Rabbi Levi Bistritzky OBM (1948-2002)

Hagaon Hachossid Hatomim Horav Levi Bistritsky was born in 1948, on the 8th of Iyar to, may he live and be well Hachossid Horav Hatomim Reb Yehuda Leib and Mrs. Ita Bistritsky.

Tickets for the Rebbe’s and Rebbetzin arrival to the U.S.

Reb Leibel Bistritsky’s father Reb Mordechai merited to a special zchus. In 1941, after the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin escaped from France to Portugal, Reb Mordechai contributed two tickets for their passage to the United States. Originally, the tickets had been purchased for Reb Mordechai’s in-laws, were unable to get out of Europe. Reb Mordechai notified the Previous Rebbe and offered the tickets for the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. The tickets were accepted, and that is how the Rebbe and Rebbetzin come to the United States on the 28th of Sivan.

Reb Leibel recalled. “At the time, the Previous Rebbe did not feel well and wasn’t accepting people for Yechidus. To my surprise, his secretary Reb Chaim Lieberman informed me on the phone that I would have Yechidus on Friday, a day before the Bris. When I informed the Previous Rebbe that the Bris was on Shabbos, the Rebbe responded with a blessing, “Arichus Yomim vshonim Tovos, Arichus Yomim vshonim Tovos, Arichus Yomim vshonim Tovos”, long life and good years. The fact that the Rebbe repeated his blessing three times puzzled us. The Rebbe’s speech was impaired at the time and his responses were generally short. Regarding a name for the child, we told the Rebbe, that we thought to name after the grandfather who was killed in Auschwitz. The Rebbe consented, that this would be appropriate.”

When Levi was three years old, the family moved to Vineland, New Jersey where the young Levi studied at the Vineland Jewish School. In 1961, at the age of 12 his parents sent him to Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Brooklyn, then located at Bedford Avenue and Dean Street. During the day he would study in yeshiva and at night would stay at an aunt’s house in Queens. This is when he began to absorb Torah and chassidus from the Roshei Yeshiva and mashpi’im, and from the Rebbe’s environment.

Rebbe’s Kiruvim

Reb Leibel continued. “While he was still a child, we merited to many Yechidusen with the Rebbe. The Rebbe would place him on his lap. He would motion to him to come up to the Rebbe’s bima at Farbrengens and take a piece of mezonos.

The trip from New Jersey to the Rebbe’s Farbrengens in 770, would take about three-and-a half hours instruct him to say L’chaim. I would take Levi along when I went to the Farbrengen. On one occasion, there was a blizzard, and Levi was not feeling well and stayed home. At the Farbrengen, the Rebbe motioned to me, ‘Where is Levi?’ I approached the Rebbe and told him that Levi had a high fever and couldn’t come because of the extreme weather. Instead of driving, I had traveled by bus to Philadelphia and then took the subway to 770. The Rebbe said, ‘If so, you surely needed to bring him’.

We once came for a Yom Tov and standing together at the side waited at 770 for the Rebbe to go home. The Rebbe went over directly to Levi and shook his hand with a special fondness and said ‘I hear that you are learning well.” The Rebbe blessed him and his brother Yossie”.

During the Yechidus on the 5th of Iyar in 1962, the Rebbe instructed Levi to turn to the principal in the yeshiva, Horav Yosef Mendel Tenenbaum, to promote him to the next class.

A year later, the Rebbe gave us an additional surprise. The Rebbe asked Levi if he wanted to move to the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Montreal. Levi consented and the Rebbe added that the yeshiva in Brooklyn should notify the yeshiva in Montreal about his arrival in the a few days. A few days later, when the Rebbe saw Levi in 770, and asked his secretary, Rabbi Hodokov, why is the Bochur still here. Rabbi Hodokov called the yeshiva and all arrangements for the transfer were completed. The Rebbe’s involvement with this Bochur was exceptional and surprising. After many years, it became clear that he had been destined for great matters.

