Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein, known as Reb Chatzkel, (1885 – 18 Adar (11 or 12 March) 1974), was the mashgiach ruchani of the Mir Yeshiva, in Mir, Belarus and during the yeshiva's escape to Lithuania and on to Shanghai due to the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in World War II. He was a leader of several yeshivas in Europe, the United States, and Israel.
Biography
Levenstein was born in Warsaw (5656) His mother, Zlota, died when he was five years old; his father, Yehuda, subsequently remarried. He studied for 2 1⁄2 years in the yeshiva in Łomża, influenced by the mussar movement, then in Raduń Yeshiva under the Chofetz Chaim and Rabbi Yeruchom Levovitz, and finally in the Kelm Talmud Torah.
His wife was named Chaya.
From 5695 (1935), for about 2 years he was the mashgiach of Yeshivas Lomza in Petach Tikvah.
Shanghai
News reached Shanghai Adar 5703 (1943), where the Mir spent the war years, of the murders of so many of Lithuanian Jewry. The eulogy of the martyrs by the mashgiach was published in a book, Mimizrach Shemesh.
Yeshivos
The Yeshivos that he founded or strongly influenced include:
- Before World War II
- Mir Yeshiva (Poland), as Mashgiach Ruchani
- After the War
- Mir Yeshivah (Yerushalayim)
- Ponovezh Yeshivah (B'nei Brak)
Works
- Or Yechezkel, a seven volume work of musar
Bibliography
- Kasnett, Yitzchak (2007) Reb Chatzkel. Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein - Guardian of Torah and Mussar, Artscroll Mesorah Publications, ISBN 9781422605387
External links
- Matzav.com Article
- chareidi.org Article
References
