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Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung (1912 - January 1998) was the Chief Rabbi of Montreal, Canada, and the head of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva of Montreal. = Life History = Born in the town of Dukla in 1912 to his father, Rabbi Chaim, who was the son-in-law of Rabbi David Tzvi Zahman. He studied Torah with his grandfather and later became a distinguished student of Rabbi Meir Shapiro, the genius of Lublin. During that period, his teacher Rabbi Shapiro testified that he knew 2,200...") |
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[[File:רב הירשפרונג.jpg|thumb|250px|Rabbi Hirschprung]] | |||
Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung (1912 - January 1998) was the Chief Rabbi of Montreal, Canada, and the head of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva of Montreal. | Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung (1912 - January 1998) was the Chief Rabbi of Montreal, Canada, and the head of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva of Montreal. | ||
= Life History = | == Life History == | ||
Born in the town of Dukla in 1912 to his father, Rabbi Chaim, who was the son-in-law of Rabbi David Tzvi Zahman. He studied Torah with his grandfather and later became a distinguished student of Rabbi Meir Shapiro, the genius of Lublin. During that period, his teacher Rabbi Shapiro testified that he knew 2,200 pages of Talmud by heart. | Born in the town of Dukla in 1912 to his father, Rabbi Chaim, who was the son-in-law of Rabbi David Tzvi Zahman. He studied Torah with his grandfather and later became a distinguished student of Rabbi Meir Shapiro, the genius of Lublin. During that period, his teacher Rabbi Shapiro testified that he knew 2,200 pages of Talmud by heart. | ||
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The third part of the book Vayoel Moshe written by the Satmar Rebbe was written to him. | The third part of the book Vayoel Moshe written by the Satmar Rebbe was written to him. | ||
= His Connection with the Rebbe = | == His Connection with the Rebbe == | ||
He regularly visited the Rebbe to discuss Torah matters and participate in farbrengens. When he wrote his first composition, he sent a letter to the Rebbe. The scholar sent the book "Minchat Solet" on Sefer HaChinuch written by his grandfather to the Rebbe - and the Rebbe responded with notes on the book. | He regularly visited the Rebbe to discuss Torah matters and participate in farbrengens. When he wrote his first composition, he sent a letter to the Rebbe. The scholar sent the book "Minchat Solet" on Sefer HaChinuch written by his grandfather to the Rebbe - and the Rebbe responded with notes on the book. | ||
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When he entered the Rebbe's room, before opening his mouth and giving the Rebbe the Pan, the Rebbe stood up and asked: "Are you the Akiva ben Yosef whose name goes from one end of the world to the other?" After a slight pause, the Rebbe continued and said: "Indeed, you are like Akiva ben Yosef"... When the scholar protested, the Rebbe smiled and asked: "Heaven forbid, why? Isn't this an explicit Talmud?..." Until Rabbi Hirschprung humbly replied: Heaven forbid to say that I am like Akiva ben Yosef... | When he entered the Rebbe's room, before opening his mouth and giving the Rebbe the Pan, the Rebbe stood up and asked: "Are you the Akiva ben Yosef whose name goes from one end of the world to the other?" After a slight pause, the Rebbe continued and said: "Indeed, you are like Akiva ben Yosef"... When the scholar protested, the Rebbe smiled and asked: "Heaven forbid, why? Isn't this an explicit Talmud?..." Until Rabbi Hirschprung humbly replied: Heaven forbid to say that I am like Akiva ben Yosef... | ||
= His Torah Study Meeting with the Rebbe = | == His Torah Study Meeting with the Rebbe == | ||
Rabbi Hirschprung visited the Rebbe several times. But he couldn't discuss Torah learning with him, since the Rebbe directed the conversation toward spreading Judaism. On this occasion, he asked the Rebbe if he could also discuss some Torah learning with him, despite the Rebbe's precious time, and the Rebbe agreed. | Rabbi Hirschprung visited the Rebbe several times. But he couldn't discuss Torah learning with him, since the Rebbe directed the conversation toward spreading Judaism. On this occasion, he asked the Rebbe if he could also discuss some Torah learning with him, despite the Rebbe's precious time, and the Rebbe agreed. | ||