For the next ten years in Montreal, Levi engrossed himself in his studies. This is where he obtained his knowledge and depth in Talmud and poskim. He was beloved by the Roshei Yeshiva; Hagaon Reb Aizik Schwey for nigle, the mashpia Hagaon Hamkubel Reb Menachem Zev Gringlas and the mashpia Hagaon Hachossid Reb Yitzchok Meir Gurary in Chassidus, and by the prestigious gaon Reb Pinchos Hirshprung and the gaon Reb Yitzchok Hendel in Halacha. On Thursday nights until the early morning, he would learn with bochurim from a Litvishe Yeshiva. Rabbi Karp, one of the melamdim, was asked by Reb Leibel about Levi’s status in learning, he responded, “When I walk into the zal at one or two A.M., I see him learning.”

His mother recalled. “Levi never needed anything. Many times we offered to give him money but he refused. When he was a Bochur we needed to beg him to take five dollars to fix his shoes and he refused. Until his last day he asked for nothing. He was concerned for his wife and children but not for himself. From his childhood he was serious and responsible and never wasted time. At the age of seventeen, he received semicha but did not want people to know. He allowed his father to tell his parents. When he found out that we also told my parents, he was upset that we did not keep out the promise.”

Kibud Av Vaem

During the vacation from the Yeshiva seder, he helped in the house. In Nissan, he would assist us in our Pesach store and during Tishrei, with the selling of lulovim and Esrogim. When he began his studies in Montreal, he asked if he can travel to New York to help us. The hanhola told him that he needs to sit and learn and Levi responded, “I cannot sit and learn when I know my parents are working so hard’. It was decided that he should write to the Rebbe, the Rebbe answered that they should allow him to come to New York, with the condition that this would not interfere with his studies. He arrived and worked in the store, but every spare moment he would put down his head between the cartons or food products in order to study Gemoro and Tosfos. Although it was close to Pesach and there was no seder yeshiva, he still utilized the time to study until Erev Pesach. The same thing happened on Chal Hamoed.”

For two years, Reb Levi worked with the Bais Din of Montreal, under Rabbi Hirshprung. In these two years, Reb Levi received shimush, hands-on experience in various complicated halachic matters. In addition, Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dworkin, the Rav in Crown Heights at the time, was asked in the Rebbe’s name. Reb Levi would receive shimush from him in order to add to his knowledge and experience, to be ready to serve as a Rav when the time comes.

On the 14th of Sivan 1973, he married, may she live and be well Miss Esther Shulamis Tiechtel of Jerusalem. The wedding took place in Israel and also on this occasion, the Rebbe revealed special or unusual kiruvim, the Rebbe added in his Mazal Tov greeting letter, the title “Rav” before the name of Reb Levi’s name.

Rebbetzin’s gifts

They visited with the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka before leaving for Israel, who gave them a handkerchief that her father, the Previous Rebbe used on Rosh Hashana at tekias shofar and was used for covering the Kallah’s face at badekenish. The Rebbetzin also gave them a piece of linen with which the Tzemach Tzedek would wrap his shofros, saying “By me it is very precious”. The Rebbe approved of this and said to the Rebbetzin, “Since this never left the house of the Rebbe’im we need to check with Leibel. Probably the sheva brochos will be in Jerusalem and they say that there are many eruvin there that allow carrying. If Leibel takes upon himself not to let these leave his possession except for the chupa, even on Shabbos, he can take it. The chosson Reb Levi wrapped himself with this precious item at the chupa.

During the Yechidus before this wedding, the Rebbe instructed Levi to follow all the customs which the Rebbe’s father had given the Rebbe before his own wedding. The Rebbe added that this was not directive for the public.

After his wedding Reb Levi studied in the Colel that consisted of scholars in Natzeret Elit. After a short time, he wanted to return to New York, to be near the Rebbe. He studied in the Crown Heights Colel for two years. The Rebbe then said that he should be allowed to be continue for an additional year and that he should not be restricted to a specific curriculum, since he was becoming a Rav and therefore he needed to learn additional material.

In the winter of 1976, the Rebbe announced that a new group of Shluchim would be going to Israel and anyone who wished to volunteer should send him their names. Reb Levi immediately did so and it was said hat his name was the first selected by the Rebbe from all the shluchim in the group.

