R' Aryeh Leib Horowitz, A.B.D. Stanislaw

Author of Pnei Aryeh פני אריה.

http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/stanislawow-arim/staph064.html

The first of the rabbis of Stanislawow from the Horowitz family was Rabbi Aryeh Leibush, the son of Rabbi Elazar the rabbi of Zalozce, the son of Rabbi Yitzchak the rabbi of A”HW (Altona, Hamburg, Wandsbek) who was known as Rabbi Itzikel Hamburger. Rabbi Aryeh Leibush occupied the rabbinic seat of Stanislawow for more than 60 years. (It is impossible to establish an exact time, since the biographers are divided on this matter. For example my father of blessed memory, in his book Alon Bachut which is the eulogy that was delivered in the Great Synagogue of Stanislawow on the 30th day (shloshim) of the passing of his father Rabbi Meshulam Yissachar of blessed memory, states that Rabbi Leibush served for 63 years in the rabbinate. Others, such as Rabbi Tzvi Horowitz in his book Kitvei Hageonim states that he served for almost 60 years.) However, according to all opinions, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush ascended the rabbinical seat of that city when he was young, in his 20s. During his tenure, he reached his 80s and beyond. He was connected to the community throughout these decades. The people of the city were connected with a unique, inseparable bond to him and his descendents who later took his place. Rabbi Aryeh Leibush was a very famous righteous man and Gaon in his generation. He was already great in Torah when he was still young. The story about how he was appointed as the rabbi of Stanislawow is a testimony to his renown. The story was as follows: In the year 5543 / 1783 (some say 5541 / 1781), the community of Stanislawow had to appoint a rabbi and head of the rabbinical court, they wished to appoint great scholar of a good family. Since the good name of Rabbi Elazar the rabbi of Zalozce, the son of the Gaon Rabbi Itzikel Hamburger, reached them, they set their eyes upon him. The leaders of the city appointed a delegation of three honorable rabbis, one of them being the rabbi and Gaon Rabbi Yaakov the author of Chavat Daat who was later the rabbi of Lissa and at the time a resident of Stanislawow, and charged them with the task of traveling to Zalozce to investigate the worthiness of the aforementioned Rabbi Elazar, to see if his essence is according to the name that precedes him, and whether he would be fitting to be taken as the rabbi of the city. When the men arrived at the home of Rabbi Elazar in Zalozce, they did not find him at home, for he had gone to the surrounding area to attend a circumcision or for some other matter. In the house of the rabbi, they only found the son of the rabbi, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush, a young man who was supported at his father's table. He was sitting with a Gemara on his knees, rocking a baby in a cradle. The men entered into conversation with the young man, and the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov began to discuss Torah matters with him. The eyes of Rabbi Yaakov were opened wide, for the young man was found to be wondrously sharp and competent. There was great astonishment when Rabbi Yaakov turned to his friends and said to them: “Let us put the crown of the rabbinate of the holy community of Stanislawow onto the head of this Rabbi Leibush even before Rabbi Elazar returns home and we meet him.” These words surprised his two friends in the delegation, but the authority of Rabbi Yaakov left no room at all for dispute, and it was also clear to them that if Rabbi Yaakov had reached such a decision, they have no other choice but to agree to it. They kept the matter in their hearts out of politeness. When Rabbi Elazar returned home, they talked to him and told him what had happened. Rabbi Elazar answered: “Is any father jealous of his son? The matter came from G-d, and may this be a fortuitous occasion.” The delegates returned home and told the community about their journey and its results. They immediately agreed to send a letter with great honor to Rabbi Aryeh Leibush, appointing him as rabbi and the head of the rabbinical court. Thus was Rabbi Aryeh Leibush accepted as the rabbi of Stanislawow and the region.

The “region” was not a mere description of formality in those days, as it was in the latter times. For Rabbi Leibush was indeed the rabbi of the region (Kreis) of Stanislawow, for several cities of the area were subordinate to the rabbi of Stanislawow in several areas.

