Chabadpedia

Peretz Mochkin

R' Peretz Mochkin served as a mashpia (spiritual mentor) for the Chabad community in Montreal.

Reb Peretz Behind The Rebbe

Life History edit

Chassidic Childhood edit

R' Peretz Mochkin was born in 5654 (1894) in the town of Nevel to his father, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Mochkin.

Already by his bar mitzvah age, he had developed a Chassidic sensitivity of rejection toward "permitted desires." At age 15 (in 5669/1909), he went to study at "Tomchei Tmimim" in Lubavitch. Due to his young age, R' Peretz initially studied at the yeshiva branch in Shchedrin, under the guidance of the renowned mashpia R' Shaul Dov Zislin. However, thanks to his innate Chassidic qualities, combined with his excellent talents and refined senses, R' Peretz did not require lengthy preparation: he was immediately drawn into the wellsprings of Torah and Chassidus that were opened before him at "Tomchei Tmimim."

During the "seven years of plenty" in which R' Peretz studied at Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch, he drew from the wellsprings of Chassidus in full "tubs," and indeed, R' Peretz had very broad and strong vessels to receive and receive without losing a drop. During his years in yeshiva, R' Peretz was not satisfied with "merely" exerting himself in the study of Chassidus and lengthy prayer. In secret, he also practiced various forms of "mortification" regarding eating and sleeping.

 
Reb peretz in His Youth

In his final year studying at "Tomchei Tmimim," R' Peretz was sent by the administration to the yeshiva branch in the city of Romen, where the Chassid and mashpia "R' Itche der Matmid" resided during that period. While staying in Romen, R' Peretz lived with R' Yitzchak Matmid and became acquainted with his wondrous personality.

His Marriage edit

R' Peretz remained at "Tomchei Tmimim" until his marriage (in 5676/1916) to Mrs. Henya Chasha Hablin, daughter of the Chassidic shochet in the town of Semyonovka, R' Nachman Hablin, who was a cousin of the famous mashpia R' Zalman Hablin. After his marriage, R' Peretz lived in Semyonovka, the town where his father-in-law resided. The family's livelihood fell on his wife's shoulders, while he continued to engage in prayer and study. Nevertheless, his main occupation was the "spiritual livelihood" of the town's Jews—a purpose for which he even learned the craft of shechita (ritual slaughter).

R' Peretz lived with his family in Semyonovka for about eight or nine years, until 5685 (1925). There, four children were born to him.

The Simferopol Period edit

In 5685 (1925), R' Peretz moved with his family to the city of Simferopol, the central city in the Crimean Peninsula. During those years, many Jews settled in colonies around the city, and the Rebbe Rayatz sent R' Peretz to this region to maintain and revive the observance of Torah and mitzvos in the entire area. Officially, he took on the role of the town's shochet, but in practice, he had tremendous work strengthening the Judaism of the city's residents.

 
Reb Peretz

In 5687 (1927), R' Peretz fell seriously ill; he contracted a complicated form of "typhoid fever" (typhus). The illness lasted a long time, and during moments of crisis, his condition was critical. For many months, he lay in his sickbed, and for a period, he was even forced to be hospitalized in Simferopol. At times, it seemed he would not survive the illness.

During one of those critical moments, before being taken to the hospital, R' Peretz felt his strength fading, Heaven forbid, and he began to say farewell to his family members. R' Peretz uttered his parting words in a very weak voice—but what powerful words they were! They contained words of blessing and encouragement for the family, and a request and demand that they be wholesome Jews and true Chassidim. After finishing his words to his family, as weak as he was and as difficult as it was for him to utter a word, R' Peretz recited the "Viduy" (confession) from beginning to end. But even this was not enough for him: he continued and recited the text of the Thirteen "Ani Maamin" (principles of faith)... and afterward, he elaborated and strengthened the principles with "Ani Maamin" in all the Chabad Rebbes, detailing their names one after another. Eventually, R' Peretz managed to overcome his illness and recovered.

 
The book 'Eleh Toldot Peretz' (These are the Chronicles of Peretz), 5775 (2015)

During R' Peretz's remarkable mission in Simferopol, he succeeded in bringing about three or four minyanim (groups of ten men) closer to Chabad.

Moving to Leningrad edit

During the fifth year of his mission in Simferopol, the position of city rabbi became vacant. One of the candidates for the position was a rabbi from Ukraine whose surname was Berger, a successful preacher and captivating speaker—but a bitter and fierce opponent. Such a person, R' Peretz understood, could be a serious stumbling block to the dissemination of Torah and Chassidus. R' Peretz therefore openly opposed his candidacy, and as was his habit, he did so in a loud and clear voice, without hiding or concealing himself. The flames of controversy erupted in full force, and unfortunately, the side supporting Rabbi Berger prevailed. Things reached such a point that one "enlightened" intellectual published in the newspaper "Stary Krim" that "Mochkin, a student of Schneersohn, attacked the rabbi (Berger) with insolent and insulting words."

When Berger was appointed as rabbi in Simferopol, a situation arose where R' Peretz could not remain there. Additionally, the slaughterhouse where R' Peretz served as a shochet was closed during that period. From all sides, there was no choice left, and at the beginning of 5691 (1931), R' Peretz relocated from Simferopol to Leningrad.

During World War II, R' Peretz and his family moved to Tashkent. There, he provided help and assistance to the war refugees who settled there.

During this period behind the Iron Curtain, his underground codename among the Chassidim was 'Achizerach.'

Outside Russia edit

In the 'Russian Exodus of 5706 (1946),' he smuggled across the border from Russia to Poland with two of his sons, and after wanderings, arrived at the Pocking displaced persons camp, from where he traveled to France.

In 5712 (1952), he received instructions from the Rebbe to become a mashpia for Anash (Chassidim) in Montreal, Canada.

For thirty years, he served as the mashpia of the Chabad community in Montreal.

In the final period of his life, he moved to Crown Heights, where he passed away on 21 Teves 5742 (1982).

Eleh Toldot Peretz edit

The series Eleh Toldot Peretz which documents the life story of Rabbi Mochkin began with the direct instruction from the Rebbe to Rabbi Yehoshua Dubrawsky - through the Rebbe's secretary Rabbi Chodakov, to write the life history of Rabbi Peretz Mochkin, since writing his life story would be "good for the soul and good for the community, and whoever does so sooner is praiseworthy."

Due to various reasons, Rabbi Dubrawsky only began writing the series in 5763 (2003). Rabbi Asaf Chanoch Frumer translated it from Yiddish to Lashon Hakodesh (Hebrew) and published it in installments in the Beis Moshiach weekly magazine.

Due to Rabbi Dubrawsky's illness in 5768 (2008), the writing of the series was interrupted, and in 5775 (2015) its writing was completed by other Chabad writers, re-edited, and printed as a thick volume published by Kehot Publication Society of Kfar Chabad.

His Family edit

See Also edit

Further Reading edit

  • Yehoshua Dubrawsky, Series on the life of R' Peretz Mochkin in Beis Moshiach weekly. Reprinted in the book Eleh Toldot Peretz.
  • Yosef Ashkenazi, Otzar HaChassidim - The personalities and Chassidic teachings of Chabad Mashpi'im throughout the world, published by Chazak, 5774 (2014)
  • Zalman Ruderman, Book Chassidim Anshei Maaseh (Chassidim, Men of Deed), pp. 157-166.
  • Toldot Chabad in Petersburg - Chapter 23

External Links edit

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