Jerusalem Publisher Seeks to Unlock Modern Sage’s Torah Teachings
Long recognized as a one of the most brilliant minds of the past generations, but whose writings were primarily relegated to the purview of a small cadre of scholars, the Rogatchover Gaon – literally, the “genius of Rogatchov” – has for many years occupied a lofty space, inaccessible to the masses.
A new volume released by the prestigious Jerusalem publishing house of Mosad Harav Kook seeks to change all that, providing the keys, so to speak, to unlock the teachings of the early-20th century rabbinic leader.
Written by Rabbi Avraham Benshimon, a scholar and educator in Montreal, Canada, the work thematically annotates and explains the writings of Rabbi Yosef Rosen, whom the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, credited with “brilliantly shaping general rules for every single concept in Torah study.”
As a young child in Rogatchov, Belarus, Rosen earned a reputation as a brilliant and diligent scholar. He later became one of the two rabbis of Dvinsk.
“It was said of him,” writes Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, author of the Talmudic Encylopedia, “that he never took a haircut, because he never wanted his head to be uncovered and stop him from his studying.”
But while his in-depth analyses on Talmudic concepts have been discussed by various commentators, much of Rosen’s work has not been popularly studied. His writings frequently employ the use of short staccato sentences of enormous depth, alluding to an underlying logic, but demanding patient reflection on the part of the student.
“The Rogatchover wrote his commentary very [precisely], and without further explanation,” relates Rabbi Yosef Motchovitz of Mosad Harav Kook.
“When you begin to study the Rogatchover’s works, short in words, but long in the depth of what they explain, you find someone who has the authoritative power over all parts of scholarly Jewish teachings,” explains Zevin. “He finds what connects all of the aspects of the particular laws on a subject and then breaks it down into rules that explain difficult passages in those laws.”
On more than one occasion, the Rebbe pointed out that the Rogatchover’s genius stood unmatched. Beginning when he was 17, the Rebbe corresponded with Rosen, and would later base his teachings on some of Rogatchover’s foundations.
“He ate, drank and slept like every human being,” the Rebbe said in 1987, “however, his way of learning was wondrous.”
Article continued at Chabad.org – According to Motchovitz, Benshimon…
Moishe
brilliant article
Brilliant
he must be a genius of a man to put together a sefer like this, i’ve seen it! for some reason it’s not so out there in the Lubavitch stores, but in a lot of other circles it’s been a REAL BIG hit!! it’s being sold all around the world…
chabad.org
go to chabad.org for the full article
yossi
expecting the seifer
go-d-s right hand man
when i was in cheder a malamed mentioned the rogatchover and his ability to write with two hands simultaneously on different topics
possibly einstein was a heavenly brother of the rogatchover
Levi
This is not the first time someone has done this. Havent seen the book, but unless its a number of volumes, its onlt a drop in the ocean of the ragatchovers torah. Regarding the two hand issue, its a gemorah. Never heard it about the ragatchover though. Theres a story about Bialik telling the rogatchver that form one ragatchover you could make 3 einsteins and the ragatchover answering that form the remainder you could make 10 bialiks. Nuff said!
Breath of fresh air
Thank you for posting this article. It was a nice read and a breath of fresh air, especially the user comments. The tireless mudslinging found in other articles is abhorrent. Please post more material on the site that has common, mass-appeal, and which unites, not divides us.
dont even compare einstein to this gaon!
lehavdil- there is no comparison- the rogatchover far surpassed anyone for centuries- this sefer was in lubav but was immediately sold out here and in other areas.