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From Chazon Ish to Rabbi Edelstein: These are the greatest of the ultra-Orthodox generation | Israel Hayom

2023-05-30T13:51:58.957Z

Highlights: Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, who died Tuesday at the age of 100, was the latest in a line of rabbis defined as "the greatest of the ultra-Orthodox Lithuanian generation" Rabbi Shtinman, who after the death of Rabbi Elyashiv led the Lithuanian public alone, asked to be buried without eulogies in a grave among ordinary people. Rabbi Shach was considered the most senior rabbi, although he led a protracted conflict with the Hasidim.


HaChazon Ish, who is considered one of the shapers of Haredi Judaism before and after the establishment of the State of Israel • The spiritual leader of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community, Rabbi Shach • Rabbi Shtinman, who after the death of Rabbi Elyashiv led the Lithuanian public alone and asked to be buried without eulogies in a grave among ordinary people • Who will continue them and be the greatest of the next generation? That's the big question mark


Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, who died Tuesday at the age of 100, was the latest in a line of rabbis defined as "the greatest of the ultra-Orthodox Lithuanian generation." These are leaders of the ultra-Orthodox public, all of whom came from the Lithuanian public, but also influenced the various Hasidic communities and the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox public.

To a certain extent, Rabbi Edelstein's passing marks the end of the generation of Nephilim in the ultra-Orthodox public, which began with the establishment of the State of Israel, through rabbis such as Rabbi Shach, and until today. In the coming days, it will be known who will lead the haredi public in the future, but there is no doubt that this is the end of an era.

Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, Photo: Shuki Lehrer

Until the establishment of the State of Israel, there was not a single person who was considered the greatest of the generation, except for very well-known rabbis such as the Gra or the Chofetz Chaim, but when it was established, the ultra-Orthodox public needed a leader to represent it. Over the years, the position has been filled officially and unofficially by a number of rabbis, most recently Rabbi Edelstein.

Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (1953-1878) is considered one of the shapers of Haredi Judaism before and after the establishment of the State of Israel. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1933 and after spending time in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem moved to the Bnei Brak colony, which became, among other things, thanks to him, one of the most significant strongholds of the ultra-Orthodox world. Before and after the establishment of the State of Israel, he strongly opposed it, but did support Agudat Israel's participation in the Knesset elections. In 1952, a year before his death, he met with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, in which he raised the parable of the full and empty wagon, in which he argued that the secular should give way to the religious.

HaChazon Ish Avraham Yeshayahu Karlitz,

Rabbi Yaakov Israel Kanievsky (1985-1899): nicknamed the Stifler. He is considered the spiritual leader of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community at the same time as Rabbi Shach. He was considered a relatively tough and meticulous rabbi in matters of morality. He was the brother-in-law of Hazon Ish and his son was Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky. Most of his time was devoted to study and public reception, rather than public affairs, but at the same time he led among other things to the establishment of the Flag of the Torah by declaring that he would vote for Shas in 1984 and not for the Poalei Agudat Yisrael party.

Rabbi Eliezer Menachem Shach (1899-2001): Led the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community for some thirty years, served as Rosh Yeshiva of Panevezys and President of the Council of Torah Gedolim of Agudat Yisrael and Degel HaTorah. Born in Lithuania, he immigrated to Israel in 1941 on an immigration visa. In 1952 he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva of Panevezys. From the 70s until his death, he was the de facto leader of the world of Lithuanian yeshivas. Unlike the greatest of the later generation, although he was considered the most senior rabbi, he nevertheless led a protracted conflict with the Hasidim and against Shas. Rabbi Shach is best known for his rabbit and pig speech, in which he strongly attacked the left for severing ties with Jewish tradition. Among other things, he led a strong protest against the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox Jews into the IDF.

Rabbi Shach zt"l in Tel Aviv,

Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (1910-2012): Born in Lithuania and immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1924. His family settled in the Mea Shearim neighborhood. He married the daughter of Rabbi Aryeh Levin, with the encouragement of Rabbi Kook. With the establishment of the State of Israel, he served briefly as the rabbi of Ramle, and later served as a judge in the Rabbinical Court in Jerusalem and as a judge in the Great Rabbinical Court. He resigned after the brother and sister verdict caused an uproar. After Rabbi Shach's passing, he led the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community. He died at the age of 102, and his funeral was attended by more than a quarter of a million people.

Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv,

Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shtinman (2017-1914): Grew up in Brest and studied in Lithuanian yeshivas between the two world wars. In 1945 he immigrated to Eretz Israel and lived first in Petah Tikva and then in Kfar Saba. With the establishment of Degel HaTorah's Council of Torah Gedolim he joined it and his influence expanded. Upon Rabbi Shach's passing, he stood alongside Rabbi Elyashiv in leading the Lithuanian public, and after Rabbi Elyashiv's death he led the public alone. He is considered an influential person even outside the Lithuanian public. After he died at the age of 103, at his request he was buried without eulogies in a grave among ordinary people who would purchase the cheapest tombstone for him.

Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shtinman, photo: Moishimi, from Wikipedia

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (2022-1928): Born in Pinsk, Poland, he immigrated with his family to Eretz Israel in 1934. For many years he studied and taught and wrote several books. He is considered a prodigy and a person worthy of blessing from him, even though this is not at all accepted by the Lithuanian public. After Rabbi Shtinman's death, he was defined as the greatest of the Haredi generation alongside Rabbi Edelstein. Unusually, he was considered the leader of the entire ultra-Orthodox public, not just the Lithuanian public, and there were even Hasidic mannerisms in his behavior. Thus, his name was used for donations in exchange for a blessing and was told about miracles that occurred after receiving a blessing from him. He passed away at his home in 2022. His funeral was considered one of the largest funerals in the history of the State of Israel, attended by hundreds of thousands of people.

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, z"l, photo: Yossi Zeliger

Rabbi Gershon Edelstein (2023-1923): Born in the town of Shumiac in western Russia, near the border with Belarus, to a well-known rabbinical dynasty, with his father serving as the city's rabbi. During the first years of his life in the Soviet Union, he secretly studied Torah. In 1934 he immigrated to Eretz Israel and lived in Ramat Hasharon and then in Bnei Brak. In 2000 he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva of Panivizz, one of its first students. He was also very influential in political matters, as a member of the Council of Torah Gedolim of the Degel HaTorah party. He is also considered an influential rabbi among the ultra-Orthodox and Sephardic publics.

Rabbi Edelstein (Archive), Photo: Shlomi Cohen

Who is the next generation great? That's the big question mark. The significant names on the agenda are Rabbi Dov Lando or Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshiva Slobodka or Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshiva Ateret Mordechai and Elder, members of Degel HaTorah's Council of Gedolei Torah. According to estimates, at first there will be no one generation but several who will lead together, which has happened several times in the past, but it is very possible that one of the rabbis will stand out significantly from the others and become the greatest of the Haredi-Lithuanian generation.

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Source: israelhayom

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