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Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler - The Pulse Of The 20th Century Torah World
After
the Chazon Ish met Rav Dessler for the first time he said that if there
are any questions that need the word of Hashem, speak to Rav Dessler.
"He is the Urim V'Tumim of our generation."
Rav Dessler was born
in 1891 to family rich in Torah and Mussar. As a young boy he learned
in the famed Yeshiva of Kelm where he mastered the entire Shas by heart
by the age of 17. He also devoted a great deal of time to Sifrei
Chasidus. During this period, the leading Mekubal
of the generation, Rav Shlomo Elyashiv the Ba'al HaLeshem, wanted to
teach Rav Dessler kabala. However Rav Dessler avoided this opportunity
and regretted it for the rest of his life. At his core Rav Dessler was
a talmid of Kelm and was very close with the Mirrer Mashgiach Rav
Yeruchom Levovitz.
Rav Dessler was privileged to be well
connected with the Gedolei Hador, through his uncle Rav Chaim Ozer
Grodzinsky who was very fond of him. Rav Chaim Ozer would invite him
to join his meetings with the Chofetz Chaim and the Rav Chaim Brisker
as they would discuss important matters that pertained to the future
direction of Klal Yisroel. These meetings left an indelible mark on
Rav Dessler who was amazed by the degree of L'Shem Shamayim of every
measured word.
In 1920 Rav Dessler married the granddaughter of
the Alter of Kelm. After his marriage, Rav Chaim Ozer invited him to
join his Bais Din in Vilna. For unknown reasons he turned down the
offer. He then spent the next seven difficult years totally
unsettled. In 1927 he opened a new chapter in his life as he arrive in
London. He became a Rov a Shul and the Menahel of the Talmud Torah.
In
1941 he was hired to be Rosh Kollel of the newly formed Gateshead
Kollel. For the next four and a half years he divided his week between
Gateshead and London and the difficult journey that it entailed. It
was this period where his shmuesen gained acclaim and he became
recognized as one of the Gedolei Mussar of the generation.
In
1947 he started his second career when Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahanaman
brought him to the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak to become the
Mashgiach Ruchni after the petira of Rav Abba Grossbard. It was from
this pulpit that his words rang out to the entire Yeshiva world. His
talmidim, including Rav Chaim Friedlander and Rav Aryeh Karmel
published a the legendary multi-volume shmuesen of Rav Dessler called
Michtav MeiEliyahu.
Rav Dessler returned his pure and holy
neshama to the Yeshiva Shel Ma'ala on 25 Teves 5714/1953 but not before
leaving his unique mark on the conscience and hashkafa of the Torah
world. Yehi Zichro Boruch!
(Based on Kedoshim Asher Ba'aretz - Rav Dovid Rossof)
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