Upon the 80th yahrtzeit of the Alter of Novardok, HaRav Yosef Yozel Horowitz zt"l, an outstanding work, Besufa Ubesa'aro (In a Tempest and a Storm), which sheds light on his greatness and on the movement he founded, has appeared in print.
Chazal's dictum that "One does not make nefoshos for tzaddikim; their words are their memorials," suits the image of the Alter of Novardok, of whom the Chofetz Chaim said: "I made seforim, but the Alter fashioned and made human beings."
The nefoshos the Alter fashioned in his unique manner, were the monuments he erected for himself when he was alive, and the enterprises and activities of his disciples have guaranteed that his image would not be forgotten.
Their words, which were stamped over the years on the pages of books, are blessed memorials which continue to inspire generations with the spirit of that unique movement.
Now, with the appearance of Besufa Ubesa'aro, which includes chapters of bravery and courage during a period of storm and tempest, another important layer has been added to the memorial to the Alter.
These chapters are interwoven in the biography of HaRav Shmuel Weintraub zt"l, one of the most outstanding students of the Alter of Novardok, as the Chazon Ish once said at a simcha in the Weintraub family.
Just as the Novardok movement could not have been founded by any one else other than the Alter, who was in his essence a storm and tempest and whose spirit knew no bounds, so could the movement not have continued to exist after his petirah and to build an entire Torah world, without his disciples.
Prominent among them, was HaRav Shmuel Weintraub, who was imbued with the Alter's spirit and who, with courage and mesiras nefesh, battled the heretical streams which breached the Jewish people.
Bravely, these students spread Torah and yirah by establishing yeshivas beruach hatahoro throughout eastern Europe. The saga of one part of this mighty endeavor and sacred impetus constitutes the fiber of the remarkable book, Besufa Ubesa'aro.
The book was written and edited by the members of the Weintraub family in a fascinating, highly readable style. It sweeps the reader into that world, making him relive that tempestuous period.
The importance of the book lies not only in its portrayal of the personality of HaRav Shmuel Weintraub against the backdrop of the Novardok movement, but also in its value as an historical asset. Included are important chapters on the history of Vaad Hayeshivos and the Tiferes Bochurim organization which functioned in the period between the two world wars.
Of extreme importance is the Appendix which contains highly important documents which shed light on many of the incidents and affairs discussed in the book.
The book also contains choice Novardok poems, which help us understand the unique character of this movement and its attitude toward our world.
It is hoped that this book will be prelude which will usher in many more works on the Torah and mussar of HaRav Shmuel Weintraub, who was known even in his youth as the illui of Proskoy and who was described by HaRav Gershon Leibman, the founder of the Novardok network of yeshivos in France: "The Alter's most astute student."
In addition to founding and maintaining his yeshiva and its many branches, HaRav Weintraub served as the rav of Karlin. He was also very active in Vaad Hayeshivos and the Tiferes Bochurim organization, and in his capacity as a rosh yeshiva delivered steady, in-depth shiurim and sichos.
