[Pages 422-423]

My town, situated between Brody and Radekhov near Łopatyn, despite being small in population, loomed large in its praiseworthy name. This was an old community with several generations of great and famous rabbis, as well as householders, scholars and hose who feared Heaven, merchants and tradesmen who benefited from the labor of their hands and set times to study Torah. In this manner, Jewish life had been conducted quietly and calmly for centuries. However, for economic reasons in the latter years, a dearth of livelihood, and the daily deterioration of the situation, they began to leave the town and move to larger cities. Thus the community became smaller and by the end of the First World War in 1918, there were already fewer than 100 Jewish families there.

I indeed recall that it had three splendid synagogues: the kloiz where the Husiatyn Chassidim worshipped, the beit midrash where the Belz Chassidim worshiped, and the Great Synagogue (the shil), the center for the regular householders. This shil was famous throughout the entire region. It was very old. It was built of wood, and was several hundred years old. Its foundations were strengthened and reinforced several times from the outside only and not from the inside, so as not to ruin the artistic drawings that were around on all the walls. The ceiling was arched in a wonderful manner. The holy ark, forged and etched in wood, was a wonderful work of craftsmanship. It attracted many people from other towns who came from afar to see and stand in wonder at this artistic masterpiece.

Even gentile artisans, including senior officers, would come, especially during the First World War and often in the middle of the day, asking permission for the synagogue to be opened for them so that they could see with their own eyes what had been told to them. I recall how these gentiles stood for hours in the synagogue discussing this ancient art, and how impressed they were, saying that – even in large cities they did not see artistry like this.

Also etched in my memory is how in 1914, when the Russians entered our city and wanted to burn the shil, all the gentile neighbors, who were Ukrainians and spoke Russian, began to protest and shout that this holy sanctuary had protected them for hundreds of years and saved them from fires. They did not allow them to damage the shil.

Interestingly, this Great Synagogue was outside the city center in a neighborhood inhabited solely by gentiles. This was because the city was once larger and the Jewish quarter extended to the neighborhood where the synagogue is located. It is understood that the synagogue was not originally built on gentile streets, but rather that Jews had left the city and the gentiles had taken their place. The Jews continued their traditional lives in this manner in the midst of a large majority of gentiles quietly and peacefully until Hitler may his name be blotted out, came and destroyed everything.

What remains? And who remains? Only a very small number of survivors, individuals who were literally saved miraculously from the conflagration. As is known to me, the Shpilka and Mandel families managed to escape the Holocaust, and are today in Israel. Mr. Elazar the son of Menashe Lercher also survived the hell, and, as is told lives today in America. There may be a few other individuals who managed to survive and are scattered across the earth – not knowing of one another. However, the town in general, and the lives of the Jews in particular, were destroyed completely and have passed from the world – along with the rest of the holy communities which were annihilated in sanctification of the Divine Name.

It is especially worthwhile noting that the origin of the famous family of great rabbis, the Laszczower family stems from the small town of Stanisławczyk. I had seen recently in a piece by Dr. N. M. Gelber in the book “Large Cities in Israel” ^[1] edited by Rabbi Y. L. HaKohen Maimon, Volume VI (Brody, page 101) that, among others, the name of Rabbi Yehoshua Klausner is mentioned as having studied in Brody and having come from Łaszczów. He also tells how he was suddenly revealed to be a genius and a tzaddik, and how they later accepted him as the rabbi of Brody. The aforementioned Rabbi Yehoshua was the first Rabbi Laszczower. Not only was he great in Torah and fear of Heaven, but when the anti–Semitic bishop [Franciszek Kobielski] from the Catholic church forced the communities to gather in the Great Synagogue of Brody to hear, against their will, the sermons of the priests regarding Jesus, Rabbi Yehoshua Laszczower was one of two rabbis chosen to participate in the ensuing debate with them.^[2] The Jews would either have to prove that the Christian belief was false or convert to Christianity. The bishop left the synagogue in grief and distraught after the clear and logical responses given by this rabbi on every matter, with clear evidence from the Torah that could not be retorted.

