Reb Chatzkel Levenstein: The Unwavering Faith that Saved the Mir Yeshiva during WWII

Show Notes
Transcript

What if a renowned institution's survival hinged on one individual's unwavering faith and dedication? Journey with us as we travel back in time to explore the tumultuous period in Jewish history and the life of Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein, also known as Rabbi Chatzkel. Join us on this fascinating exploration of the iconic Torah giant who played a crucial role in the survival of the Mir Yeshiva during World War II. His mastery of the human psyche and ability to inspire thousands through his teachings on Yirat Shamayim (fear of Heaven) is truly awe-inspiring.

Listen as we delve into Rabbi Charzkel's incredible influence on his students and share captivating stories about his time in America and his commitment to charity, even in the most desperate circumstances. Discover how his powerful eulogies for Jewish martyrs, found in his sefer "Ohr Yachzkel" and the compilation "Mizrach Shemesh," have left a lasting impact on future generations. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the wisdom and insights of the great Mir Mashgiach, Reb Chatzkel Levenstein.

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Transcript

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I good vach to you, to your families, to be a week of hatzlach, of success, i ruchnius, i gashmius and all good things.

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And tonight let us journey back into a tumultuous time in Jewish history, And definitely for this.

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The great Mir Yashiva may not have made it through World War II without this iconic Torah giant, his name, rabbi Yecheskel Levonstein Levonstein, but perhaps you know of him as the great Rabbi Hatzl, a Talmud of Alomzha, a Talmud of Radin, a Talmud of Kaum, a Talmud of Rabbi Ruchim, described by the Chazoyn Ish as someone who has emunah in his hands, a great ball of faith, someone who lived on the bare necessities, somebody with an iconic speaker, educator, promoter and builder of Bahrim, and the proof is in his students, in his famous Talmudah.

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Interestingly enough, rabbi Hatzl actually made it to America and rumor has it he left when he saw pizza.

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He couldn't imagine that someone would go out of their way to do that much of bread and sauce and cheese to make something to only further have indulgence.

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But Rabbi Hatzl, rabbi Aaron Lopkinsky said over an amazing episode about him.

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You can imagine in this shoal a base Aaron in Shanghai, when the Bahrim, the 300 individuals, are destitute, they have no benefactors, there is no one to support the Yeshiva.

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They find an empty shoal and it's described that, interestingly enough, there was a big shoal, there's a mikvah in this shoal and they have nothing.

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There's no food and there's no water and everything is.

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You know, you gotta survive on literally the bare necessities.

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And still Rabbi Hatzl would go around every morning with a pushka in hand, shaking a collecting charity Give to Daka, give to Daka.

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The Bahrim had nothing, but still he would say, enable them to have some money to be able to give to Daka.

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And if there was, maybe only a penny, and it normally found its way back to the Bahrim.

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But Rabbi Hatzl would say, if you don't give to Daka and who knows how long we're going to be here your hand is going to get rusty.

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Amazing, your hand is going to get stale, your mindset and charity in to Daka will dampen, it will weaken.

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Amazing what the Musur masters and the insights that they have into the human body, the human psyche and how to build people.

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Rabbi Hatzl Levenstein was a ball of Yer Shemaim.

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He inspired thousands.

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He knew how the body works, the mind works.

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He could actually learn his Safarman, oriah Cheskel, and all the eulogies he gave for all of those Jewish martyrs while they were in Shanghai.

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You can find in Mizracha Shemesh, and that's a for Z'chusai Yogoin Aleini, the great Mirr Mashiqiach of Hatzl, levenstein's Reinal of Racha.

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