Rabbi Aryeh Leibush was accepted as the rabbi of Stanislawow with great honor and splendor, with the agreement of all the citizens of the city, and to the joy of all the leaders and scholars of the city, headed by the rabbi and Gaon the author of Chavat Daat Rabbi Yaakov of Lissa. He began his tenure with success. However, he had to pass one more test, and that was: the law of the land that was issued in 5532 (1772) by the Austrian Empress Maria Teresa that appointed a “State Rabbi” in Galicia. All rabbis in the state of Galicia had to be appointed by the authority of this state rabbi. This position had been given to Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein, who was at that time the rabbi of Zbaraz and latter settled in his native city of Brody. Rabbi Aryeh Leibush had to receive an authorization to be appointed as rabbi of Stanislawow from the aforementioned state rabbi, who would come once a year from his residence in Brody to the home of the rabbi of Lvov, where he conducted these authorizations. However, when he presented his request to the State Rabbi, the latter turned to the rabbi of Lvov and said, “See how these young people are jumping to the top, by occupying rabbinical seats and becoming rabbis in important cities, in which my seat is only greater by virtue of its status.” He said this and refused to sign the writ of authorization. Rabbi Leibush was humiliated and also angry at this elder rabbi, for he realized that the refusal to authorize him was not for legitimate reasons, but rather due to a grudge, for about 40 years earlier, Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein had been the recipient of a legal decision against him from the grandfather of Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Horowitz, Rabbi Yaakov Yokel of Glogow, the father of Rabbi Itzikel the rabbi of AH”W.

In order to exonerate himself, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush turned to the rabbi of Lvov and said, “Our rabbi, you are indeed the general rabbi of the state since you are the rabbi of the capital Lvov, and all rabbis of the state must be subordinate to you, for you are the greatest of the generation among us. This State Rabbi is only appointed by the government. If he wishes to question whether I am fitting to be appointed, let our rabbi examine both of us right here today and state his judgment in the honor of the Torah which of the two of us is greater in Torah.” The rabbi of Lwow gestured to the State Rabbi that it is not fitting to refuse to authorize Rabbi Leibush Horowitz, and it will not add to his glory to enter into a dispute with this young rabbi who was known to him for his greatness in Torah and his excellent talents. Thus did rabbi Leibush receive the signature of the State Rabbi.

Rabbi Aryeh Leibush occupied his seat in Stanislawow with the glory of everyone. All members of the community and the region were filled with awe toward him. They also liked him, and his name spread throughout the Jewish Diaspora as a great Torah scholar, a righteous man with pure fear of heaven and modesty. The stories and legends that people told about their distinguished rabbi are testimony to this. Many of these remain to our day. During the latter days, the writers of annals were able to publish some of them, but many of them remained as part of an oral tradition. I will bring some of these stories and legends, not necessarily for their historical veracity, but rather as testimony about how the image of this man was portrayed, and how he was seen in the eyes of the wider community.