Torah remained in the family with the elderly rabbi of Stanisławczyk. The rabbi and Tzadik Rabbi Mordechai Leib Laszczower had five children, four of whom became great rabbis: the eldest, Rabbi Mendel, the head of the rabbinical court of Łopatyn; the second, Rabbi Shalom Shachna, the head of the rabbinical court of Maciejów and the author of the book Mishmeret Shalom on Yoreh Deah and other books; the third, Rabbi Moshe, who took the place of his father in that city; the fourth, the scholar Rabbi Yitzchak; and the fifth, Rabbi Baruch, the head of the rabbinical court of Stanisławczyk.

The aforementioned Rabbi Moshe had three sons: the eldest Matityahu Chaim, who survived and is now in Uruguay; the second, Rabbi Yosef, the son–in–law of the Mishmeret Shalom who perished in sanctification of the Divine Name with his wife and children during the Holocaust; the third, may he live, is the writer of these lines – Aharon Laszczower, who was the final rabbi of that town and was saved from the Holocaust through the help of G–d. He went to Uruguay, where he became the chief rabbi of that community, and has now made aliyah, as is written: there will be refuge on Mount Zion, and it will be holy.

Translator's Footnotes:

1. In this instance, Israel means the Jewish world and not the country or area of Israel. Return
2. The disputation took place in Brody in 1743. Return

[Page 424]

Rabbi Reb Aharon Laszczower, rabbi of Bnei Brak

His parents lived near Brody in the town of Stanislavtchik [Stanislavchyk] when he was born. In his youth, it was discovered that he had excellent skills for Torah study. He rose steadily, and from the age of 13 onward studied at the yeshiva of Rabbi Gaon Menachem Mendel Steinberg, of blessed memory, author of the book “Machazeh Avraham” on the four sections of the “Shulchan Aruch.” At the age of 18, he received rabbinic ordination from the above-mentioned rabbi as well as other prominent rabbis.

At the age of 20, he succeeded his father as rabbi in his hometown, serving in that role for ten years. He ultimately escaped the horrors of the Holocaust, finding refuge in Uruguay.

In Uruguay, he demonstrated tireless dedication: founding a yeshiva and teaching Torah to the broader community. Many of his students later attended renowned yeshivot, with most ultimately immigrating to Eretz Israel. He first served as rabbi of a local congregation before becoming chief rabbi of Montevideo. Through his commitment and perseverance, he assumed responsibility for the city's religious affairs. Renowned for his mastery of the Talmud and halakhic Poskim, he guided the community with his rulings on complex legal matters. He maintained close ties with both the Chief Rabbinate of Eretz Israel and of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. In 5731 (1971), he fulfilled his dream of making Aliyah to Eretz Israel, where he was welcomed and appointed head of the rabbinate bureau of the Religious Council in Bnei Brak.

Gifted with exceptional qualities, he possessed a profound love for others and distinguished himself in both public and private spheres.

[Page 425]

His home abroad served as a meeting place for rabbis, public figures, and leaders, offering a welcome environment for the public centered on Torah. Deeply imbued in heart and soul with a love for Zion and its ideals, he worked extensively for public institutions and for the building of the homeland, until he was honored to make aliyah and fulfill his lifelong dream.

In his role as head of the rabbinate bureau in Bnei Brak, he showed outstanding dedication to rabbinic and communal affairs, and his death is a profound loss to the city and the entire settlement.

“Rider of the Clouds [God] is joyful when a pure and righteous soul comes to him” (Moed Katan 25:2).

