B>Part I
This article was originally published in 1996, 29 years ago.
For Part II of this series click here.
With the petiroh of the Sadiger Rebbe Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef Friedman zt"l on the 29th of Nisan 5739 (1979) the fourteenth day of the Omer, came to a close the life of one of the most remarkable tzaddikim in modern times. According to Kavonos Ha'Arizal the date of his petiroh—the 14th of the Omer—corresponds to the middoh, 'Malchus Shebegevurah.' No two words could more aptly describe his life, for over three generations the Rebbe led Klal Yisroel with malchus and gevurah, guiding Yidden through two World Wars, all the while faithfully tending to their needs in every situation.
Born on the 17th of Kislev 5657 (1897) to his father Reb Ahron of Sadiger, (who was a great grandson of Reb Yisroel of Ruzhin), Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef soon made a name for himself as an unusually gifted and talented child. He was blessed with a fantastic memory. Years later he once remarked that he could recall even the most minute details of his life from when he was three years old.
As a young child Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef was extremely close to his grandfather, Reb Yisroel zt"l who was Rebbe in Sadiger. From when Reb Yisroel of Ruzhin had settled in Sadiger over 50 years earlier in 1841, the town had become a magnet for tens of thousands of chassidim. After the Ruzhiner's petiroh his son Reb Avrohom Yaakov took over his place to be succeeded in 1884 by his own son Reb Yisroel.
Reb Yisroel treasured greatly his grandson, taking time and care to personally supervise his upbringing. Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef would receive a test every two weeks from his grandfather who would follow his progress with great satisfaction. Until the end of his days, Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef would speak about his Zeidy with awe and emotion, and would often say that he asks Hashem that at least a half of the brochos he received from his Zeidy should be fulfilled.
On the 13th of Tishrei 5667 (1907) Reb Yisroel was niftar and was succeeded by his son Reb Ahron. Known as the Kedushas Ahron, Reb Ahron was famed for his conduct, and hasmodoh. Even during the meal he would sit with an open sefer in front of him and in between spoonfuls he would carry on learning. Always occupied with holy and lofty thoughts, he was regarded as a tzaddik from generations gone by.
Under his careful watch, Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef developed and ascended from madreigoh to madreigoh. By the time he was bar mitzva he had already completed the whole of Shas twice, such an achievement was only possible through his hasmodoh. He was capable of learning nights through, surviving on the most minimum of sleep. His mother, who was concerned about his health, \asked her husband to intervene to which he replied, 'Many times I have stood behind the door to listen how he learns. You don't have to worry, his learning is Torah Emes.'
On the 19th of Tishrei 5673 (1913) tragedy struck the House of Sadiger. The Kedushas Ahron was niftar after a serious illness. He was only 36 years old. Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef was only 16 years old at the time. Despite his tender age, the chassidim saw in him that he already possessed the necessary qualities to be able to lead them.
Being Chol Hamoed there was no shiva, and straight after the levaya Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef started to receive kvitlech. He addressed a few words to his chassidim in which he asked Hashem to have mercy on Klal Yisroel and that his father's ko'ach should accompany him in all he does.
The new Rebbe won the approval of all who saw him. Reb Avrohom Menachem Steinberg of Brod, author of the classic sefer 'Machzeh Avrohom' was considered one of the foremost poskim of his era. Being a Sadiger chassid, he was asked to test the young Rebbe to see if he was as knowledgeable as the rumors had it.
The Machzeh Avrohom tested Reb Mordechai Sholom Yosef and afterwards proclaimed that he was even greater than they had previously thought. He was truly familiar not just in whatever gemora he was asked, but in halocho and midrash also.
The Kloiz in Sadiger
From then on the Machzeh Avrohom would sit at the Rebbe's tish listening to his every word. Between the elder chassidim at the tish were 26 people who had still graced the 'court' of the Rebbe's great-great-grandfather Reb Yisroel of Ruzhin!
Whilst he was still sixteen he received semichoh from the Maharsham and from the Rav of Chernovitz, Reb Binyomin Weiss zt"l.
The Rebbe led his chassidim in Sadiger only for a short period. A year-and-a-half later broke out the first World War and in 1915 the Rebbe was forced to flee to Vienna together with thousands of other refugees. In Vienna the Rebbe opened his Beis Hamedrash and became active in helping the many refugees to cope in their new surroundings.
As a result of his strenuous activities the Rebbe became sick with a serious illness. Seeing his grave condition his mother rushed to the Husyatiner Rebbe, Reb Yisroel zt"l to beg him to daven for her son's recovery. The Husyatiner Rebbe calmed her down telling her not to worry and promised her that her son would have a long life, he would live into his eighties...
After the War's end the Rebbe would make a yearly visit to his many chassidim who were spread out in Poland and Galicia. The Rebbe would spend a few weeks in Pshemishal, Galicia, on each of his visits. As a result, the town of Pshemishal became a metropolis for his chassidim who would flock there every year.
In 1923 the Rebbe decided to found a yeshiva in Pshemishal for his many chassidim. Known as Yeshivas Meshivas Nefesh, the Rebbe worried for its running and upkeep. The Rebbe appointed a well-known talmid chochom, Reb Shabsi Segal as Rosh Yeshiva.
