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29 Adar 5759 - March 17, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Bill for Grave of Reb Yisroel Salanter Found

by S. Yisraeli

The extensive efforts to renovate the ancient cemetery in Kaliningrad (Koenigsberg) and to locate the grave of Reb Yisroel Salanter, have received significant impetus this past month, due to the discovery of an ancient document, the original bill for the grave in which Reb Yisroel is buried. This bill is obviously crucial for the continuation of the search.

This column, which has reported on the intensive activity taking place since the issue first appeared on world Jewry's agenda, has already described the many difficulties facing the heads of the action Committee.

After the precise borders of the ancient cemetery were found, the historical testimonies regarding the location of Reb Yisroel's grave were examined, but were found to be too general and vague: "a plot near the entrance," "a plot near empty plots which have not been sold," etc.

Reb Gedaliah Olstein, a descendent of Reb Yisroel, who involved himself with great exuberance, approached former residents of Koenigsberg, in an attempt to obtain documents or pictures, but his efforts were of no avail.

The entire city, especially its Jewish quarter, was destroyed by bombardments during World War II. When the government changed hands, the Communist regime decided to effect a "transfer" which involved a sweeping expulsion of all German residents and the liquidation of all of the archives which contained historical material about ancient Koenisgberg.

On his last visit to Kalilingrad two months ago, Reb Gedsliah invited the head of the local Jewish community, Mr. Avigdor (Victor) Shapira to visit him in Eretz Yisroel and to savor an authentic Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh, among Torah-observant Jews.

Mr. Shapira accepted the invitation, and arrived during the very week of Reb Yisroel's yahrzeit. While in Eretz Yisroel, he decided to attempt to research the ancient Jewish community of Koenigsberg. hoping to find material on the history of the city, he approached the archives of the Jewish History Department of the Hebrew University. Not even imagining the scope of the tremendous treasure he would in the end find.

When he reached the archive, he was surprised to learn that the librarians were currently arranging material on the Jewish community of Koenisgberg.

On the table were files which included thousands of documents. He began to sort them, and discovered documents pertaining to the cemetery. The documents were written in German, in the old Gothic Script, which is difficult for one not proficient in classical languages to decipher. He summoned Rav Gedaliah Olstein, and together the two managed to locate accurate maps marking the blocs and plots in the cemetery. Their most important discovery was the bill for Reb Yisroel's grave.

The two hastened to convey the good news to Rav Shlomo Wolbe who had headed the delegation of mashgichim and rabbonim to kalilingrad last year. HaRav Wolbe read the bill excitedly, deciphered the old German script, and translated all of the documents.

The burial certificate is dated the 4th of February 1833, and refers to the levaya of Rabiner Yisroel Lipkin whose grave was dug in Bloc 4, row 21, plot 1.

The startling revelation instilled the activists with renewed energy. Those involved in the sacred labor recalled the chizuk of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel, the mashgiach of Lakewood, who had headed the delegation, and who had urged them to continue despite the difficulties and the obstacles. His firm belief that the difficulties attested to the magnitude of the issue, and that those who grope in the darkness will eventually see great light, still echoed in their ears and continued to encourage them.

HaRav Yosef Tzvi Dunner, the ravad of London, was the last rav of Koenigsburg and has been deeply involved in all the efforts.

They also pin their recent siyato d'Shmaya on the merit of the spiritual transformation the Jewish community of Kalilingrad is currently undergoing.

The rav who was sent to the city founded a permanent minyan and the head of the community, Mr. Victor Shapiro, has begun to send youngsters to yeshivos in Moscow, were they are succeeding in their studies.

In this manner, the vision of Reb Yisroel Salanter, who arrived in Kaliningrad 120 years ago in order to strengthen its Jewish community, is beginning to materialize.

Now, that all of the important documents have been discovered, it is possible to set about locating and renovating Reb Yisroel's grave, if only the appropriate financial resources are secured.


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