2 titles published by Rebbetzins after their husband's death

A published book can often be a snapshot in time, allowing us to view the time, place and atmosphere of the moment of publication. Particularly in their introductions, we can get an insider’s view in to the mind and ways of the author, in ways that even full length biographies aim to achieve.

Two titles that came through the store this week, give us an insight into the relationship, devotion and adoration of the Rebbetzin’s of these 2 Rabbinic Authors. After the death of their husbands, these women put themselves to the arduous task of compiling, and funding the publication of their late husbands’ writings, and penned moving tributes to their husbands in lieu of introductions to the books.

The first book, which I wrote about prior, is חיי אריה Haye Aryeh, by R. Aryeh Leib Horowitz, a son of R. Israel Salanter.

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter had several children, including the mathematician Yom Tov Lipman Lipkin, and Rabbi Aryeh Leib Horowitz. R. Horowitz used the last name of his mother’s extended family, presumably because his parents were not legally married, a common occurrence with Jews in Eastern Europe at this time in history.

Aryeh Leib Horowitz (died 1896) authored several works which he left in manuscript, and his widow took it upon herself to publish his works, under the title of Haye Aryeh. The volume was published in Vilna in 1907, with a lengthy introduction by his widow, Sarah Elka Horowitz, herself a daughter of the author of Oneg Yom Tov, R. Rephael Yom Tov Lipman Heilpern. She ends the introduction with thanks to R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, who married the author's niece, a granddaughter of R. Yisrael Salanter.

The introduction is a fascinating read, and her love and respect for her husband screams out between the words, quite a feat and rather unusual for someone who spent nearly her entire life with the author. She appears to be fluent in Rabbinic terms and life in the Rabbinic world. It is worth reading in its entirety, but here are some parts in her introduction which stood out to me:

בן לאותו צדיק קדוש ישראל ששמו הולך מראש העולם ועד סופו

He was a son to that righteous man Yisrael (Salanter), whose name traveled from one end of the world to the other

לא אוכל לעבור הפעם בשתיקה הפעם מלספר לדור אחרון מעט מזער מפרשת גדולתו וצדקותו של הגאון המחבר ז"ל בתורה וביראה האף אמנם לא תכיל גם מחברת שלמה פרטי מעשיו הטובים כח תורתו וצדקתו גם ידעתי כי לא לי להעריך ערכו וגדלו אולם רק השקפה כללית קצרה הכוללת דמות דיוקנו של אישי הרב ז"ל ואך דברים אחדים בתור פתח דבר לספרו זה....

I can not pass this time in silence and withhold from speaking to later generations a minute fraction of the story of the greatness and righteousness of the genius, the author, in his Torah and fear of G-d. Even though an entire notebook won't contain the individual's great deeds and the power of his Torah and righteousness, and I also know that it is not befitting me to value his worth and greatness, but just a small portrait of my great husband, the Rabbi ob"m, just small things to serve as an opening to this book of his....

יגיעתו הגדולה ושקידתו הנפלאה בתו"הק לא יאומן כי יסופר

His toiling and diligence in studying the holy Torah are too incredible to be told

על הלומד תורה לשמה נמצאו כולן במלואן בהגאון המחבר

The qualities of learning Torah for Torah's sake were all complete in the Gaon, the author

ממדת הכעס והגאוה היה רחוק עד קצה האחרון

והתרחק מלשון הרע ומהמתכבד מקלון חברו כמטחוי קשת

From the character traits of anger and haughtiness he was far removed to the extreme

and he would run away from slander and from someone who would disrespect his friend..

The second title, is Bene Zion, published in Vilna in 1908, authored by Rabbi Benzion Mitovsky, who was murdered by Jewish Anarchists, in the town Lebedevo where he was Rabbi.

R. Benzion Mitovsky (1862-1906) served as Rabbi in Lebedevo, a town outside of Vilna. In late 1906, while present in the house of a wealthy Jewish man from his community, masked Jewish anarchist gangsters entered the home demanding money. The Rabbi, recognizing the voice of one of the gangsters, pleaded with him to refrain from harming the homeowner, at which point the rabbi was shot dead.

A year later, the Rabbi's widow published his writings and wrote a moving tribute to her husband in lieu of an introduction to his book. She writes lovingly of her husband: "He was very humble, and G-d fearing. With his humble righteousness, and his pure ways, he hid his good deeds and his wonderful manners that thrived in his pure heart". "He was at the opposite extreme from haughtiness and anger, busied himself with hosting guests... these are just the tip of his great ways of life in matters of spirituality and ways of the world, in his short life upon this earth".

Introduction to Bene Zion

title page of Bene Zion