Volozhin and a taste of Litvishe Yeshiva History

B"H

Wołożyn Voloshin. Little town in Belarus, pre war in Poland. There was located famous yeshiva - (Talmudic seminary), founded in the early 19th century by Rabbi Chaim Volozhin. I just found on Bialystok jewish cemetery grave of Mariashe, wife of the Genius Gaon Reb Nachman Zerach Simchowicz and daughter of HaRav Moshe Fridland Frydland a biblical scholar from the Volozhin Yeshiva.... Interesting coincidence between Bialystok and Wolozhin...

Today we all know Litvishe Yeshiva / Kollel students mainly as "Black Hats". Black suits, black hats (Borsolino) and white shirts. The history of the Litvishe clothing and their Yeshivot, however, was very different from today. Especially until before the Second World War, the Litvishe wore normal hats or even straw hats in the summer. Not everyone wore a black suit and a white shirt but the clothing style represented a regular life style. 

Some time ago, I read the biography of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, who told that in his Yeshiva days, students had to look and pay for their own accomodation. Yeshivot did neither provide dorms nor food and one was lucky to find a cheap room to rent somewhere nearby. Many Yeshiva students had to take part - time jobs in order to make a living and be able to buy food. Others were starving, as times where tough.

Today, studying at any Yeshiva is very comfortable. Dorms and food are being provided and there are books for everybody. Let alone computers and surfing the Internet.

Hebrew Book Recommendations

B"H

I would like to recommend some books I recently purchased. They are written in Hebrew but many of you may know the language well enough. 

The first book comes from the famous Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach (passed away in 2001). In his book, Rabbi Shach refers to the Ba'alei Teshuva and their efforts as well as difficulties to return to G - d. In the course of time, I am going to publish different ideas from the book. Especially how Ba'alei Teshuva should deal with their former environment and how to overcome the Yetzer Ha'Rah.

The second book I would like to recommend:

The history and generations of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin as well as of his Yeshiva.

And the third book:

Soon we are going to enter the "Bejn HaMetzarim" and I am going to publish some Midrashim and further comments from this book. It includes a great collection from all kinds of sources on the three weeks.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz on the Brisker Rav

Photo: Shtetl Links

B"H

Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz (see photo) speaking to his students of the Knesset Beit Yitzchak Yeshiva in Kamenetz:

"Do you know why the Brisker Rav (Rabbi Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik), 1886 - 1959, has merited such greatness in Torah ? Every child in cheder (Torah institute for small children) knows that almost all Torah that exists in our times has its source in the forerunner of the modern - day yeshiva of Volozhin (in Lithuania). Every Torah center today owes its existence either directly or indirectly to it. This merit is due completely to the founder of the yeshiva, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin.
Now, Rabbi Chaim asked of the Holy One, Blessed be He, that this merit stand in good stead for him, that his children and descendants should be extraordinary talmidei chachamim (wise students) and merit the crown of Torah. And the Holy One, Blessed be He, decided that indeed he deserved such a reward".

_________________________

Source:

"The Brisker Rav" 

by Rabbi Shimon Yosef Meller

Volume One 

The VOLOZHIN Yeshiva in the Past and in our Days

The famous Volozhin Yeshiva founded by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin in 1803. Rabbi Chaim was the most famous student of the Vilna Gaon and a grandfather of the later Soloveitchik family.

The Volozhin Yeshiva in 1998

Photo: JewishGen

Eastern European Interests

B"H

Despite that I was born in Germany, I have always been interested in Judaism taking place in Eastern Europe and not necessarily in Germany. When I read about the Holocaust or collect information on Rabbis and communities, it will mostly be Eastern Europe. I actually do have roots there, as my mother came from Poland.

I have been trying to give a wide overview on haredi society, Jewish history, (some) science and plenty of Chassidut in this blog but I cannot deny that many things haven't even been mentioned. This happened due to lack of time, as I have only two hands and need to work and sleep sometimes.

I want to try fixing certain lacks of information by putting a few short teachings or descriptions about further Rabbis / haredi directions into the blog. I am actually a little ashamed that I have never really mentioned the Chatam Sofer, the Soloveitchik Rabbis (including the Brisker movement), Rabbi Aryeh Levin, the Kook Rabbis as well as Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, the Abarbanel, Rabbi Elchanan Wassermann, the "Netziv" (Rabbi Berlin), Rabbi Zadok HaCohen of Lublin or Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin. And those are only a few names on my list. Despite my chassidic preferences, I very much appreciate the teachings of the Litvishe (famous student of the Vilna Gaon), Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin.

We have a Brisker Synagogue in Jerusalem and I haven't even made it there once. Not yet. However, I am starting to put some information about different teachings into the blog and I will see whether I can put everything together as a whole.