One book is not enough to relate the life story and
gadlus of Maran HaRav Shach, zt'l. Not even an
entire shelf of books would provide enough space to cover his
life's story, which has been etched into the heart of the
Torah world. No wonder several books about Rabbenu have
already been published to keep his memory alive. Some of
these books are valuable reminiscences, including a
collection of hespeidim compiled for posterity.
Other recently released books recount certain segments of his
life. Even children's books have been published. One book,
however, Avi Ezri -- Pirkei Chayov Ufo'olo, is
expected to surpass all of the important works that preceded
it. It is a very unique book that paints a complete picture
of Maran's life from beginning to end.
Since a single book cannot contain the breadth and depth of
his life of Torah, harbotzas Torah and leadership, the
first volume From Vabolnik to Jerusalem deals with
Rabbenu's life from early childhood until his appointment to
the post of rosh yeshivas Ponevezh. This is the first
of a series still in the making. The author still has many
more treasures to share in print, besiyata
deShmaya.
This volume does not merely present fragmented highlights,
illuminations and quick glances at the landmark events in
Rabbenu's life. More than simply a collection of anecdotes
and hanhogos to provide a sketch of Rabbenu's
gadlus, this work offers a complete picture of his
life, step by step, one period after another, from one
location to the next, to add more clarity and detail into the
big picture. This is a true life survey.
The author, Rav Osher Bergman -- who spent much time in the
company of his grandfather, Rabbenu Hagodol -- has already
gained experience in publishing books on HaRav Shach's
teachings, which he heard himself and for which he received
haskomos from Rabbenu for their accuracy. His aim was
to present a clear image of the fabulous character of the
leader of the Torah world, who received Torah and
hanhogoh from gedolei hadoros and passed it
on.
Rav Bergman worked indefatigably to gather and clarify every
shred of information from all corners of the globe. He toiled
night and day to verify facts through firsthand sources and
went to great lengths to obtain previously unknown documents
and rare, unpublished pictures.
The book has several unique attributes. First of all it
spreads out a broad tapestry of historical facts before the
reader, material gleaned piece by piece and thoroughly
checked for accuracy and authenticity. The author also made
great efforts to provide background for the various periods
and all of the difficult and tempestuous events that took
place. In combination all of this information allows us,
perhaps, to gain an impression of Rabbenu's true
greatness.
Rav Bergman leads the reader down the muddy side streets of
Vabolnik, where Rabbenu grew up. Then he whisks the reader
away and smuggles him across the border together with the
members of the yeshiva, allowing him to relive the high
tension of bygone days and to hear the sounds of Torah
bursting forth from Rabbenu's holy mouth in spite of the
extreme circumstances. He brings the reader down into the
depths of dire poverty, the difficulties and vacillations of
the times that were a part of Rabbenu's life and that served
as rungs on the ladder he climbed to become Rabom Shel Kol
Bnei HaGoloh.
The author, whose writing sweeps the reader off his feet with
its breadth and sensitivity, brings the reader inside the
homes of the great leaders of Klal Yisroel -- the Chofetz
Chaim, Rav Itzeleh of Ponevezh, the Alter of Slobodka, HaRav
Chaim Ozer, the Brisker Rov, HaRav Isser Zalman Meltzer,
HaRav Aharon Kotler and others, zt'l. HaRav Shach
frequented these homes and the reader is led there via
Vabolnik, Ponevezh, Slobodka, Slutzk, Kletsk, Novardok and
Loninetz, confronting various perils along the way: heresy
and the haskoloh baring their fangs, Communism hunting
down Jews body and soul and later the skies of the Continent
turning black from the furnaces that nearly annihilated
European Jewry.
Throughout these harrowing times HaRav Shach rises up as a
student and teacher, as a member of Klal Yisroel and a leader
of Klal Yisroel, as a Jew whose whole life cries out, Gam
ki eileich begei tzalmoves lo iro ro ki Atoh imodi . . .
Out of the smoke and fire and rivers of blood spilled during
the two World Wars and under the constant plague of
Communism, the giant who lit the skies of Yiddishkeit
with Torah and leadership over the last generation
emerges from the pages of the book.
The fluent writing, by a craftsman and a staff of talmidei
chachomim selected from HaRav Shach's own
talmidim, contributes much to this work. It brings the
reader into the obscurities of the past to probe the ties
between Rabbenu and gedolei hador, who regarded him
with their scrutinizing eyes and noted his tremendous
hasmodoh under grim conditions.
Fabulous design and painstaking editing allow for easy and
pleasant reading of the wealth of material within this work,
scheduled to reach the bookshelves shortly, as a memorial to
the honor and memory of Rabbenu Hagodol, zt'l.
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The following is a small sample of the wealth of new
material in the book. This letter was written soon after
Rabbenu moved to Bnei Brak.
"Boruch Hashem I have been accepted as a Ram at
Yeshivas Ponevezh"
We have arrived. This week, we arrived and I was surprised to
find that the letter I wrote to him long ago has not
arrived.
Boruch Hashem, I have been accepted as a ram at
Yeshivas Ponevezh in Bnei Brak. The yeshiva is magnificent.
About two hundred excellent bochurim are here and I am
very, very busy all day long and have much work [to do]. May
Hashem give me the merit "to study and to teach and to keep
and to do," for this is my only desire. Boruch Hashem
my son-in-law is learning in the kollel of the Chazon
Ish and he is excellent, of course. We are providing for all
of his needs. May Hashem allow him to rise up and up in Torah
learning.
And with this I will close, your friend asking how you are
doing.
Love,
Elozor Man Shach
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