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9 Nissan 5764 - March 31, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Home and Family


ALIYA TO YERUSHOLAYIM IN YESTERYEAR
Pioneers of Settlements in Eretz Yisroel

by Yisca Shimony

A young woman, Liebe Shlesinger, stood at the entrance of the large and brightly lit dining room, holding in her arms her two infant daughters, Sara and Shoshana. Close by stood Zeidel Dovid, her oldest son, hardly much more than an infant, himself.

She squinted at the dazzling lights of the many candles lit in the candelabra hanging down from the ceiling of the room. The large dining table in the center, usually covered with a dark velvet cloth, was now covered with a snow white tablecloth, upon which were placed beautiful, shiny silver goblets and many silver trays, as well as richly decorated porcelain pieces. The room looked royally magnificent and Liebe felt a joyous atmosphere and holiday mood settling upon her. It was a wonderful climax for the tedious preparations for this Pesach Yom Tov.

As she stood gazing at the Seder table, her mother, Reizel, entered the room bearing a tray with crystal wine-filled bottles. Close behind her stepped the young maid carrying white covered pillows. It was time to light candles, but Liebe still stood mesmerized, gazing at the dazzle of the silver pieces, the rainbow glints from the shining crystal and the beauty of the entire room. The entrance of the men who had just returned from their prayers jolted her from her reverie.

"Gut yom tov!" her father, R' Hillel Lichtenstein, rov of Kolomay, Hungary, called out festively.

"Gut yom tov!" many voices echoed.

Liebe's young husband, R' Akiva Yosef Shlesinger, stepped forward and caressed the heads of his small children. The young father looked happy and relaxed as he stood by his young family, but Liebe knew his heart was not at peace. She knew he felt a heavy burden of failure at not accomplishing the goals he had set for himself.

A small sad smile appeared in her eyes and she hastily turned her glance to the table and tried to resume the happy mood of this beautiful festival.

The Seder ritual began, as each member of the family and the guests were seated upon the soft cushions, the hesev bett. The pleasant melody of Kadesh Urchatz was sung, followed by Kiddush. The father of the house, R' Hillel of Kolomay, carried on until he came to the words, "Hashato hocho... This year we are here, in golus. Next year we will be in Eretz Yisroel!" He then asked, "Who wants to go to Eretz Yisroel?"

"We do!" both R' Akiva Yosef and his wife, Liebe, exclaimed in unison. Their little children mumbled a `Yes' as they had been prompted to do.

"Amen!" said R' Hillel. The Seder carried on with Zeidel Dovid asking the Four Questions. A truly joyous atmosphere enveloped them all.

*

Akiva Yosef Shlesinger was born in 5598 to his parents, R' Yechiel and Gittel, in Pressburg. A devoted disciple of the Chassan Sofer, R' Yechiel asked his master to perform the bris.

On that same day, news of the passing of R' Akiva Eiger became known, and the baby was named after that great luminary, as well as after another tzaddik: He was called Akiva Yosef.

Little Akiva Yosef showed great talents and intelligence. He was clever and energetic. Since the law of the country did not permit non-secular chadorim, he was taught privately at home, but was eventually forced to attend public school. He excelled in all his studies and was soon awarded a graduating certificate.

Akiva Yosef was then able to continue on in yeshivos. At a young age he received smicha from the Ksav Sofer and at 22, he married the daughter of R' Hillel of Kolomay. Soon after the marriage, R' Hillel and R' Akiva Yosef began working on behalf of the Jewish community in Hungary, doing their utmost to stem the rapid spread of the Reform movement.

They toiled on various fronts, one of which was to publish R' Akiva Yosef's first book, "Lev Ha'ivri," which was an expansion and explanation of the legacy of the Chassam Sofer, who had, in his time, already warned Jewry against the insidious harm of the Reform movement. The publishing of this book was financed by Liebe, his devoted wife, who sold her wedding jewelry for the cause.

Much energy and talent were invested in the continuous attempts to curtail the spread of the Reform movement. A party was formed called Maaleh, but all their efforts seemed ineffectual.

As the family grew, R' Akiva Yosef and his wife started being concerned about the education and future of their children. The idea of moving to Eretz Yisroel seemed to them the best solution.

As soon as permission was given on that Seder night, the preparations for their aliya began. The obstacles were many, as the trip was very arduous for young children. Money, too, was not readily available. It took four years for the Shlesingers to achieve their goal; at the end of 5633 they reached Yerusholayim and settled near the Kosel Maarovi.

The community in Yerusholayim was at that time trying to build new neighborhoods outside the Old City walls. R' Akiva Yosef, together with the eminent R' Yehoshua Leib Diskin started the new settlement of Petach Tikva. Unfortunately, however, their attempt did not prove entirely successful and the town of Petach Tikva eventually became an irreligious city, though it does have a strong chareidi community, with shuls and yeshivos.

In their small and poor apartment in Yerusholayim, Liebe Shlesinger stood by the window facing the Kosel and fervently prayed that her children grow in the ways of Hashem. Her prayers were answered. Their sons grew up to be talmidei chachomim and their daughters married Torah scholars.

Though not all of his goals were fulfilled in his lifetime, R' Akiva Yosef Shlesinger's dream of building settlements for religious people keeping the laws of the Torah eventually materialized. The seeds of his pioneering efforts took root and today, many such Torah settlements exist throughout Eretz Yisroel.

 

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