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From then on, his connections with the Rebbe and the Chabad community grew stronger, and in a certain sense he became a Chabad chassid. | From then on, his connections with the Rebbe and the Chabad community grew stronger, and in a certain sense he became a Chabad chassid. | ||
= The Merit of Being at the Rebbe's Farbrengen = | == The Merit of Being at the Rebbe's Farbrengen == | ||
For some reason, Rabbi Hirschprung was perceived by many as an intellectual follower of the Rebbe, but not emotionally connected. However, this was a mistake. | For some reason, Rabbi Hirschprung was perceived by many as an intellectual follower of the Rebbe, but not emotionally connected. However, this was a mistake. | ||
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After the farbrengen, on the way home, the scholar couldn't stop talking about the great privilege he had to be present at the Rebbe's farbrengen. He said only a fool could go to sleep after such a farbrengen. "We must go out to the street and dance with joy, that we are worthy to gather with the Rebbe shortly after what happened." | After the farbrengen, on the way home, the scholar couldn't stop talking about the great privilege he had to be present at the Rebbe's farbrengen. He said only a fool could go to sleep after such a farbrengen. "We must go out to the street and dance with joy, that we are worthy to gather with the Rebbe shortly after what happened." | ||
= A True Chassid = | == A True Chassid == | ||
One of his students related: | One of his students related: | ||
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His son concluded: Is there another chassid like him? Is there anyone more connected than he is?" | His son concluded: Is there another chassid like him? Is there anyone more connected than he is?" | ||
= The Rebbe as Moshiach = | == The Rebbe as Moshiach == | ||
According to his student Rabbi Meir Plotkin, it was clear to him that the Rebbe is King Moshiach. When he asked his teacher: What did you see in the Rebbe that you didn't see in anyone else? Rabbi Hirschprung replied: There are two things that make the Rebbe unique, and there is no one like him. 1) His Torah study. 2) Leader of the generation. And I tell you that there is no one like him, not only in our generation but also in previous generations. I was with Rabbi Meir Shapiro in Lublin, with Rabbi Menachem Zemba, and all the geniuses of the previous generation, and I didn't find one who resembles the Rebbe's greatness in all areas of Torah. And it's unnecessary to elaborate on his leadership... He is the only one about whom it can be said that he is presumed to be Moshiach. | According to his student [[Rabbi Meir Plotkin]], it was clear to him that the Rebbe is King Moshiach. When he asked his teacher: What did you see in the Rebbe that you didn't see in anyone else? Rabbi Hirschprung replied: There are two things that make the Rebbe unique, and there is no one like him. 1) His [[Torah]] study. 2) Leader of the generation. And I tell you that there is no one like him, not only in our generation but also in previous generations. I was with Rabbi Meir Shapiro in Lublin, with Rabbi Menachem Zemba, and all the geniuses of the previous generation, and I didn't find one who resembles the Rebbe's greatness in all areas of Torah. And it's unnecessary to elaborate on his leadership... He is the only one about whom it can be said that he is presumed to be Moshiach. | ||
In his Shabbat HaGadol sermon after the 27th of Adar 1992, almost half of his sermon revolved around the fact that the head of the Jewish people was ill. He expanded on the topic of the head of the Jewish people, and said that every Jew needs the Rebbe healthy, because he and only he is the leader of the generation. With tears in his eyes, the scholar cried to heaven and aroused the congregation, which was mostly composed of Lithuanian Jews, to pray for the Rebbe's recovery. | In his Shabbat HaGadol sermon after the 27th of Adar 1992, almost half of his sermon revolved around the fact that the head of the Jewish people was ill. He expanded on the topic of the head of the Jewish people, and said that every Jew needs the Rebbe healthy, because he and only he is the leader of the generation. With tears in his eyes, the scholar cried to heaven and aroused the congregation, which was mostly composed of Lithuanian Jews, to pray for the Rebbe's recovery. | ||
