Moshe Shmuel Shapira
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Shapiro (1917–2006) was a Rosh Yeshiva
and important rabbi
nic figure in Israel
. His father, Rabbi Aryeh Shapiro, was the son of Rabbi Refoel Shapiro of Volozhin
and grandson of Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin
(the Netziv.) His mother was a descendant of Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heilpern of Bialystock (1816–1879), a descendant of Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller
. Even though his father was the Dayan of Bialystok
, Poland
, Rav Moshe Shmuel was born in the city of Minsk
, Belarus
while his family was escaping the horrors of World War I
.
After the war, the Shapiro family returned to Bialystok where Moshe Shmuel studied in the local Yeshiva
. Rabbi Chaim Brisker, Moshe Shmuel's uncle, frequented the Shapiro residence. In 1933, Moshe Shmuel left home to study in the Yeshiva in Baranovich
under the tutelage of Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman
. Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir
attests to the special relationship which existed between Moshe Shmuel and Rabbi Wasserman. Even after Moshe Shmuel left Baranovichi
, he continued corresponding with Rabbi Wasserman.
In the summer of 1936 Moshe Shmuel moved to Yeshivas Mir
were he immediately gained a reputation as having potential for leading the Torah world and was recognized by Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz
. Moshe Shmuel joined students older than himself in sleeping arrangements, despite his young age compared to them. He developed a friendship with such Torah scholars as Rabbi Yonah Karpilov of Minsk (who was murdered in the Holocaust) and Rabbi Aryeh Leib Malin
. In 1937, Moshe Shmuel reached the age of army conscription
and had to flee Poland. He moved to Israel
.
In Israel, Moshe Shmuel attended Yeshivas Lomzha in Petah Tikva
, where Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein
recognized his potential. During this time in Lomzha, Rabbi Elazar Shach
was the main Talmudic lecturer, while Rabbi Moshe Shmuel and Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky delivered other specialized lectures in the Talmud studies. During this time, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel was the teacher of many Rabbis including Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky
.
When Rabbi Moshe Shmuel's first cousin, the Brisker Rov moved to Jerusalem, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel developed a strong relationship with him and helped publicize the Brisker methods
. He was given special access to writings from his cousin and his uncle, Reb Chaim Brisker, which he incorporated into his own understandings of various Gemara sugyas. Rabbi Moshe Shmuel was the main editor of the works of the Brisker Rov on Kodoshim.
Reb Moshe Shmuel was granted semicha
by Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer
.
During this period he also became very close to the Chazon Ish. After his marriage in 1946, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel spent one year learning the Chazon Ish's Kollel
(known as Kollel Chazon Ish
and then was hired to deliver Talmudic lectures in Yeshivas Kol Torah for three years. At the behest of the Chazon Ish, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel joined Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe
in establishing Yeshivas Be'er Yaakov. He was also the Chief Rabbi
of Ramle, the town where his Yeshiva was located, for a short time before resigning because it took away too much time from running his Yeshiva.
Rabbi Moshe Shmuel consulted with the Chazon Ish and Brisker Rov on all the Yeshiva's matters. In 1953, on the day of the death of the Chazon Ish, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel held a two hour conversation in Torah
with the aging sage.
In 1968, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel was repeatedly asked to join the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
by Rabbi Yisrael Alter
, the Gerrer Rebbe
and Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna
. Eventually he acceded to their request when the latter paid him a personal visit.
, Nezikin
, and Moed
. They are broken up into two sets of books: Kuntres HaBiurim are in-depth analysis of various Talmudic topics, often based on exclusive manuscripts and ideas which Rabbi Moshe Shmuel heard from the Brisker Rov. Sha'arei Shemoous is a compilation of Rabbi Moshe Shmuel's novellea arranged per folio in the Talmud on the tractates which he published his works. The sons of Rabbi Moshe Shmuel also published his work on Tanach entitled Zahav MiShvah. He also worked extensively with manuscripts of various Rishonim
and published a special edition of the Ri Migash with his own footnotes.
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
and important 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...
nic figure in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. His father, Rabbi Aryeh Shapiro, was the son of Rabbi Refoel Shapiro of Volozhin
Volozhin yeshiva
The Volozhin Yeshiva, also known as Etz Chaim Yeshiva, was a prestigious Lithuanian yeshiva located in the town of Volozhin, Russia, . It was founded by Rabbi Chaim Itzkovitz, a student of the famed Vilna Gaon, and trained several generations of scholars, rabbis, and leaders...
and grandson of Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin
Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin
Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, , also known as Reb Hirsch Leib Berlin, and commonly known by the acronym Netziv, was an Orthodox rabbi, dean of the Volozhin Yeshiva and author of several works of rabbinic literature in Lithuania.- Family :Berlin was born in Mir, Russia in 1816 into a family of Jewish...