Indeed, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush sat on his rabbinical seat in the city of Stanislawow and its region in peace and honor, to the joy of the members of his community who began to recognized and understand his greatness in Torah, his righteousness, and his other sublime character traits. This was also to the satisfaction of the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Loreberbaum, the author of Chavat Daat, who, as has been mentioned, lived at the time in Stanislawow and worked in large scale commerce and business. After a short period, when Rabbi Aryeh Leibush was approximately 25 years old, the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Loreberbaum and his partner Reb Avraham Seinfeld came before him for a Torah judgment regarding a dispute between them regarding their partnership in a large enterprise. After the rabbi heard the claims of both sides, he adjudicated in favor of Reb Avraham Seinfeld. When the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov heard the judgment against him, he stood up without saying a word, and left the house of the rabbi in anger, slamming the door strongly behind him. That evening, Reb Avraham Seinfeld went to the home of his partner the Gaon, and through conversation and with proper respect, issued a reproof regarding his behavior in the house of the rabbi, who despite being of a young age – was the rabbi of the city and also a scion of a good family, with a good name, and honorable and holy ancestors. Rabbi Yaakov answered him: “But his adjudication was against a clear decision of the Code of Jewish Law”. Reb Avraham said to him, “Bring a book and let us see.” How surprised he was when he looked in the Code of Jewish Law and suddenly realized that he had made an error, and the rabbi had issued a correct judgment. Rabbi Yaakov said in the name of our sages, “A person does not see his own error.” He admitted to his partner: “I made a mistake, and the rabbi judged properly…” Reb Avraham said to him, “Now it is appropriate for your honor to appease the rabbi for the embarrassment that you caused him.” Rabbi Yaakov answered, “It is not sufficient for me to appease him, I will go and receive and admonishment from him.” The next day, Rabbi Yaakov went to the house of the rabbi, removed his shoes and received an admonishment, even those he was much older than him, since was already 40 years old, and was already known as a mighty Gaon. From that time, the love between the two of them grew, and they became close and faithful friends.

Already from his youth, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush excelled in his studies. He was diligent, and studied a great deal. He also had a sharp intellect for Torah and a wonderful memory. His paternal grandfather Rabbi Itzikel was a rabbi in Brody, and was later accepted as the rabbi of A”HW (Altona, Hamburg, Wandsbek). Before Rabbi Itzikel left Brody, his son Rabbi Elazar traveled from Zalozce to Brody to take leave of his father. He took his five year old son Rabbi Aryeh Leibush with him, and brought him to his father. Rabbi Itzikel tested his young grandson, and realized that he was already fluent in the Five Books of the Chumash with the Targum Unkelos. Rabbi Itzikel placed his hands on him, blessed him, and said, “I am sure that you will be a rabbinical teacher in Israel.” (From the preface of the book Chaye Aryeh.) He studied Torah from his father Rabbi Elazar and later in the Yeshiva of the great Gaon Rabbi Yitzhak Charif in Sambor. He was one of his greatest disciples, “dear to him like his own soul” (Kitvei Geonim). In one response in his book Pnei Yitzhak, Rabbi Yitzhak Charif refers to him, among other statements, as “A student who teaches his teachers”. Finally, he was a student of his uncle the Gaon Rabbi Meshulam Igra, who was known as Rabbi Meshulam of Tysmienica or Rabbi Meshulam of Pressburg. Rabbi Meshulam was the one who ordained Rabbi Leibush. It is known that Rabbi Meshulam never ordained anyone except for three of his students, Rabbi Yaakov of Lissa, Rabbi Natan Neta of Podhajce, and our Rabbi Aryeh Leibush.

Rabbi Yaakov of Lissa was still living in Stanislawow when he published his famous book Pri Megadim on the Yoreh Deah section of the Shulchan Aruch. One he went to the house of the rabbi and praised this book. Rabbi Aryeh Leibush answered, “I know the author and his level of Torah, and I can imagine what he is able to innovate. Let us take a bet to see if I am able to say his novel ideas at any place.” They made a bet over mead. Rabbi Yaakov opened the Pri Megadim, and in every place, Rabbi Leibush found what his friend had innovated.

When Rabbi Aryeh Leibush was living in Stanislawow, the city was in a constant ascendancy, and the rabbi also grew in Torah and fear of Heaven, and was more and more revered by the people of the city who esteemed every word that emerged from his mouth. He was not a “Rebbe” who performed wonders and signs, but he had the power of Torah, and he did not shy away from a battle. Householders already knew to talk about the “wondrous deeds” that “took place with me”. He was known as a great person in the world of scholarship, and from near and far, rabbis began to turn to him with questions and response in Halacha. He was a Misnaged the son of Misnagdim, and various Hassidic Rebbes would praise him. One Tzadik lovingly nicknamed him in the vernacular (Panicz) (a Young Master). Another said that he was “The guardian of the covenant”. When Hassidim of Stanislawow would come to Rabbi Meirl of Przemyslany, he would say to them, “Why do you have to travel to Meir? Do you not have Rabbi Aryeh in your midst, who is 'A Lion from the Heavens'[1]”. He always sent a greeting to the rabbi with love and awe through these people.

