HaRav Eliezer Weissfish, the author of the newly published
Ramos Gilad, was given a special privilege when he had
the opportunity to produce this unique work in the realm of
Torah publications.
At first it would seem that a collection of remarks about
Eliyohu Hanovi gleaned from the Talmud and Medrash,
the Rishonim and Acharonim, the Zohar and other
Kabboloh works might fill a few chapters or, if a
special effort was made, perhaps an entire book.
Yet through his concerted efforts, prodigious talents and
boundless dedication HaRav Weissfish located, one by one, all
of the references to Eliyohu Hanovi and gathered them
together artfully in the two volume Ramos Gilad (with
no less than 800 pages!) and the author is currently hard at
work on two further volumes to complete the series.
The two volumes of Ramos Gilad recently published lay
out before the reader a fabulous, comprehensive tapestry
about Eliyohu Hanovi—from basic information on who he
is and where he came from, to the day when we will merit
seeing the arrival of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, and as the
gemora states (Eruvin 43b) Eliyohu Hanovi will
arrive one day earlier to herald the arrival of Moshiach Ben
Dovid.
Of course the book does not omit many other matters, such as
the meaning of the song "Eliyohu Hanovi" sung on Motzei
Shabbos, the pesukim and piyutim of Eliyohu
Hanovi, his zealousness, Eliyohu as the angel attending every
bris miloh, his numerous names, his friends and
associates, his beis din and talmidim, and much
more.
Not only do the two volumes cover a wide scope of material,
but they are also organized skillfully and intelligently. The
book is divided into six sections subdivided into several
chapters, each on a different topic. A concise, detailed
table of contents appears at the beginning of every section,
allowing the reader to find what he is looking for quickly
and easily.
Ramos Gilad is not just another book, but a bona fide
Torah work worthy of a place of honor on the Mizrach
of the Torah bookcase.
May the author, HaRav Weissfish, one of Jerusalem's leading
talmidei chachomim, publish the other two volumes he
is hard at work on. And may all of us see the realization of
the brochoh, "Samcheinu Hashem Elokeinu be'Eliyohu
hanovi avdecho uvemalchus Beis Dovid Meshichecho bemehiroh
yavo veyogel libeinu . . . "