Before being officially appointed as the Rav of Chabad in Tzfas and later the Rav of the city, Reb Levi was an outstanding figure among the group of Shluchim, who were all yungeleit with a high level of knowledge in Torah and Chassidus and were completely devoted to the Rebbe. Alongside Rabbi Leibel Kaplan, the head shliach of Tzfas, Reb Levi took an active role in the work and activities of the Shluchim in spreading Torah in Tzfas.

The Shluchim to Israel would hold their annual convention and Reb Levi chosento read the Rebbe’s letter, addressed to the kinus.

On the 13th of Iyar 1952, the Rebbe’s brother Reb Yisroel Arye Leib was nifter and was laid to rest in Tzfas. Every year, Reb Levi would lead a group of to visit the resting place and recite Tehillim. He would then report back to the Rebbe. On one occasion, the Rebbe responded, “It should be the will of the above that all the prayers should be received and accomplish everything.”

“The Rebbe’s will that he remain in Tzfas”

In 1979, a Rav in Israel offered Reb Levi the position of Moreh Horo’oh of his city. Reb Levi responded that since the Rebbe had sent him to Tzfas, therefore he couldn’t write to the Rebbe regarding anything which would be contrary to this mission, but he could not stop another person from writing. The Rav asked the Rebbe about Reb Levi. On Rosh Chodesh Elul, Rabbi Hodokov phoned Rabbi Kaplan, the shliach and founder of Chabad in Tzfas, and told him, “A rumor had reached here that they are suggesting a rabonus to Rav Bistritsky. Since the Rebbe sent him to Tzfas, it is the Rebbe’s will that he should remain in Tzfas, the location of his shlichus. The Rebbe went to the Ohel today and requested that prior to his return from the Ohel, he should have received a report that Rabbi Bistritsky has been appointed as the Rav of Kiryat Chabad in Tzfas”.

Rabbi Bistritsky entered his new position as the Rav of a growing Kiryat Chabad which is growing and broadening with a concern for the public and the individual, with a hearing ear of any problem, appropriate guidance in Torah and Chassidus and permeated with hiskashrus and bitul to the Rebbe.

Rav of Chabad in Tzfas

From one year to the next year, many circles in Tzfas and beyond acknowledged his greatness. They saw for themselves a giant in Torah, a genuine chossid of the Rebbe, and a strong personality on one hand, and a pleasant person and easy going person, on the other. A year later, the chief Rabbis in Tzfas, both the Ashkenazi and Sefardi, entrusted him with the responsibility for the eiruvin and mikvaos in the city.

His recognition as a giant in Torah and Halacha was publicly acknowledge when a team of scholars, working on the Encyclopedia on the Talmud, an enormous project, requested that he join their team as an editor.

He also served as a member of Bais Mishpat Hasholom in Tzfas. When a person came to court, he was advised by the judge to turn to Rabbi Bistritsky to settle the dispute out of court. This settlement would be honored by the judge. This demonstrated the respect that the judicial establishment had for Rabbi Bistritsky.

The Rav received additional responsibilities to which he was very committed and enhanced these with hiddurim, and for the comfort of the public.

Kashrus

Rabbi Bistritsky became involved in kashrus and his hechsher was very respected in Israel. When the Shluchim came to Israel in 1976, it was difficult to find kosher l’mehadrin products. Rabbi Bistritsky’s efforts resulted in a large supply of kosher l’mehadrin products for the entire area. The next move was to oversee the status of orlo, trumos and massros, which he conducted in a professional way, setting up an organized, effective and computerized system, to supervise this enormous operation involving farms, factories, distributors and stores. Hotels in Tzfas that wished to cater to religious people turned to Rabbi Bistritsky for his hechsher. Many people were comfortable visiting Tfzas for vacation, for example and in a sense, this contributed to the economy of the city.

After Horav Shmuel Eliyohu, the son of Horav Mordechai Eliyohu may he be well, was elected as the Sefardic Rav of Tzfas, he invited Rabbi Bistritsky to work with him on Kashrus, both in basic kashrus and kashrus l’mehadrin.

Government inspectors found the quality of kashrus in Tzfas to be best in the country. This was in part due to the organized manner in which it was administered. Recommendations were made that all other cities should emulate the policies and structure of the Tzfas kashrus organization.