In a letter written in 1925 the Rebbe explained the reasons behind the founding of the yeshiva: 'The Yeshiva in Pshemishal which I founded together with various dignitaries in the community, is intended to be a center for spreading Torah throughout eastern Galicia and will thereby fill a gap which has existed until now in all the towns of the area, praise to Hashem that we succeeded to found this magnificent mossad...'
The Rebbe's home in Sadiger
The yeshiva soon acquired a good reputation for itself and a second branch of the yeshiva was opened a few years later in a neighboring town when the original yeshiva became too overcrowded.
With the expansion of Agudas Yisroel after the War, the Rebbe joined the Aguda and did his utmost to help the spread of Yiddishkeit. Seeing his potential, the Rebbe's uncle the Chortkover Rebbe zt"l invited the Rebbe to attend the meetings of the Aguda cabinet so that he too could offer his ideas on the various policies and decisions that had to be taken.
It didn't take too long for the other gedolim to also appreciate his qualities and at the first Knessia Gedola in 1923—when the Rebbe was a mere 26 years of age—he was elected as a member of the Vaad Hapo'el. In addition he was given a second even more prestigious appointment. He was appointed President of Keren HaTorah the organization the gedolim had set up to look after the continued existence and expansion of the many yeshivos throughout Europe. The Rebbe carried on his young shoulders the heavy responsibility of ensuring the welfare of thousands of yeshiva bochurim worrying for their upkeep and further hatzlocho.
A few years later at the second Knessia Gedola in 1929 the Rebbe was elected as a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, where he sat with honor and dignity amongst such luminaries as the Chofetz Chaim zt"l and the Gerrer Rebbe zt"l.
The Rebbe regarded his appointments not just as an honor but also as a duty. He invested much energy and effort to further the strength and prestige of Agudas Yisroel. The Rebbe travelled around Europe raising money for Keren HaTorah. Wherever he went crowds came out to see and hear him. In addition to his dynamic personality he was also a fiery speaker.
Whilst in the town of Yaroslav in Galicia the Rebbe delivered a passionate speech which remained in the hearts of those who heard it for a long time to come. He told a story of a young married man who would always tell over bad news at his parents-in-law's table every time he went there. Not being able to take any more of his morbid tales, his father-in-law asked him to stop telling his stories or at least to tell over some good news beforehand.
One day the young man came as usual to his parents-in-law's house. In the middle of the meal he mentioned to his father-in-law, that at that very moment his own house was on fire and was rapidly getting burnt to a cinder. Hearing his words his shver shouted at him, 'Why didn't you tell me beforehand? Now it will be too late to save anything.'
The young man timidly answered his shver, 'But didn't you tell me not to straight away tell over bad news?'
His shver, exploding in a fit of anger, shouted back, 'You fool! When the fire is your own house, you should be running through the streets shouting, 'Help, Help! My house is on fire!' '
Similarly, the Rebbe ended, 'Klal Yisroel is also being consumed by a fire! We must all run through the streets from house to house and shout, 'Help! Help! there is a fire, help save us.'
The Rebbe's word left its desired effect causing many to enlist in the cause of Agudas Yisroel.
On another occasion the Rebbe travelled to Hamburg to raise funds for Keren HaTorah. His regal behavior greatly impressed all those who saw him. For many Yidden in Germany it was their first encounter with one of the Ruzhiner Rebbes and it wasn't something they forgot quickly. When the Rebbe was asked from where he received his aristocratic features, he answered, 'Our features we received from our zeides and from the Torah.'
The Rav of Hamburg, Reb Shmuel Binyomin Spitzer zt"l arranged a grand kabolas panim at which he spoke at length about the Rebbe, praising him highly.
A few years later the Rebbe paid a second visit to Germany, this time to take a rest in one of the mountain resorts. The Rebbe would take ten people with him, so that he would be assured of a minyan. One day just before Mincha, one of the ten people suddenly disappeared leaving the Rebbe without a minyan. It became darker and darker and still there was no sign of the missing person. In the last minute they came across another Yid who joined them for the minyan.
After they had finished davening Mincha the Rebbe went over to the stranger thanking him profusely for having made up the minyan. The Rebbe couldn't say enough to show his gratitude for not having missed davening without a minyan and asked the Yid if there was anyway he could reward him. After a minute's silence the Yid told the Rebbe that he is already married for 15 years, but he doesn't yet have any children, he wants that the Rebbe should reward him with a child. The Rebbe didn't hesitate for a second and straight away promised him, 'This time next year you will have a child.'
The Rebbe took out a piece of paper on which he wrote his address and handing it over to the Yid told him, 'When your child is born you should let me know at this address.' And indeed a year later to the day a telegram arrived for the Rebbe bearing the news that the Yid had become a father to a healthy baby.
The Rebbe would often exhort those around him not to give up in their endeavors however bleak the situation appeared. He would say that we find that one of the mesechtos in Shas—Masechta Temurah— (which deals about transferring kedusha from one animal to another) is about a situation which is only 'bedi'eved,' for strictly speaking one may not transfer the kedusha of an animal which has been set aside for a korbon to another animal. Even so, if one did so the second animal is also considered 'kodesh.' From this we see that even things which are only 'bedi'eved' acceptable can still be rendered holy.
End of Part I
