The Jewish Eye
Rav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg: The Sridei Aish - Not Singed By The Fire
Born in Poland, he came of age in Slabodka, was the leading German
posek and head of the Hildesheimer Rabbinic seminary, and got along
famously with the Minchas Elazar of Munkacs and the Gerer Rebbe. This
is the description of the great Rav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg whose life
crossed lines within the spectrum of orthodox Jewry as well as two
world wars.
Rav Yechiel Yaakov was born in Poland in 1878. As a child his great
head for torah was discovered by Rav Elya Boruch Kammai, the Rov of the
town where he lived. When Rav Elya Boruch was invited to become Rosh
Yeshiva of the Mir he took along the young Rav Yechiel Yaakov with
him. After a short period where he gained notoriety as an illuy, Rav
Yechiel Yaakov went to learn in Slabodka, the crown jewel of the
Yeshiva world after the closing of Volozhin by the Russian government.
He quickly became a star there as well and was the apple of the Alter
of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel's eye. When Rav Naftali Amsterdam,
one of the leading talmidim of Rav Yisroel Salanter, came to Slabodka,
Rav Yechiel Yaakov was given the honor to be his chavrusa for his
Motza'ei Shabbos study of Ketzos HaChoshen, a custom initiated by Rav
Yisroel Salanter. Rav Yechiel Yaakov also was privileged on a few
occasions to spend time with Rav Yisroel Salanter's close talmid, Rav
Itzele Blazer.
Rav Yechiel Yaakov eventually was sent back to the Mir by the Alter of
Slabodka to help lead mussar seder, and he learned b'chavrusa with the
Alter's son and Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Lazer Yudel. He became Rov in
Pilwishki and remained there for seven years. At the outbreak of World
War I he went to Germany where he studied at the University of Giessen
and earned his Doctorate. Armed with his incredible torah knowledge
from Lithuania and his PHD, he became the head of the Hildesheimer
Rabbinic Seminary in Berlin started by the great Rav Ezriel
Hildesheimer talmid of the Aruch LaNer.
Despite
the more liberal leanings of the German derech as instituted by Rav
Shamshon Refoel Hirsch, compared to eastern European Torah Jewry, Rav
Yechiel Yaakov maintained close ties with many of the gedolim form his
generation including the fiery Kana'i the Minchas Elazar who when
questioned about his respect for Rav Yechiel Yaakov said, Berlin is
Berlin and Munkacs is Munkacs. He halachic opinion was highly regarded
by the Chazon Ish and Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky held him in high
esteem. Rav Elchonon Wasserman once visited Berlin and gave a Shiur at
the seminary.
Before World War II, Rav Yechiel Yaakov became
terribly weak and feeble after an operation gone awry. Rav Yechiel
Yaakov managed to survive the war and moved to Montreux,
Switzerland where he had a Yeshiva and spent the last twenty years of
his life. His halachic opinion was sought from all over the world.
His Sefer of Tshuvos, Sridei Aish was reprinted with haskamos from Rav
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and ybcl"c Rav Elyashiv Shlit"a. He was Niftar
4 Shevat, 5726/1966. Yehi Zichro Boruch!
Back to top
Questions or Comments? Send an email to:
Copyright © The Jewish Eye 2001 - 2011 All Rights Reserved