His custom and way of life was in the manner of Misnagdim rabbis. He was careful not to do anything at all unless it was in accordance with the Code of Jewish Law. However, we hear of no persecution of Hassidim or their Rebbes from him. He guarded what was his – that is his own rights – from the influence of Admorim. However, he never crossed the boundaries in this matter. Even in a place where he had some conflict with an Admor, he conducted himself politely and honorably, and refrained from attack. There were also cases where he expressed admiration. It is said that he was also involved with the study of Kabbalah; however we have no reliable source for this. It is only known that he made a redemption (he did not receive a redemption) with 160 coins[2].

It is appropriate to bring down the following stories on this matter:

Rabbi Leibush used to eat soaked matzo on Passover[3], unlike the custom of the Hassidim who were very careful about this. He was sitting at his table, eating a dish made from soaked matzo, when a woman entered and asked the rabbi: “My husband does not eat soaked matzo, and only eats matzo shmura, whereas the members of the family eat regular matzo, and the dishes of my husband have become intermixed with the dishes of the rest of the family.” The rabbi listened and said, “From this it is obvious that a rabbi should not eat anything of which some people have a stringency of not eating.” From then, he stopped being lenient upon himself in this matter.

Once, the famous Tzadik Rabbi Chaim of Kosow became involved in the matter of a shochet (ritual slaughterer) in a city in the region of Stanislawow that was under the supervision of the rabbi of Stanislawow. Rabbi Aryeh Leibush wrote to him on this matter: “The law of Kosow is splendid for all of its followers” (A play on words of Kosow and kasuv “written”). However, you should not get involved in a matter under the jurisdiction of the rabbi of Stanislawow.” During that time, the first Hassidic Kloiz was set up in Stanislawow. This was the Vishnitz Kloiz. The rabbi found out that the Hassidim had not recited Tachanun[4] on Pesach Sheni. He entered and warned them that they were not acting in accordance with the Code of Jewish Law. Once Rabbi Aryeh Leibush traveled to Russia to arrange a marriage, and passed through the area of Mezhibozh. He went to Medzhibozh and visited the Tzadik Rabbi Baruch, who received him with great honor. He prepared a repast in his honor. There were many fine delicacies on the table, as could be afforded by the Medzhibozh court, which conducted itself in an elaborate manner. They served soup with rice, and Rabbi Leibush did not eat. Rabbi Baruch asked him, “Why are you not eating?” Rabbi Leibush answered him that he has a custom not to eat rice. Rabbi Baruch issued a command to remove the rice from the table. Later, they served other foods which Rabbi Leibush had a custom not to eat. Each time, without complaint, Rabbi Baruch commanded that they be removed from the table.

It was said about Rabbi Aryeh Leibush that when he needed a book, he went to the bookshelf, and the book practically came out to greet him. He would always find the place that he wanted when he first opened up the book. One winter night, he approached the bookshelf and found the required book only with difficulty. He opened it and leafed through it, and could not find the place he was looking for. There was a person present and he asked: “Why is it like this on this night?” Then it became clear: It was the night of Nitl, and he had a custom not to learn on the night of Nitl.[5]