When Rabbi Zira [who was born in Babylon and later made aliyah to Eretz Israel, settling in Tiberias] passed away, the eulogizer opened his eulogy with the phrase: “A land that Babylon conceived and bore, a land of grace [the Eretz Israel] nurtured its delights. 'Woe to me,' said the city of Tiberias, for my precious vessel is lost!” The same words fit the rabbi of Bnei Brak – Rabbi Aharon Laszczower.

I knew the rabbi well from his time in Uruguay, and later when he grew and rose to prominence in Eretz Israel. I visited Uruguay several times on matters related to aliyah and the [HaMizrachi] movement, and I saw before me a man of pure understanding – one of the wonderful products of Torah Judaism and Chassidism in Galicia.

Even though he resided in Uruguay for many years, he remained a typical Galician rabbi, distinguished in Torah and wisdom, persevering in his studies without pause, and always eager to assist in matters of mitzvah and charity. He never placed himself above others but was a true companion to all – a man who connected deeply with people in their distress, problems, and worries. His home was always open, welcoming everyone without exception, whether they sought help, asked a question, or sought advice or guidance. His house was a typical Galician rabbi's home. In it, you did not feel any trace at all of the New World in South America. In his home and at his table, you would have thought you were still in Eastern Europe – in Poland or in Galicia – crowned with Torah and tradition.

[Page 426]

There was no stain upon his garment. He was wholly a man of noble character, pure without and within – entirely “of one single piece of pure gold” [Exodus 25:36].

Rabbi Laszczower was not only pure of mind but righteous in all his ways and charitable in all his deeds. His love for Israel burned in him constantly, and he was altogether a warm-hearted Jew who always received you with a shining countenance, with joy and boundless happiness, and was ready to go above and beyond his ability and limits for you. His inner being was filled with love – for the Holy One, blessed be He, for the Torah, for the people of Israel, for each and every Jew, and for Eretz Israel.

He was a man of religious Zionism, a man of “HaMizrachi”, from his youth until his passing. I listened to many of his sermons in Uruguay and conversed with him many times. I knew that I was before a man for whom Eretz Israel was at the very center of his thoughts, ever before his eyes, never leaving his consciousness even for a single moment.

I am certain that in the World Above, there was no need to ask him, “Did you await salvation?” for the anticipation of redemption was for him a first principle, as natural as air is to breathing and bread is to hunger. Our Sages say, “And of Zion it shall be said: each and every man was born in her – the one who was born there, and the one who longs to behold her.” He was among those who, throughout their lives, longed to see Eretz Israel and live in it.

I know how much suffering this man endured before he was able to immigrate with his family to Israel. There were certain circumstances that blocked his path to aliyah but he fought like a lion for years until he overcame these obstacles, broke through the barriers, and was able to immigrate to Israel – the lifelong desire of his soul.

The writer of these lines is not capable of assessing his greatness in Torah, but I do know that every great Torah scholar who happened to be in his company was deeply impressed by his mastery of all the chambers of Torah, in Halacha and in Aggadah.

He was also a devoted supporter of Torah, and from afar, many institutions in Eretz Israel benefited from his assistance, including “Otzar HaPoskim” and others. He acted again and again for every cause that bore the name of Eretz Israel and was stamped with the seal of the Torah of Israel.

As a Chassid of the Ruzhin Chassidic dynasty, he was endowed with noble traits of character, and he saw no sin or blemish in any Jew, in the sense of “He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor seen perverseness in Israel” [Numbers 23:21]. He saw the virtues of his fellow men and not their faults, and never did one hear from his lips a single ill word about those who despised him or quarreled with him. He accepted everything with love, for he was a man of love.

The late Rabbi Aharon Laszczower of blessed memory was privileged to ascend to Israel, to serve as the rabbi of the city of splendor – Bnei Brak; to sit in judgment there, to disseminate Torah, to radiate his noble personality, and through him, the Name of Heaven was beloved.

