Chabadpedia

Menachem Mendel Hornstein: Difference between revisions

← Older edit
VisualWikitext
M.robin (talk | contribs)
2,105 edits
No edit summary
No edit summary
Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:מנחם מענדל הורנשטיין.jpg|thumb|Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hornstein]]
[[File:מנחם מענדל הורנשטיין.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hornstein]]
Rabbi '''Menachem Mendel HaCohen Hornstein''' ([[18 Nissan]] 5665/1905 – 25 Cheshvan 5703/1942) was the son-in-law of [[the Rebbe Rayatz]] - married to his daughter [[Rebbetzin Sheina]].
Rabbi '''Menachem Mendel HaKohen Hornstein''' ([[18 Nissan]] [[5665]] – [[25 Cheshvan]] [[5703]]; April 23, 1905 – November 4, 1942) was the son-in-law of [[the Frierdiker Rebbe]] — Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch — through his marriage to [[Rebbetzin Sheina Hornstein|Rebbetzin Sheina]], the Frierdiker Rebbe's youngest daughter. He perished in the [[Treblinka]] extermination camp during the Holocaust, together with his wife and mother.


== Life History ==
== Life ==
Born on 18 Nissan 5665/1905 in Anopol, Volhynia to his father R' Moshe Hornstein, who was a prominent Boyaner chassid, and to his mother Chaya Mushka Hornstein, who was the daughter of the Rebbe Maharash.


He was educated and studied in Anopol. In 5682/1922, at the age of 17, he moved together with his family to Warsaw. In the following years, he studied in Otwock.
=== Birth and early years ===


==== His Wedding ====
Menachem Mendel was born on [[18 Nissan]] [[5665]] (April 23, 1905) in Anopol, Volhynia — a region of the Russian Empire, in present-day Ukraine — to his father Rabbi [[Moshe Hornstein]], who was among the distinguished Chassidim of the [[Boyaner Rebbe]],<ref>As related by Rabbi [[Yaakov Landa]], rabbi of [[Bnei Brak]].</ref> and to his mother [[Chaya Mushka Hornstein (daughter of the Rebbe Maharash)|Chaya Mushka Hornstein]], a daughter of [[the Rebbe Maharash]] — Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn, the fourth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.<ref>[http://www.shturem.net/index.php?section=artdays&id=1052 Primary document on file.]</ref>
On 18 Iyar 5692/1932, the tenaim (engagement) of Rabbi Menachem Mendel with Rebbetzin Sheina took place.


On the day of the tenaim, the Rebbe Rayatz delivered a Chassidic discourse beginning with "Shir HaMaalot L'David Hinei Mah Tov U'Mah Na'im" (A song of ascents of David: Behold how good and how pleasant).
He received his education in Anopol. In [[5682]] (1922), at the age of seventeen, he moved with his family to [[Warsaw]]. In the years that followed he studied in [[Otwock]], Poland.


On 10 Sivan 5692/1932, his wedding took place in the city of Landvarov in Poland. From a letter of the Rebbe Rayatz, it appears that this location was specifically chosen: "Due to the current border and document restrictions, we limited the wedding location to a place along the way at the Landvarov station in Poland." During one of the Sheva Brachot meals, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski danced with the Rebbe Rayatz for some time.
=== Wedding ===


From this wedding, a record remains written by the Rebbe describing in detail what happened at the wedding, the customs, etc.
On [[18 Iyar 5692]] (May 25, 1932) — the festival of Lag BaOmer — the engagement of Rabbi Menachem Mendel to [[Rebbetzin Sheina (daughter of the Frierdiker Rebbe)|Rebbetzin Sheina]] was formally celebrated. On that occasion, the Frierdiker Rebbe delivered a Chassidic discourse — a ''maamar'', beginning with the words ''Shir HaMa'alos l'Dovid, hinei mah tov u'mah naim'' ("A song of ascents by David: behold how good and how pleasant").


In the winter of 5693/1933, he moved with his wife to live in Paris, where he studied at the university together with the Rebbe for four years.
On [[10 Sivan 5692]] (June 14, 1932), the wedding took place in the town of Lendvariv (Landwarhof), Poland. The Frierdiker Rebbe explained in a letter why this particular location was chosen: due to the border restrictions then in effect regarding travel documents, the wedding venue was set at this railway station on Polish soil, accessible to guests arriving from multiple directions. At one of the ''sheva brachos'' celebrations — the seven festive meals held in the week following a Jewish wedding — Rabbi [[Chaim Ozer Grodzinski]], one of the leading halachic authorities of the generation, danced together with the Frierdiker Rebbe for an extended time.


The couple was childless, but they adopted the son of R' Menachem Mendel's sister, Yekutiel Yaakov Yosef Liss (who perished in the Holocaust), the son of R' Kalman and Sarah Liss (Sarah was the sister of R' Menachem Mendel; she and her husband passed away at a young age).
In the winter of [[5693]] (1932–1933), Rabbi Menachem Mendel and Rebbetzin Sheina moved to [[Paris]], where he studied at university alongside [[The Rebbe]] — Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson — for four years.