{Photos page 73: Top: Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Horowitz the author of Harei Bashamayim. Bottom: Rabbi Moshe Horowitz.} His son Rabbi Meshulam Yissachar was the son-in-law of Rabbi Tzvi Mendelsburg of Kazimierz in Greater Poland. This Rabbi Tzvi was a cousin of Rabbi Aryeh Leibush. He was very wealthy and his home was filled with vessels of gold and other valuables. The match was completed in Stanislawow, and the in-law was the guest of Rabbi Aryeh Leibush. When the time came for Rabbi Tzvi to bid farewell and return home, he treated Rabbi Leibush with aromatic tobacco from a box of pure gold. Rabbi Leibush looked at the box and said, “This is a very beautiful vessel”. Rabbi Tzvi said to him, “It is good in the eyes of my in-law; I can give the box to you as a gift.” Rabbi Leibush said, “Heaven forbid, for he who hates gifts will live. It is just that I like the vessel.” Rabbi Tzvi said, “I am prepared to sell the object to my in-law, for I am able to purchase another one from the merchant from whom I bought this one, and the price is not high. Only one ruby.” Rabbi Leibush said, “Okay, I will purchase it.” He turned to his wife and said, “Please, give our in-law one ruby for this tobacco box. His in-law took leave of him and set out on his way. Later, someone visited the home of the rabbi and saw the gold box in his hand. He asked, “from where did our rabbi get such a valuable object?' He answered, “I purchased it from my in-law for one ruby.” The man said, “This vessel is worth many rubies.” When Rabbi Leibush heard this he was very upset, and he said, “What is this, a relative came to cheat me, and he still wishes to be my in-law?” He immediately commanded his assistant to hasten to catch up to the man and return it, for he wished to break off the match with the man who had brought him into a deceitful deal. The man returned, and it was only with great difficultly that he and his household were able to appease Rabbi Leibush, and to convince him to change his mind and go through with the match. Reb Dovidl Sofer was well-known in Stanislawow as a praiseworthy jester. When he entertained the gathering at weddings, everyone would be rolling with laughter. From where did he get his great power? He did not know how to explain wondrous Midrashim, to weave together words of Torah, or to compose verses. Song was not his talent either. His only special enchanting talent was with his gestures and movements. As soon as Reb Dovidl curved his lips, people immediately began to laugh. From where did such a power come, and why was he called Reb Dovidl Sofer (the scribe)? The story was as follows: when Dovidl was young, he served Rabbi Aryeh Leibush. The rabbi liked him very much and blessed him with length of days for his faithful service. He became a scribe after he left the service of the rabbi. Once a villager who was a wealthy innkeeper came to him with the request: Since I have a wife who is bitter and hostile and does not want to get divorced, Let Reb Dovidl write a Get (Jewish bill of divorce), and I will give it to her without her agreement. Dovidl was a joker. He stood up, took the Get paper and wrote on it the Purim hymn Shoshanat Yaakov from beginning to end, gave it to the man, and received a good payment in return. This became know to Rabbi Leibush, and even though he liked Reb Dovidl very much, he invalidated him from being a scribe. However, since the women did not get married to someone else and no mishap came from the incident, he comforted him and told him not to worry. He blessed him with grace. Indeed, that is the way it turned out. He was full of grace. His livelihood came easily. With the passage of time he became well off, and he also lived a long life.

Rabbi Aryeh Leibush did not sleep for more than one hour consecutively during the night. He would get up every hour, wash his hands, and return to bed until his wakeup time came. Once he go up early, and when he saw his sexton, who was sleeping in the next room, saw that the rabbi had already got dressed, he pointed out: “Rabbi, your wakeup time has not yet come.” The rabbi answered him: “Do you not hear? The voice of the woman in the throes of childbirth is piercing the heavens!” He walked to and fro in the room, and while he was still busy with the “matter of the redemption”, a man entered and screamed that his wife is having a difficult labor, is in danger and requires mercy. The rabbi answered him that he should go to his home immediately. Within the hour, the man returned and told the rabbi that his wife had given birth to a child in good fortune. I heard this interesting story from my uncle Rabbi Yitzchak of blessed memory, the rabbi of Stanislawow. He and his elder brother Rabbi Elazar of blessed memory (The rabbi of Rohatyn, where he is buried), during their youth, visited their grandfather Rabbi Aryeh Leibush. Their grandfather was already very old and did not hear well. They spoke to him through pipes. Once, in the middle of the night, he entered the next room in which the two boys were sleeping, grabbed them and took them under his shoulders, one on his right and the other on his left. He removed them from the room while they were still sleeping and brought them to another room. As soon as they entered the second room, the ceiling of the room in which they had been sleeping fell down noisily to the ground. How did this deaf old man sense this – nobody could not. Obviously, people regarded this as a portent.

