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Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz (Kislev 5624 - 5th of Kislev 5700) was the Rosh Yeshiva of Knesses Beis Yitzchok, author of the "Birchas Shmuel" series, and one of the transmitters of the yeshiva learning approach in our generation. | [[File:ברוך בער לייבוביץ.jpg|thumb]] | ||
Rabbi '''Baruch Ber Leibowitz''' (Kislev 5624 - 5th of Kislev 5700) was the Rosh Yeshiva of Knesses Beis Yitzchok, author of the "Birchas Shmuel" series, and one of the transmitters of the yeshiva learning approach in our generation. | |||
= Life History = | == Life History == | ||
Rabbi Baruch Ber was born in Poldovtza, a suburb of Slutsk. According to tradition, his bris milah took place on the | Rabbi Baruch Ber was born in Poldovtza, a suburb of Slutsk. According to tradition, his bris milah took place on the 19th of Kislev. It is told that his father entered a Chassidic beis medrash and saw [[Chassid|Chassidim]] farbrenging about the yoma d'hilula of Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuzh, whose hilula falls on the 18th of Kislev, and the [[The Maggid of Mezritch|Maggid of Mezritch]], whose yoma d'hilula falls on the liberation holiday of 19th Kislev. When he heard about the greatness of these two giants of the world, he decided to name his son after them. Indeed, he was named "Baruch" after Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuzh, and "Dov Ber" after Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezritch. | ||
In his youth, he studied in his birthplace Slutsk and was known as a prodigy. In his young adulthood, he went to study at the renowned Volozhin Yeshiva, where he became the distinguished student of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk, whom he regarded as his primary rebbe. | In his youth, he studied in his birthplace Slutsk and was known as a prodigy. In his young adulthood, he went to study at the renowned Volozhin Yeshiva, where he became the distinguished student of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk, whom he regarded as his primary rebbe. | ||
He married the daughter of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Zimmerman, Av Beis Din of Hlusk. After his father-in-law moved to Kremenchug, he took his place and opened a yeshiva there. Later, he was appointed as Rosh Yeshiva of Knesses Beis Yitzchok in Slobodka. In 5681, he moved the yeshiva together with his son-in-law, Rabbi Reuven Grozovsky, to Vilna, and in 5686 to Kamenitz. The yeshiva is mentioned in the Igros Kodesh of the Frierdiker Rebbe. | He married the daughter of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Zimmerman, Av Beis Din of Hlusk. After his father-in-law moved to Kremenchug, he took his place and opened a yeshiva there. Later, he was appointed as Rosh Yeshiva of Knesses Beis Yitzchok in Slobodka. In 5681, he moved the yeshiva together with his son-in-law, Rabbi Reuven Grozovsky, to Vilna, and in 5686 to Kamenitz. The yeshiva is mentioned in the Igros Kodesh of the [[The Rebbe Rayatz|Frierdiker Rebbe.]] | ||
= Circumstances of His Passing = | == Circumstances of His Passing == | ||
Two of his close students, Rabbi Noach Shimanowitz and Rabbi Meir Pantel, who were with him during his illness, related about his passing: About two hours before his death, he said "The Rebbe has come" and asked to tell them a Torah teaching he heard from his rebbe, Rabbi Chaim. He struggled to stand up and fell on the bed while telling them his rebbe's words. | Two of his close students, Rabbi Noach Shimanowitz and Rabbi Meir Pantel, who were with him during his illness, related about his passing: About two hours before his death, he said "The Rebbe has come" and asked to tell them a Torah teaching he heard from his rebbe, Rabbi Chaim. He struggled to stand up and fell on the bed while telling them his rebbe's words. | ||
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In 5775, after half a year of searching, his kever was found in the beis hachaim in Vilna, Lithuania. On his yahrzeit, a matzeiva was erected on his kever, with the participation of his descendants, led by HaGaon Rav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevezh, and many negidim from around the world. | In 5775, after half a year of searching, his kever was found in the beis hachaim in Vilna, Lithuania. On his yahrzeit, a matzeiva was erected on his kever, with the participation of his descendants, led by HaGaon Rav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevezh, and many negidim from around the world. | ||
= Connection to Chabad = | == Connection to Chabad == | ||
