Avraham Grodzinski
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Avraham Grodzinski was a Haredi
Rabbi
born in 1883 in Warsaw
, Poland and died in 1944 in Kovna
, Lithuania
. He is best known for being the primary disciple of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the "Alter of Slabodka", serving as the Mashgiach Ruchani
of the Slabodka yeshiva
, and for authoring a book of mussar
lectures, Toras Avraham.
. His parents were of Lithuanian descent. His father, Rabbi Yitzchak, was one the leaders of Warsaw's Jewish community. Rabbi Yitzchak Grodzinski, or Reb Itcheh as he was fondly known, established and supported a yeshiva in Warsaw regarding which the great Chofetz Chaim
commented "Reb Itcheh saved Jewish education in Warsaw". His home was dedicated solely to the dissemination of Torah
and lovingkindness; tens of poor people partook in meals on a daily basis. Rabbi Avraham once quipped "From a young age I was so busy assisting and catering to all the guests and helping my father in all his Chessed activities- I did not have a childhood". Reb Itcheh was also extremely close to the great Torah leaders of his time, many of whom frequented his home when visiting Warsaw. The famous Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, the Beis Halevi, asked Reb Itcheh to accompany him to Brisk
to accept the helm of the Rabbinate there. This is the kind of home that Rabbi Avraham grew up in, and we can surmise that such a youth contributed to his spiritual growth and development.
and Łomża, Rabbi Avraham entered the Yeshiva of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel
, the Alter of Slabodka. There, under the auspices of the 'Alter', he began years of toil in Torah and self perfection. Few details of those years are beknownst to us, just a few snippets, but these little pieces of information give us a picture of his character and the methods he used to further his development. For example, we know that he spent two years perfecting the attribute of "greeting every individual with a pleasant facial countanence". People would attest to the extent of which he inculcated this into his character, even in the most horrid and horrific times in the ghetto
in Kovno during the holocaust his pleasant facial countanence was everpresent masking his internal grief. He worked on his self perfection and character development without hindering his intense and profound Gemara
studies.
During his tenure in Slabodka, Reb Avraham forged a deep and close relationship with the Alter. Reb Avraham immersed himself in his Rabbi's teachings, mastering them all and internalizing them, and the Alter, in turn, pointed to him as "my portion in all my efforts." His relationship with the Alter was fundamental to his own personal growth, and also, years later, when he accepted the mantle of leadership in the Slabodka yeshiva, the presence of the Alter never left his consciousness.
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
born in 1883 in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland and died in 1944 in Kovna
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. He is best known for being the primary disciple of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the "Alter of Slabodka", serving as the Mashgiach Ruchani
Mashgiach ruchani
Mashgiach ruchani or mashgiach for short, means a spiritual supervisor or guide. It is a title which usually refers to a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yeshiva students' lives.The position of mashgiach ruchani arose with the...
of the Slabodka yeshiva
Slabodka yeshiva
Hebron Yeshiva, also known as Yeshivas Hevron, or Knesses Yisroel, and originally as Slabodka Yeshiva, is known colloquially as the "mother of yeshivas" and was devoted to high=level study of the Talmud. The yeshiva was located in the Lithuanian town of Slabodka, adjacent to Kovno , now...
, and for authoring a book of mussar
Mussar movement
The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar , is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct...
lectures, Toras Avraham.
Youth
Rabbi Grodzinski was born in 1882 in WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. His parents were of Lithuanian descent. His father, Rabbi Yitzchak, was one the leaders of Warsaw's Jewish community. Rabbi Yitzchak Grodzinski, or Reb Itcheh as he was fondly known, established and supported a yeshiva in Warsaw regarding which the great Chofetz Chaim
Chofetz Chaim
"The Chofetz Chaim" is a book on the Jewish laws of speech written by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan....
commented "Reb Itcheh saved Jewish education in Warsaw". His home was dedicated solely to the dissemination of Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
and lovingkindness; tens of poor people partook in meals on a daily basis. Rabbi Avraham once quipped "From a young age I was so busy assisting and catering to all the guests and helping my father in all his Chessed activities- I did not have a childhood". Reb Itcheh was also extremely close to the great Torah leaders of his time, many of whom frequented his home when visiting Warsaw. The famous Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, the Beis Halevi, asked Reb Itcheh to accompany him to Brisk
Brisk
Brisk may refer to:* Brest, Belarus Brisk is the city's name in Yiddish* Brisk tradition and Soloveitchik dynasty, a school of Jewish thought originated by the Soloveitchik family of Brest...
to accept the helm of the Rabbinate there. This is the kind of home that Rabbi Avraham grew up in, and we can surmise that such a youth contributed to his spiritual growth and development.
Slabodka and the Alter
In 1899 at the age of 17, after short stints in Yeshivas RadinRadun Yeshiva
Raduń Yeshiva, originally located in Raduń, Poland , was established by the Chofetz Chaim in 1869.-Origins:In 1869 when the Chofetz Chaim returned from Vashilyshok to Raduń his first action was to establish a group to whom he could spread the knowledge of Torah...
and Łomża, Rabbi Avraham entered the Yeshiva of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel
Nosson Tzvi Finkel
Nosson Tzvi Finkel may refer to one of the following roshei yeshiva in Orthodox Judaism:*Nosson Tzvi Finkel , of the Slabodka yeshiva in Kaunas, Lithuania, or his descendant,...
, the Alter of Slabodka. There, under the auspices of the 'Alter', he began years of toil in Torah and self perfection. Few details of those years are beknownst to us, just a few snippets, but these little pieces of information give us a picture of his character and the methods he used to further his development. For example, we know that he spent two years perfecting the attribute of "greeting every individual with a pleasant facial countanence". People would attest to the extent of which he inculcated this into his character, even in the most horrid and horrific times in the ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
in Kovno during the holocaust his pleasant facial countanence was everpresent masking his internal grief. He worked on his self perfection and character development without hindering his intense and profound Gemara
Gemara
The Gemara is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah. After the Mishnah was published by Rabbi Judah the Prince The Gemara (also transliterated Gemora or, less commonly, Gemorra; from Aramaic גמרא gamar; literally, "[to] study" or "learning by...
studies.
During his tenure in Slabodka, Reb Avraham forged a deep and close relationship with the Alter. Reb Avraham immersed himself in his Rabbi's teachings, mastering them all and internalizing them, and the Alter, in turn, pointed to him as "my portion in all my efforts." His relationship with the Alter was fundamental to his own personal growth, and also, years later, when he accepted the mantle of leadership in the Slabodka yeshiva, the presence of the Alter never left his consciousness.