Ahavas Yisroel

During the first years of Yeshiva Tzierei HaShluchim in Tzfas, a group of students were tested by Rabbi Bistritsky. At the end of test, he asked for the list of the students and their addresses. All the parents of these students received a personal letter from Rabbi Bistritsky, a nachas letter, in which he described how he tested them and their outstanding success.

On Purim when people from all circles would deliver shlach monos to his home, he would say L’chaim with each one. When hosting an Ashkenazi, he would say L’chaim on Smirnoff, and when he hosted a Sefardi he would L’chaim on arak. Each person was respected for his qualities, customs and desires.

Bikur Cholim and Peace between Jews and Arabs

Every Tuesday, Rabbi Bistritsky would travel to the Ziv hospital to visit the ick, going through the entire hospital. When he was ill in the hospital, former patients, Arabs and Bedouin came to visit him. For security reasons, they were not allowed in to see him. They argued that he had come to see them when they were sick, and now that he was unwell they weren’t being allowed in to visit. Rabbi Bistritsky consented to their visits adding, that he made it his custom to visit them in order to maintain the peace between the Jews and the Arabs.

One yungerman recalled that Rabbi Bistritsky, although busy with communal matters visited him, as well as calling him on the phone every day to inquire about his health.

Shluchim in the field

Rabbi Bistritsky made himself available to Shluchim in different countries. Quite often he would receive calls from Shluchim asking for a solution to a complicated halachic question. When the commotion of his playing children interfered with the call, Rabbi Bistritsky would tell them that this was a long distance call and they needed to be quieter.

Pashtus

Rabbi Bistritsky did not demand respect. He was different from other Rabbonim. He did not use a chauffeur but always drove himself, even on long trips to officiate at a chupa or other official functions. He conducted himself in a simple manner and did not wear a tie as was customary with a number of other Rabbonim.

In 1979, a short while after Rabbi Bistritsky was appointed the Rav of Kiryat Chabad in Tzfas, two older Chassidim approached him with a confidential matter. It related to the resting place of the Rebbe Maharash’s son, Reb Menachem Mendel, which did not have a tombstone when it was transferred in 1954. Rabbi Bistritsky wrote to the Rebbe and was instructed to place a matzeva. The Rebbe immediately sent notifice through Rabbi Hodokov that he was paying for the expenses, in order that there should be no need for Yungeleit in Tzfas to begin raising funds.

In Sivan 1979, Rabbi Bistritsky came to New York with his family and they entered Yechidus. The Rebbe said, that he was the Moreh D’asro, the Rav, in Tzfas, although not formally. In a peaceful manner in time, and it will be official and accepted by the entire city.

In 1984, the Rebbe initiated the daily study of the Rambam. Rabbi Bistritsky immediately gathered a group and began the study of the Rambam at the Rambam’s resting place. Every year he came to make a siyum at the Rambam’s tzion and also followed up visits when he was conducting siyumim on the various sforim and halachos of the Rambam. On one occasion, the Rebbe mentioned, “He has Ahavas Yisroel and he brought along mashkeh from the siyum at the resting place of the Rambam.” Rabbi Yaroslavsky, the Rav in Nachalas Har Chabad, stated, “The siyum HoRambam is an example of Rabbi Bistritsky’s attachment to the Rebbe. He would annually participate and conduct the siyum at the resting place of the Rambam. He felt an obligation, in particular after hearing that the Rebbe was pleased with this project”.

In later years, when the siyum HoRambam would take place in Egypt, where the Rambam had lived, the Rebbe instructed that Reb Levi should be included in the delegation for two reasons. 1) He is the Rav near the resting place of the Rambam. 2) He already conducted siyumin in the past, therefore he has a unique connection with the Rambam. A member of the delegation said, “Attending the siyum Horambam ceremony would be various delegates, Egyptian ministers, police captains and Israeli representatives. Rabbi Bistritsky would address them in English and speak with an inward chassidic storm, and would inspire the listeners who were never tired of hearing him”.

Over the course of the years, Rabbi Bistritsky compiled a sefer on the Rambam and on the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch.