[Page 427]

He departed this world as a completely righteous man, dying with a kiss, after speaking words of Torah at the gathering of the third Sabbath meal. At the hour of ra'ava de-ra'avin [Mincha Prayer], as he concluded the grace after meals with fervor, reaching the words, “Blessed are You, O Lord, who in His mercy builds Jerusalem, Amen,” he felt unwell, and his soul departed.

The participants in the third meal, who regularly came to listen to him – especially to his Torah teachings and sayings – recounted his Chassidic enthusiasm, which was especially evident in that last meal when he explained the meaning of the verse: “The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, shielding the cover with their wings. They shall confront each other…” – in brotherly love for one other [Exodus 25:20].

He was a scholar of exceptional stature, keen-minded, thoroughly learned, and endowed with a remarkable memory. While living in Uruguay, he maintained correspondence in Torah discourse and responsa with the leading sages of the generation: Rabbi Isaac Herzog, Rabbi Ben-Zion Uziel, Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank, the gaon Rabbi Aharon Kotler of blessed memory, and – may he be granted long life – Rabbi Shlomo Goren.

Throughout his years in the diaspora, he dreamed, toiled, and worked tirelessly for Eretz Israel until he fulfilled his life's ambition. Approximately two years ago, he was elected head of the rabbinate bureau of the religious council of Bnei Brak. He distinguished himself as an experienced rabbi, addressing every issue brought before him with care and meticulous attention.

On the eve of Shabbat, just a day before his sudden passing, we gathered for an extended session with him and the neighborhood rabbis to discuss pressing matters concerning the rabbinate. At midday, we paused the meeting and agreed to resume after the Sabbath. Yet, he chose to remain in the office, continuing his conversation with the rabbis, determined to press on and reach a resolution. In hindsight, it seemed as though he unknowingly foreshadowed what was to come. Just a day earlier, one of the gabbais from the synagogue where the rabbi prayed visited our office. He spoke with enthusiasm and deep admiration for the rabbi's lesson on the laws of Torah from the Rambam. He also praised the clarity of the rabbi's lecture and the inspiring words he shared at the third Sabbath meal, where dozens stood in a crowd around the table, eagerly absorbing his teachings.

A week earlier, I spoke with Israel's Chief Rabbi, Gershon Shlomo Goren, and expressed to him

[Page 428]

our deep gratitude for the privilege of welcoming the late rabbi as head of the Rabbinate Office, thanks to the Chief Rabbi's suggestion and recommendation.

He embodied the virtues extolled by our sages of blessed memory. An extraordinary scholar, he was deeply versed in every chamber of Torah, and his erudition left all who encountered him in awe. When consulted with a question or halachic negotiation, he could instantly recall the precise chapter, page, and line in the Rambam, the “Arba'ah Turim” [by Yaakov ben Asher], the “Tosefta” [a compilation of Jewish Oral Law from the late second century], the Babylonian or Jerusalem Talmud, or the works of the Rishonim and Acharonim. Renowned Torah authorities referred to him as a “walking halachic encyclopedia.”

He was pleasant to all, gracious in speech, and welcomed every person with a warm and kindly disposition. True to his name, Aharon, he was a lover of peace and a pursuer of peace. He loved all people and drew them close to Torah, and people, in turn, loved him, admired him, and honored him.

On the Shabbat eve before his death, in a friendly conversation before the meeting, we asked him why he had not arranged and edited his writings, halacha responsa, and Torah commentaries. He replied humorously that the time will come for that… But sadly, he did not live to see it, and neither did we.

In Midrash Kohelet it is said: “If one performs a mitzvah close to the time of his death, it is as though nothing was lacking in the measure of his righteousness, save that mitzvah – and it completes it.” Rabbi Aharon Laszczower lived his life as a righteous man and departed this world as a righteous man, in the midst of a day of mitzvah.

May his memory be blessed and sanctified, as one of the great rabbis, among the surviving remnants of the old generation, who are steadily diminishing – and woe to us, for there are none to replace them.

Reb Moshe Leib Bodek and his wife Rachel of Shtervitz

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