= His Connection with the Rebbe = | == His Connection with the Rebbe == | ||
Once Rabbi Hirschprung gave a lecture at a summer Torah gathering in 1987 in the Catskill Mountains, New York. When the audience expressed amazement at his incredible knowledge of the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud by heart, Rabbi Hirschprung said: "You think this is expertise? Do you want to see true expertise? Open any of the dozens of volumes of Likkutei Sichos, study each talk with the footnotes and then you'll understand what expertise is!" | Once Rabbi Hirschprung gave a lecture at a summer Torah gathering in 1987 in the Catskill Mountains, New York. When the audience expressed amazement at his incredible knowledge of the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud by heart, Rabbi Hirschprung said: "You think this is expertise? Do you want to see true expertise? Open any of the dozens of volumes of Likkutei Sichos, study each talk with the footnotes and then you'll understand what expertise is!" | ||
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A similar thing happened when the Rebbe said that all rabbis should sign a halachic ruling that stated it's forbidden to give any part of the Land of Israel to Arabs. Rabbi Hirschprung sat for several hours with an acquaintance's phone, dialed the numbers of various rabbis, and explained to them the importance of their signatures. Dozens of rabbis understood the serious implications of returning territories from the Land of Israel, and they opposed the move. | A similar thing happened when the Rebbe said that all rabbis should sign a halachic ruling that stated it's forbidden to give any part of the Land of Israel to Arabs. Rabbi Hirschprung sat for several hours with an acquaintance's phone, dialed the numbers of various rabbis, and explained to them the importance of their signatures. Dozens of rabbis understood the serious implications of returning territories from the Land of Israel, and they opposed the move. | ||
= His Torah Learning Connection with the Rebbe = | == His Torah Learning Connection with the Rebbe == | ||
Rabbi Hirschprung would ask the Rebbe about all his doubts in learning. | Rabbi Hirschprung would ask the Rebbe about all his doubts in learning. | ||
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During the Tefillin campaign, he sent together with the other Montreal rabbis a letter of support for the Rebbe's campaign. | During the Tefillin campaign, he sent together with the other Montreal rabbis a letter of support for the Rebbe's campaign. | ||
= Regarding "Yechi" = | == Regarding "Yechi" == | ||
From Rabbi Hirschprung's letter published on 13th of Iyar, 1997: | From Rabbi Hirschprung's letter published on 13th of Iyar, 1997: | ||
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He passed away on the 27th of Tevet 1998. | He passed away on the 27th of Tevet 1998. | ||
= Further Reading = | == Further Reading == | ||
* Rabbi Sholom Dovber Wolpo, "Shemen Sasson Mechaveirecha" Part 1 pp. 272-282, Chapter on Rabbi Hirschprung - His History and Connection with the Rebbe | * Rabbi Sholom Dovber Wolpo, "Shemen Sasson Mechaveirecha" Part 1 pp. 272-282, Chapter on Rabbi Hirschprung - His History and Connection with the Rebbe | ||
* Machon B'Ohalei Tzaddikim, "B'Sod Siach" pp. 130-133 | * Machon B'Ohalei Tzaddikim, "B'Sod Siach" pp. 130-133 | ||
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* Heichal HaBaal Shem Tov, Issue 31, Nissan 2011 p. 30 onwards (Rabbi Hirschprung's correspondence with the Rebbe) | * Heichal HaBaal Shem Tov, Issue 31, Nissan 2011 p. 30 onwards (Rabbi Hirschprung's correspondence with the Rebbe) | ||
* Mendy Korts, "'Expertise in Sources is Special with You'", Kfar Chabad Weekly, Issue 2081, 'Guests' Supplement p. 12 (Sukkot 5785) | * Mendy Korts, "'Expertise in Sources is Special with You'", Kfar Chabad Weekly, Issue 2081, 'Guests' Supplement p. 12 (Sukkot 5785) | ||
[[ Category: Rabbonim]] | |||