Rabbi Leibowitz participated in one of the 12th of Tammuz celebrations with the presence of the baal hageulah, the Frierdiker Rebbe, in the resort town of Drusenick. Rabbi Baruch Ber came especially to visit the Frierdiker Rebbe, and when he arrived, the Frierdiker Rebbe was lying down to rest, so he instructed his son-in-law the Rebbe to receive Rabbi Baruch Ber and converse with him until he would rise. Those present remarked that masechtos of Bavli and Yerushalmi literally 'flew' from their mouths with amazing genius. | Rabbi Leibowitz participated in one of the 12th of Tammuz celebrations with the presence of the baal hageulah, the Frierdiker Rebbe, in the resort town of Drusenick. Rabbi Baruch Ber came especially to visit the Frierdiker Rebbe, and when he arrived, the Frierdiker Rebbe was lying down to rest, so he instructed his son-in-law the Rebbe to receive Rabbi Baruch Ber and converse with him until he would rise. Those present remarked that masechtos of Bavli and Yerushalmi literally 'flew' from their mouths with amazing genius. | ||
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Rabbi Leibowitz's great-grandson is a Chabad chossid - Rabbi Eliezer Lichtenstein from Yerushalayim. | Rabbi Leibowitz's great-grandson is a Chabad chossid - Rabbi Eliezer Lichtenstein from Yerushalayim. | ||
= Commemoration of His Memory by Our Rebbeim = | == Commemoration of His Memory by Our Rebbeim == | ||
When in 5702 his talmidim gathered to commemorate his memory on his second yahrzeit, they sent a letter to the Frierdiker Rebbe to participate in the event held in his memory. In this letter, the Frierdiker Rebbe refers to Rabbi Baruch Ber with the title "my friend," and also describes his famous talks that he gave in the yeshiva, in which he awakened about ahavas haTorah and chibas hamitzvos. The Frierdiker Rebbe also included in that letter a sum of money to participate in the gathering expenses. | When in 5702 his talmidim gathered to commemorate his memory on his second yahrzeit, they sent a letter to the Frierdiker Rebbe to participate in the event held in his memory. In this letter, the Frierdiker Rebbe refers to Rabbi Baruch Ber with the title "my friend," and also describes his famous talks that he gave in the yeshiva, in which he awakened about ahavas haTorah and chibas hamitzvos. The Frierdiker Rebbe also included in that letter a sum of money to participate in the gathering expenses. | ||
= The Frierdiker Rebbe's Letters = | == The Frierdiker Rebbe's Letters == | ||
"B"H 3rd of Kislev 5702, Brooklyn. To the Organization of Rabbi Baruch Dov's Students, may Hashem be upon them! | "B"H 3rd of Kislev 5702, Brooklyn. To the Organization of Rabbi Baruch Dov's Students, may Hashem be upon them! | ||
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In 5704, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent another letter of bracha for the gathering, in which he emphasizes at the beginning of the letter immediately after his tremendous genius, that he was a "baal midos neimos" (person of pleasant character traits). In that letter, the Frierdiker Rebbe blesses them that they should merit to follow in the footsteps of his Torah and his "most elevated midos," and at the end of the letter he includes Rabbi Baruch Ber among the "geonei Yisroel and tzadikei yesodei olam" (the geniuses of Israel and the righteous foundational pillars of the world). | In 5704, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent another letter of bracha for the gathering, in which he emphasizes at the beginning of the letter immediately after his tremendous genius, that he was a "baal midos neimos" (person of pleasant character traits). In that letter, the Frierdiker Rebbe blesses them that they should merit to follow in the footsteps of his Torah and his "most elevated midos," and at the end of the letter he includes Rabbi Baruch Ber among the "geonei Yisroel and tzadikei yesodei olam" (the geniuses of Israel and the righteous foundational pillars of the world). | ||
=== | === second letter: === | ||
"B"H 3rd of Kislev 5704 Brooklyn. To the Organization of Students of Kamenitz Yeshiva, may Hashem be upon them, shalom and bracha! | "B"H 3rd of Kislev 5704 Brooklyn. To the Organization of Students of Kamenitz Yeshiva, may Hashem be upon them, shalom and bracha! | ||
In response to the invitation card to take part in remembering my friend the mighty Gaon, possessor of pleasant midos, his honored name of glory Moreinu HaRav Baruch Dober on his yahrzeit, I am participating with those who cherish his name and memory, and I bless them that Hashem's pleasantness should be upon them to walk in the footsteps of his Torah and the pleasantness of his most elevated midos, and his merit should protect them and all who cherish the geonei Yisroel and tzadikei yesodei olam, may their merit protect us." | In response to the invitation card to take part in remembering my friend the mighty Gaon, possessor of pleasant midos, his honored name of glory Moreinu HaRav Baruch Dober on his yahrzeit, I am participating with those who cherish his name and memory, and I bless them that Hashem's pleasantness should be upon them to walk in the footsteps of his Torah and the pleasantness of his most elevated midos, and his merit should protect them and all who cherish the geonei Yisroel and tzadikei yesodei olam, may their merit protect us." | ||
[[Category:Acharonim]] | |||
[[he:ברוך בער לייבוביץ']] | |||