Avraham Abba Leifer
Encyclopedia
Avraham Abba Leifer was the second Rebbe of the Pittsburg
Hasidic
dynasty and the instigator for the relocation of the Hasidut from its original location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
to the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod. He was widely known for his yiras Shamayim (fear of Heaven), humility and friendliness toward Jews of all backgrounds.
, the grandson of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna
and a direct descendant of Grand Rabbi Meir the Great of Premishlan
, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the oldest of four brothers; the others were Yissachar Ber, Mordechai and Yitzchak Eisik. Yitzchak Eisik died at the age of 11.
Before the First World War, Rabbi Yosef traveled to America to raise money to marry off his orphaned sisters. When he came to the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the local Hasidic community asked him to stay and serve as their spiritual leader. Rabbi Yosef agreed and brought over his entire family, naming himself the Pittsburger Rebbe. He served as Rebbe for more than four decades, until his death on 7 March 1966 (Shushan Purim 5726).
Though the family now lived in America, Rabbi Yosef sent his three eldest sons to learn in yeshiva
s in Europe. Avraham Abba left for the Rachover Yeshiva in 1930. He excelled in his studies and received rabbinic ordination
there at the age of 17. He also learned in the yeshiva in Sekelheid, considered to be the crown of Hungarian yeshivas, where he excelled in his studies.
In 1939 he married Rachel, the daughter of Rabbi Isamar of Nadvorna. Due to the political situation in Europe, his parents were unable to attend the wedding.
. While he was living at his father-in-law's house in Chernowitz
, he once accompanied a visitor home without remembering to put on his coat, on which the yellow badge was sewn. Nazi
officials arrested him and brought him to a large courtyard where thousands of Jews had been rounded up for deportation. Though most of the captured Jews spoke bleakly about their fate, Rabbi Avraham Abba displayed strong emunah (faith in God) and immersed himself in heartfelt prayers. Two days later, when the men were being led into cattle cars, an SS
officer instructed Rabbi Avraham Abba to stand to the side. After the transport left, the officer said to him, "You should know that in the past few days, I observed all of you, and I heard everyone talking with despair in their voices, except for you. You were busy praying to your God, so know that your God has heard your prayers and you are free to go." Rabbi Avraham Abba ran back to his father-in-law's house, where his family was already mourning his demise. He recounted this story of his personal redemption at every Passover Seder
.
In 1947, Rabbi Avraham Abba and his wife succeeded in leaving Communist Romania
and returned to America. They resettled in Newark, New Jersey
, where he taught Torah and Hasidut, eventually opening a Hasidic yeshiva. Upon his father's death in 1966, Rabbi Avraham Abba accepted the invitation of the Pittsburger Hasidim to succeed his father as Rebbe.
for avreichim (married students) from Bnei Brak yeshivas and founded Yeshivas Tzidkas Yosef in memory of his father. During the last 20 years of his life, he brought thousands of Jews back to full Torah observance and drew countless families closer to the Hasidut.
The Rebbe became known throughout Israel for his great yiras Shamayim (fear of Heaven) and ahavas Yisrael (love for fellow Jews). His son, Rabbi Mordechai Yissachar Ber, testified that his father detached himself from worldly pleasures and did everything for the sake of fulfilling the mitzvos of the Torah. Yet he also displayed a genuine simcha shel mitzvah (joy in performing mitzvos), and would engage others with humorous vertlach (stories).
He was also quite humble. Unlike the custom of most Rebbes, who first partake of the food at a tish
and then hand out shirayim to those in attendance, the Rebbe would distribute the food to the attendees and only afterward take for himself, saying that he wanted "to eat shirayim from the holy Jewish nation". He also waited for others to be served before he would partake at family meals.
5750) and was buried on Har HaMenuchot
in Jerusalem. His son, Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer, who succeeded him as Rebbe, has built on his programs and expanded the Hasidut to its current total of 100 families, each of whom has a personal relationship with the Rebbe.
The Rebbe left behind a large number of unpublished manuscripts and his published work, Emunas Avraham.
Pittsburg (Hasidic dynasty)
Pittsburg is a Hasidic dynasty founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1924 by Rabbi Yosef Leifer, a Hungarian rabbi and descendant of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna...
Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
dynasty and the instigator for the relocation of the Hasidut from its original location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
to the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod. He was widely known for his yiras Shamayim (fear of Heaven), humility and friendliness toward Jews of all backgrounds.
Early life
Avraham Abba was born in Krula, Hungary to Rabbi Yosef LeiferYosef Leifer
Yosef Leifer was the first Rebbe and founder of the Pittsburg Hasidic dynasty in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which he led for 42 years...
, the grandson of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna
Mordechai of Nadvorna
Rabbi Mordechai Leifer was the son of Rabbi Yesochor Bertche Leifer , author of Sisrei Torah, and a great-great-grandson of Rabbi Meir "The Great" of Premishlan....
and a direct descendant of Grand Rabbi Meir the Great of Premishlan
Premishlan (Hasidic dynasty)
Premishlan is a Hasidic dynasty.It was founded by Grand Rabbi Meir Hagadol of Peremyshliany - Dynasty :Grand Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism*The Great Grand Rabbi Meir Hagadol of Premishlan , disciple of the Baal Shem Tov...
, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the oldest of four brothers; the others were Yissachar Ber, Mordechai and Yitzchak Eisik. Yitzchak Eisik died at the age of 11.
Before the First World War, Rabbi Yosef traveled to America to raise money to marry off his orphaned sisters. When he came to the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the local Hasidic community asked him to stay and serve as their spiritual leader. Rabbi Yosef agreed and brought over his entire family, naming himself the Pittsburger Rebbe. He served as Rebbe for more than four decades, until his death on 7 March 1966 (Shushan Purim 5726).
Though the family now lived in America, Rabbi Yosef sent his three eldest sons to learn in yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s in Europe. Avraham Abba left for the Rachover Yeshiva in 1930. He excelled in his studies and received rabbinic ordination
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
there at the age of 17. He also learned in the yeshiva in Sekelheid, considered to be the crown of Hungarian yeshivas, where he excelled in his studies.
In 1939 he married Rachel, the daughter of Rabbi Isamar of Nadvorna. Due to the political situation in Europe, his parents were unable to attend the wedding.
World War II
Of the three brothers learning in European yeshivas, only Avraham Abba survived the HolocaustThe Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
. While he was living at his father-in-law's house in Chernowitz
Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. The city is situated on the upper course of the River Prut, a tributary of the Danube, in the northern part of the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently divided between Romania and Ukraine...
, he once accompanied a visitor home without remembering to put on his coat, on which the yellow badge was sewn. Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
officials arrested him and brought him to a large courtyard where thousands of Jews had been rounded up for deportation. Though most of the captured Jews spoke bleakly about their fate, Rabbi Avraham Abba displayed strong emunah (faith in God) and immersed himself in heartfelt prayers. Two days later, when the men were being led into cattle cars, an SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
officer instructed Rabbi Avraham Abba to stand to the side. After the transport left, the officer said to him, "You should know that in the past few days, I observed all of you, and I heard everyone talking with despair in their voices, except for you. You were busy praying to your God, so know that your God has heard your prayers and you are free to go." Rabbi Avraham Abba ran back to his father-in-law's house, where his family was already mourning his demise. He recounted this story of his personal redemption at every Passover Seder
Passover Seder
The Passover Seder is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is conducted on the evenings of the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, and on the 15th by traditionally observant Jews living outside Israel. This corresponds to late March or April in...
.
In 1947, Rabbi Avraham Abba and his wife succeeded in leaving Communist Romania
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
and returned to America. They resettled in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, where he taught Torah and Hasidut, eventually opening a Hasidic yeshiva. Upon his father's death in 1966, Rabbi Avraham Abba accepted the invitation of the Pittsburger Hasidim to succeed his father as Rebbe.
Move to Ashdod
In 1970, the Rebbe decided to move to Israel. He chose the coastal city of Ashdod for his new base, though at the time the city had very few religious Jews and almost no Hasidim. He worked to establish Torah schools for the children, bringing in teachers from other cities, and began monthly shiurim (classes) for adults. He also established a kollelKollel
A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...
for avreichim (married students) from Bnei Brak yeshivas and founded Yeshivas Tzidkas Yosef in memory of his father. During the last 20 years of his life, he brought thousands of Jews back to full Torah observance and drew countless families closer to the Hasidut.
The Rebbe became known throughout Israel for his great yiras Shamayim (fear of Heaven) and ahavas Yisrael (love for fellow Jews). His son, Rabbi Mordechai Yissachar Ber, testified that his father detached himself from worldly pleasures and did everything for the sake of fulfilling the mitzvos of the Torah. Yet he also displayed a genuine simcha shel mitzvah (joy in performing mitzvos), and would engage others with humorous vertlach (stories).
He was also quite humble. Unlike the custom of most Rebbes, who first partake of the food at a tish
Tish (Hasidic celebration)
A tish , also spelled tisch, is a gathering of Hasidim around their Rebbe. It may consist of speeches on Torah subjects, singing of melodies known as niggunim and zemirot , with refreshments being served. Hasidim see it as a moment of great holiness...
and then hand out shirayim to those in attendance, the Rebbe would distribute the food to the attendees and only afterward take for himself, saying that he wanted "to eat shirayim from the holy Jewish nation". He also waited for others to be served before he would partake at family meals.
Death and legacy
He died on Saturday night, January 6, 1990 (10 TevetTevet
Tebet is the fourth month of the civil year and the tenth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It follows Kislev and precedes Shevat. It is a winter month of 29 days...
5750) and was buried on Har HaMenuchot
Har HaMenuchot
Har HaMenuchot is the largest cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel. It is located at the western edge of the city adjacent to the neighborhood of Givat Shaul, with commanding views of Mevaseret Zion to the north, Motza to the west, and Har Nof to the south.-History:...
in Jerusalem. His son, Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer, who succeeded him as Rebbe, has built on his programs and expanded the Hasidut to its current total of 100 families, each of whom has a personal relationship with the Rebbe.
The Rebbe left behind a large number of unpublished manuscripts and his published work, Emunas Avraham.