebbe replied as above, that this is not about whether it is Eretz Yisrael, but about pikuach nefesh, and here is a man who is prepared to concede pikuach nefesh in order to receive a budget for yeshivos...

(As the Rebbe spoke about the situation in Eretz Yisrael, he spoke strongly and forcefully, gesturing with his holy hand in a motion of dismissal and striking the...)

Afterward, Rabbi Yolles asked what the Rambam's order is regarding the coming of Moshiach. The Rebbe replied: It is written that a man will arise from the house of David, and so forth, who will compel all of Israel and win victories — and yet even with all these qualities, he remains an ordinary human being. Only after he actually builds the Beis HaMikdash (the Holy Temple) in practice does he become Moshiach with certainty.

The Rebbe then spoke about the slogan "We Want Moshiach Now" — noting that the word now has the same numerical value (gematria) as the Hebrew word zan (56), which relates to the concept of hazan es hakol — God who nourishes all of creation — as in the verse Harchev picha va'amal'ehu ("Open your mouth wide and I will fill it," Psalms 81), referring to sustenance both material and spiritual.

Rabbi Yolles then told the Rebbe that he is a man elevated above all the people, like one who stands above the entire nation — a neshama klalit (a general soul, encompassing the souls of a generation) and the Rosh Bnei Yisrael (head of the children of Israel). The Rebbe also said "Yasher koach" to him for the fact that in the Mi Shebeirach (the communal blessing recited in his synagogue) there is no mention of Atchalta d'Geulah (the "beginning of the Redemption," a phrase used in Zionist contexts).

They remained with the Rebbe for approximately 40 minutes. As they rose to leave, the Rebbe spoke with him a little more and smiled at him. The Rebbe escorted him to the entrance of Gan Eden HaTachton and watched him with a penetrating gaze until he disappeared among the young men. The Rebbe then went to take his siddur from the table — for they had sat down immediately after davening and the Rebbe had still been wrapped in his tallis — and entered his room.

His Final Visit — Chol HaMoed Pesach 5748

The following is drawn from a diary entry of 5748 (1988):

On the morning of Tuesday, 18 Nissan 5748 (April 5, 1988), following Shacharis, he arrived at 770 as was his custom each Passover to visit the Rebbe. The elderly gaon arrived accompanied by his sons and grandchildren.

He waited at the entrance to Gan Eden HaTachton. When the Rebbe ascended from the large hall and noticed him, he grasped his hand with great warmth, and then the Rebbe and Rabbi Yolles, together with his family members, entered Gan Eden HaTachton. After a time, the other family members withdrew and the Rebbe spoke with him privately.

The visit lasted approximately half an hour. As Rabbi Yolles took his leave of the Rebbe, the Rebbe came out after him to escort him, while two of his grandchildren supported him and helped him walk backward — for he did not wish to turn his back to the Rebbe. On the way to the exit, a chair was brought and Rabbi Yolles sat down to wait for the car that would take him.

The Rebbe said to him the words Yireh Kohen b'Tzion ("May a Kohen behold [the service] in Zion" — an expression of the hope to see the rebuilt Temple and restored priestly service). He then added that since it was now Yom Tov, they should sing a joyous song. The assembled crowd broke into the melody of V'Samachta b'Chagecha ("And you shall rejoice on your festival"), and the Rebbe encouraged the singing with his holy hands, his face shining with a radiant expression as he looked at Rabbi Yolles and at all those around.

The Rebbe waited there for long minutes until the car carrying Rabbi Yolles drove away from the spot.

Works

Rabbi Yolles authored several works, including:

• Divrei Ephraim Eliezer. Philadelphia, 5743 (1983).
• Kesovei Achiezer — halachic clarifications, appended to the work of his brother, Rabbi Yeshaya Asher Yolles: Shemen HaRosh. Stry, 5693 (1933).

Further Reading

• Shemen Sason Mechaveirecha, pp. 158–171.
• B'Sod Siach, pp. 189–191.
• Siach Sarfei Kodesh, pp. 194–197.
• The Gaon Rabbi Ephraim Eliezer HaKohen Yolles zt"l — Kfar Chabad Weekly, issue 356, p. 31 ff.
• Menachem Bronfman, The Mekubalim and the Rebbe, Kfar Chabad Weekly, issue 1926, p. 123 ff.
• Mendy Cortez, Holding onto My Gartel, Orchim supplement, issue 2081, p. 4 ff. (Sukkos 5785).

External Links

• First Publication: Recording from Rabbi Yolles's Yechidus on 18 Nissan 5746 — COL.org.il
• Rebbe and Chassid: The Gaon Who Was Privileged to Receive a Maamar from the Rebbe in Yechidus — COL.org.il
• How Did the Rebbe React to Rabbi Yolles's Effort to Participate in the Siyum HaRambam? — Lachluchis Geulasit