In 1987, the Rabbonim in North Israel gathered and decided to appoint Reb Levi to head the board of shmita supervision supplied all the fruits and vegetables for people who observed shmita in Israel.

In 1989, the position of the Rav of Tzfas, became available. Horav Simcha Kaplan was nifter and elections were planned. Many, including Hagaon Reb Ovadia Yosef saw Rabbi Bistritsky as a natural candidate for the Rav’s position. People who visited the Rebbe at that time were urged to do everything to ensure Rabbi Bistritsky’s success. For ten years on many occasions the Rebbe asked that they choose Rabbi Bistritsky as the Rav of Tzfas.

Rabbi Bistritsky was elected, and on the 24rd of Av 1993, he began to function as the chief rabbi of Tzfas and the Galil. The Rebbe’s prophecy of fourteen years earlier had been fulfilled.

During an impressive and beautiful ceremony, he was crowned the chief Rabbi of Tzfas, and merited to receive the Rebbe’s warm brochos. Attending the ceremony, were the Rabbonim of the cities and villages of the entire North Israel. The Chief Rabbis of Israel, Horabonim Hageonim, Horav Yisroel Meir Lau and Horav Eliyohu Bakshi Doron, arrived on a special flight.

Chinuch

Over the course of the years, there was a cooperation and partnership between Rabbi Bistritsky and Horav Eliyohu, provided a role model for a relationship between the Ashkenazic and Sefardic Rav. For over twenty years with achdus, Rabbi Bistritsky successfully worked with various circles in Tzfas, was mekarev them, and contributed much to the Jewish chinuch in all the mosdos of the city.

Father and son

The Father and Son project was not known by Chabad in Israel until approximately ten years ago. Rabbi Bistritsky established this project in Tzfas. He would sit and study with his young son every Shabbos. This served as a role model for others to do as well.

Rabbi Bistritsky was advised by the Rebbe to write sforim on the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch. One of the seforim was published right after his wedding in 1973. He compiled a total of ten sforim, in which he wrote insights in the halachos of the Shulchan Aruch, explanations and so on. This week, yet a new sefer of Rabbi Bistrisky’s works was published. The sefer “Shaar Menachem” consists of a compilation of laws and customs and contains the Rebbe’s directives and comments.

The mosad Sichos in English was preparing the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch in English which was later published by Kehos, Rabbi Bistritsky was the Rav chosen to review and edit the Shulchan Aruch. He was very particular with every detail and at times, he added comments or corrections. He worked very quickly and edited the third volume during his hospitalization before his ptira.

Over the years, as a moreh hora’o in Halacha, conducting public affairs in a professional manner, he was greatly respected. Many people from different circles, the Chassidishe and Litvishe worlds, and various government parties supported him in the bid of for being a candidate for the chief rabbi position in Israel.

A week before his ptira Rabbi Bistritsky was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack. The following Motzoei Shabbos he was nifter, leaving the whole city of Tzfas in mourning.

He left may they live and be well, his Rebbetzin, Mrs. Esther Shulmais Bistritsky; his son, Horav Mordechai who succeeded his father’s position as the Rav; his son, Horav Yisochor Sholom, his son, Horav Schneur Zalman; Yosef Yitzchok; his daughter, Mrs. Nechomo Utla, wife of Horav Dovid Kurtz; Shmuel; Moshe; Yisroel and grandchildren.

Yehi Zichro Boruch! May Hagaon Hachossid Hatomim Reb Levi Bistritsky, a Chossid who was committed to the study of Torah, and demonstrated love, concern and respect for a fellow Jew on a daily basis, who assisted them with two basic requirements for spiritual nourishment – chinuch and kashrus, and in his position as a Rav represented the Rebbe and Lubavitch with great pride, and glorified the Rebbe’s initiatives and mosdos; serve as the inspiration to be sincerely devoted and committed to the study of Torah and Halacha, and find or schedule time to relate to the well being of every individual Jew spiritually and physically in our midst, and to provide them with their needs.

We should speedily witness “The ones who dwell in the dust will awaken and rejoice” with Hagaon Hachossid Hatomim Reb Levi Bistritsky, among them.