On the 12th of Adar II 5594 (1834), ten years before his death, he wrote a will with in his own writing. In the will, he commanded that on his gravestone, there should not be inscribed any words of praise, but only: “The Rabbi who served for so and so years in our community and the region as head of the rabbinical court and teacher of righteousness.” He moved to Tysmienica close to the time of his death and lived there until his last day. He died there on the 29th of Kislev 5604 (1843), and is buried there.

He left behind many writings, response, sermons, and Torah novellae. He never published any of his books during his lifetime, and most of his manuscripts were burnt or stolen. It is said that many of them fell into the hands of plagiarists who published his novellae in their own names. Many yeas after his death, his grandson Rabbi Elazar, the rabbi of Rohatyn, the eldest son of his son Rabbi Meshulam Yissachar, at the behest of his father published some of the novellae of Rabbi Aryeh Leibush on the Torah, and organized them into a book by the Torah portion. He called the book Pnei Aryeh, and added his own essay to this book called Ateret Zekeinim. This book was published in 5634 (1873) in Przemyslany by his son Rabbi Shalom Alter of blessed memory, the rabbi of Tluste.

A few years before he left Stanislawow and moved to Tysmienica, when he was already close to 80 years old, he called his son Rabbi Meshulam Yissachar, the son of his old age, who was serving as the rabbi in Zalozce, and ordered him to move his residence to Stanislawow to help him conduct the rabbinate. Apparently, his intention was to transfer the rabbinical seat in his lifetime to Rabbi Meshulam, who he had chosen to take his place after him. In his will, he asked the residents of Stanislawow to appoint his son Rabbi Meshulam Yissachar as their rabbi to take his place for “on his chair no stranger shall sit”. In this section of his will, he waxes eloquent in praise of his son, stating: “I testify that I have not attained half of the wise heart of my son, with his Torah, sharpness and expertise.” After his death, they fulfilled his will in Stanislawow, and coronated Rabbi Meshulam Yissachar with the crown of the rabbinate with great honor in place of his father.

http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/stanislawow-arim/sta068.html

אריה ליב הלוי, אבד"ק סטאניסלאב, מחבר הספר פני אריה

רבי אריה לייב הורוביץ אב"ד סטניסלב, בשנת תקל"ז נשא לאשה את מרת מרים בת דודו רבי יששכר שטרן מיאריטשוב, ובזיווג שני נשא את גיטל בת רבי צבי הירש מאה"ו בעל תפארת ציב. כיהן כרב בסטניסלב במשך שישים ושלש שנים.

http://www.sztetl.org.pl/he/article/harsz/23,-/15424,-/

שמות הרבנים בסטינסלבוב

• אריה-לייב אאורבך, כיהן כרב בסטניסלבוב

בשנים 1750- 1740.

• הרב יהודה, כיהן בשנים 1764-1784.

* הרב אריה לייב הורוביץ, כיהן בשנים 1784-1844.

• בנו של הרב לייב הורוביץ, הרב משולם יששכר הורוביץ, כיהן בשנים 1845-1881.
• בנו של משולם יששכר, הרב יצחק הורוביץ, כיהן בשנים 1887-1904.

[%D7%AA%D7%A8%D7%92%D7%95%D7%9D: יעקב קירשבראון, 2011]