In the years that followed, they returned to his parents in Otwock, Poland. When the war began, his father R' Moshe Hornstein was ill and confined to bed. R' Menachem Mendel had the opportunity to leave Poland at the beginning of the war but did not want to leave his sick father alone, and remained by his bedside until his passing on 28 Adar 5701/1941. After his father Rabbi Moshe's passing, it was already too late because the gates were locked.
The couple had no children of their own, but adopted the son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel's sister — Yekusiel Yaakov Yosef Lis, a child of Rabbi Kalman and Sarah Lis (Sarah being Rabbi Menachem Mendel's sister; both she and her husband had died young). Yekusiel Yaakov Yosef perished in the Holocaust.


==== His Martyrdom ====
=== Return to Poland and the outbreak of war ===
When the Rebbe Rayatz left Poland in Tevet 5700/1940, he wanted his daughter and son-in-law to leave with him, but since they were Polish citizens, this was not possible. While the Rebbe Rayatz was in Riga, his efforts resulted in the United States agreeing to give R' Menachem Mendel and Rebbetzin Sheina entry visas to its territory, but these were not actually provided.


When the Rebbe Rayatz arrived in America in Adar 5700/1940, he tried to send them the visa, and they received it in Naples, Italy, from where they planned to travel to America. But during that period, ships stopped leaving Italy for the United States.
In later years, the couple returned to live with his parents in [[Otwock]], Poland. When the war broke out, his father Rabbi [[Moshe Hornstein]] was gravely ill and bedridden. Rabbi Menachem Mendel had the opportunity to flee Poland in the early days of the war, but he refused to leave his ailing father alone. He remained at his father's bedside until Rabbi Moshe's passing on [[28 Adar]] [[5701]] (March 26, 1941). By the time his father died, it was already too late — the borders had been sealed.


The Rebbe Rayatz began to try to obtain a visa for them to another country through which they could exit, but this was in vain, and they remained in the Nazi valley of tears.
=== Martyrdom ===


At a certain point, information reached the Rebbe about their martyrdom in Treblinka.
When the Frierdiker Rebbe escaped from Poland in [[Tevet]] [[5700]] (December 1939), he hoped to bring his daughter and son-in-law with him. This proved impossible, as they were Polish citizens. While the Frierdiker Rebbe was in [[Riga]], his intercessions resulted in the United States agreeing in principle to grant visas to Rabbi Menachem Mendel and Rebbetzin Sheina — but the visas were never actually issued.


In order not to distress the Rebbe Rayatz, they did not reveal this matter to him, as the Rebbe wrote in a letter from 27 Menachem Av 5709/1949 (Igrot Kodesh Vol. 3, p. 173): "I am continuing to investigate about the above, and for now, unless I write otherwise, please arrange for all yahrtzeit customs to be observed on the above-mentioned days but without publicizing it, since in the house of the Rebbe, my father-in-law, they do not know about this. If you reveal this to Landau (referring to Rabbi Pinchas Landau, brother-in-law of R' Menachem Mendel Hornstein - his wife Rachel was the sister of R' Menachem Mendel Hornstein), please add that they should not mention this in their letters here for the above reason."
After the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived in America in [[Adar]] [[5700]] (1940), he worked to send them the necessary documents. The couple received a visa in Naples, Italy, and planned to sail from there to America — but at that very time, ship service from Italy to the United States had ceased entirely.


Only on 25 Cheshvan 5711/1950 did the Rebbe publish what happened to them.<blockquote>This compilation is dedicated in merit of the youngest daughter of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of righteous and holy memory, my sister-in-law Rebbetzin Sheina, and in merit of her husband, my brother-in-law Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaCohen, son of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka (daughter of the Rebbe Maharash, of righteous and holy memory).Until today there is not sufficiently clear information about them - besides what follows - and therefore their names appear as above, without the addition of blessing formulae afterward -
The Frierdiker Rebbe then sought to obtain visas for them through another country, from which they might reach safety — but these efforts came to nothing. Rabbi Menachem Mendel and Rebbetzin Sheina remained trapped in Nazi-occupied Europe.<ref>A summary of these events appears in a note to a letter in ''Igros Kodesh'' of the Frierdiker Rebbe, letter 4,362.</ref>


The printing was delayed all this time because of the pain of those family members who did not know about what follows until now.
In time, word reached [[The Rebbe]] of their fate — that they had been murdered in [[Treblinka]].


