Aryeh Leib Schochet

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Tombstone of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Schochet in Old Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, New York.
Tombstone of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Schochet in Old Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, New York.

Rabbi Aryeh Leib Schochet was a Russian rabbi who emigrated to the United States in 1907. He published one of the first books on Chassidus in America titled Lekutim Yekarim.

Contents

[edit] Biography

R. Aryeh Leib was born in Russia in 1845[1] to his father Yaacov Nisson a chossid of Rabbi Refoel of Bershid. His mother Shaindel was the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Zev Wolf Segal[2]. He grew up in a town lived in by the chassidim of Rabbi Refoel of Bershid[3], however he himself was a chassid of Rabbi Dovid of Tolna[4]. His uncle Reuven took care of Rabbi Avraham of Slovotia, who was lashed 1500 times by the Russian Government for their lack of freedom of speech. He and his brother where the owners a printing house. As was common, the text of published books would have to be edited to not have any negative remarks about the government, or other nations and religions other than Judaism. In Aryeh Leib's book he relates several stories involving Rabbi Avroham and himself at the age of twelve.

[edit] Rabbinate

Aryeh Leib became rabbi of the Russian town of Radifke, which is near the northeast border of modern Ukraine[5]. He served in several capacities in addition to his general rabbinic duties, including shechita or kosher animal slaughtering and as being a mohel or ritual circumciser. He was the catalyst for the founding of a Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick) organization and various charitable institutions. The founding of these organizations is detailed in a later chapter in his book.

[edit] Emigration

In 1907 he emigrated to the United States with his family. He came over with his son Abraham, and two daughters Fruma (Fannie Rosenzweig) and Brocha (Bertha Shapiro), and their families. They settled in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York. At the time Brownsville was the largest Jewish neighborhood outside of the Lower East Side. He had a close relationship with many of his American Rabbic colleagues. Upon arrival he was reunited with his childhood friend Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Rabinowits the Rebbe of Monostritz.

[edit] Lekutim Yekarim

He published his book Lekutim Yekarim in 1926. It was one of if not the first books on the topic of chassidus published in America at that time. It was printed with several approbation from leading rabbinic figures. Including Rabbi Yehoushua Heschel Rabinowitz, the Rebbe of Monostritz, Rabbi Dovid Moredechai Twersky, Rebbe of Tolna and Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Twersky, Rebbe of Tolna - Philadelphia. The sefer contains many essays of recorded sermons used in Radifke. It includes stories and teachings from tens of Rabbis of earlier generations. Quoted several times is Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Eliyahu of Villna, the Villan Goan. Rabbi Dovid'l Tolner,

[edit] References

  1. ^ According to introduction to Sefer Lekutim Yekarim, New Square, 1993
  2. ^ Quoted several times for stories.
  3. ^ Based on reference to growing up around the followers of Rabbi Refoel in his book.
  4. ^ Of all quoted in his book Rabbi Dovid of Tolna has by far the most.
  5. ^ See side bar photo for map.

[edit] External Links

Tolner Rebbe's Webpage [1]

Kevarim of Tzadikim In North America [2]