...According to the letter of Mr. Mordechai Unrad, may he live, who was in the Treblinka camp, he was there - in the year 5702 (1942) - in the same "barracks" with my brother-in-law Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaCohen. He told him that in the second barracks were his mother - Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka - and his wife - Rebbetzin Sheina. On the 15th of Elul 5702 (1942), the "Kapo" brought to R' Menachem Mendel a note from his wife saying that on the 14th of Elul her mother was taken to be led to the crematorium. On the 3rd of Tishrei 5703 (1942), the Kapo came and told them that on the second day of Rosh Hashanah 5703 (1942), they led his wife to the crematorium. On the 25th of Cheshvan 5703 (1942), when Mr. Mordechai returned from his work, he did not find Rabbi Menachem Mendel in the barracks. Those who worked with him told him that they had taken him from the workplace, along with another group of Jews, in order to lead them to the crematorium.
Out of concern for the Frierdiker Rebbe's wellbeing, this news was kept from him. As The Rebbe wrote in a letter dated [[27 Menachem Av]] [[5709]] (August 22, 1949) (''Igros Kodesh'', vol. 3, p. 173):


— Foreword to a compilation of discourses by the Rebbe Rayatz</blockquote>The chronicle of his life was written by Rabbi Eliyahu Shveicha and printed in the collection of memorabilia from his wedding.
{{quote|I am continuing to make the necessary arrangements regarding the above. For the time being, unless I write otherwise, please ensure that all the customs of the ''yahrzeit'' — the annual memorial observance — are observed on the dates mentioned, but without publicizing the matter, since those in the Frierdiker Rebbe's household do not know of what is written below. If this is disclosed to Landa [referring to Rabbi Pinchas Landa, a brother-in-law of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hornstein — his wife, Mrs. Rachel, was Rabbi Menachem Mendel's sister], please add that they should not mention this in their letters here, for the reason stated above.}}


== External Links ==
Only on [[25 Cheshvan]] [[5711]] (November 4, 1950) did The Rebbe make public<ref>In the preface to a collection of discourses by the Frierdiker Rebbe published at that time.</ref> what had befallen them:
* Rabbi Eliyahu Shveicha, '''Biography of Rabbi Mendel Hornstein''' Wedding memorabilia, 5th of Nissan 5772 (Third gate, pages 51-74)
* Rabbi Moshe Marinovsky, '''The Great Wedding in Landrov''', Kfar Chabad Weekly, website
* Menachem Ziegelboim, '''The Landrov Wedding''', Beit Moshiach Weekly


[[Category:5665 births]]
{{quote|This collection is dedicated to the memory of the youngest daughter of our holy master and father-in-law, the Rebbe of blessed memory — my sister-in-law, Rebbetzin Sheina — and to the memory of his son-in-law, my brother-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaKohen, son of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka (daughter of the Rebbe Maharash of blessed memory).
[[Category:5703 deaths]]
 
[[Category:Beis HaRav]]
To this day there are no fully clear details concerning them — beyond what follows below — and therefore their names appear as above, without the customary memorial formulas that would normally follow.
 
Publication was delayed all this time out of concern for the grief of those members of the family who did not know until now of what is written below.
 
...According to a letter from Mr. Mordechai Onrad, who was in the Treblinka camp, he was found there — in the year 5702 (1941–1942) — in the same barracks as my brother-in-law Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaKohen. He related that in a second barracks nearby were Rabbi Menachem Mendel's mother — Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka — and his wife, Rebbetzin Sheina. On [[15 Elul]] [[5702]] (September 6, 1942), the barracks guard (the ''Kapo'') brought Rabbi Menachem Mendel a note from his wife informing him that on [[14 Elul]] (September 5, 1942), his mother had been taken to the gas chambers. On [[3 Tishrei]] [[5703]] (September 14, 1942) — the second day of Rosh Hashanah — the Kapo came and told them that his wife had been taken to the gas chambers. On [[25 Cheshvan 5703]] (November 4, 1942), when Mr. Mordechai returned from his work detail, he did not find Rabbi Menachem Mendel in the barracks. Those who had been working with him told him that he had been taken from his place of work, together with a group of other Jews, to be brought to the gas chambers.|source=Preface to a collection of discourses of the Frierdiker Rebbe}}
 
A full account of his life was written by Rabbi [[Eliyahu Shwekey|Eliyahu Shvicha]] and printed in the commemorative booklet distributed at a wedding in his memory.
 
== External links ==
 
* [http://www.teshura.com/teshurapdf/Shweke-Noki%20-%20Nissan%205,%205772.pdf Rabbi Eliyahu Shvicha: the life of Rabbi Mendel Hornstein] — commemorative booklet, 5 Nissan 5772 (March 28, 2012), third section, pp. 51–74
* [http://www.col.org.il/חדשות_חבד_לפני_שנה_בכפר_חבד_כתבה_מקיפה_על_חתונת_לאנדראוו_75865.html Rabbi Moshe Marinovsky: the great wedding at Lendvariv] — ''Kfar Chabad Weekly'', COL
* [http://old2.ih.chabad.info/#!g=1&url=article&id=76171 Menachem Zigelboim: the Lendvariv wedding] — ''Beis Moshiach Weekly'', chabad.info
 
== Notes ==
<references />
 
 
[[index.php?title=Category:5665 births]]
[[index.php?title=Category:5703 deaths]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Beis HaRav]]
[[he:מנחם מענדל הורנשטיין]]
[[he:מנחם מענדל הורנשטיין]]
Retrieved from "https://chabadpedia.com/index.php?title=Menachem_Mendel_Hornstein"