(the Netziv.) His mother was a descendant of Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heilpern of Bialystock (1816–1879), a descendant of Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller
Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller
Yom-Tov Lipmann ben Nathan ha-Levi Heller, , was a Bohemian rabbi and Talmudist, best-known for writing a commentary on the Mishnah called the Tosafot Yom-Tov...
. Even though his father was the Dayan of Bialystok
Bialystok
Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Located on the Podlaskie Plain on the banks of the Biała River, Białystok ranks second in terms of population density, eleventh in population, and thirteenth in area, of the cities of Poland...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Rav Moshe Shmuel was born in the city of Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
while his family was escaping the horrors of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After the war, the Shapiro family returned to Bialystok where Moshe Shmuel studied in the local 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...
. Rabbi Chaim Brisker, Moshe Shmuel's uncle, frequented the Shapiro residence. In 1933, Moshe Shmuel left home to study in the Yeshiva in Baranovich
Baranovichi
Baranovichi , is a city in the Brest Province of western Belarus with a population of 173,000. It is a significant railway junction and home to a state university.-Overview:...
under the tutelage of Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman
Elchonon Wasserman
Elchonon Wasserman was a prominent rabbi and rosh yeshiva in pre-World War II Europe. He was one of the Chofetz Chaim's closest disciples and a noted Torah scholar.-Biography:...
. Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir
Mir yeshiva (Brooklyn)
The Mir yeshiva , commonly known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, is officially registered with the College Board as the Mirrer Yeshiva Central Institute. It is a prominent, Haredi yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York known for its excellence in talmudic studies.Its long-time Rosh Yeshiva was...
attests to the special relationship which existed between Moshe Shmuel and Rabbi Wasserman. Even after Moshe Shmuel left Baranovichi
Baranovichi
Baranovichi , is a city in the Brest Province of western Belarus with a population of 173,000. It is a significant railway junction and home to a state university.-Overview:...
, he continued corresponding with Rabbi Wasserman.
In the summer of 1936 Moshe Shmuel moved to Yeshivas Mir
Mir yeshiva (Poland)
The Mir yeshiva , commonly known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, was a Haredi yeshiva located in the town of Mir, Russian Empire...
were he immediately gained a reputation as having potential for leading the Torah world and was recognized by Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz
Yerucham Levovitz
Rabbi Yeruchom Halevi Levovitz , also known by his hundreds of students simply as The Mashgiach, was a famous mashgiach ruchani and baal mussar at the Mir yeshiva in Poland....
. Moshe Shmuel joined students older than himself in sleeping arrangements, despite his young age compared to them. He developed a friendship with such Torah scholars as Rabbi Yonah Karpilov of Minsk (who was murdered in the Holocaust) and Rabbi Aryeh Leib Malin
Aryeh Leib Malin
Rabbi Aryeh Leib Malin was a Rabbi, Talmudist, and Mussarist in both Europe and America.-Biography:Rabbi Malin was born in Białystok. In his early years, Reb Leib learned in Grodno under Rabbi Shimon Shkop. Later, he learned by Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman and Rabbi Baruch Ber Lebowitz...
. In 1937, Moshe Shmuel reached the age of army conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
and had to flee Poland. He moved to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
In Israel, Moshe Shmuel attended Yeshivas Lomzha in Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
, where Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein
Yechezkel Levenstein
Yechezkel Levenstein, known as Reb Chatzkel, , was the mashgiach ruchani of the Mir yeshiva, in Mir, Belarus and during the yeshiva's flight to Lithuania and on to Shanghai due to the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in World War II...
recognized his potential. During this time in Lomzha, Rabbi Elazar Shach
Elazar Shach
Elazar Menachem Man Shach also spelt Eliezer Schach, was a leading Lithuanian-born and educated Haredi rabbi in Bnei Brak, Israel. He also served as one of three co-deans of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak along with Rabbis Shmuel Rozovsky and Dovid Povarsky...
was the main Talmudic lecturer, while Rabbi Moshe Shmuel and Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky delivered other specialized lectures in the Talmud studies. During this time, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel was the teacher of many Rabbis including Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky
Chaim Kanievsky
Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky, , is an Israeli rabbi and posek. Kanievsky is considered a leading authority in Haredi Jewish society.-Biography:...
.
When Rabbi Moshe Shmuel's first cousin, the Brisker Rov moved to Jerusalem, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel developed a strong relationship with him and helped publicize the Brisker methods
Brisk yeshivas and methods
The Soloveitchik dynasty of rabbinic scholars and their students originated the Brisker method of Talmudic study, which is embraced by their followers in the Brisk yeshivas. It is so called because of the Soloveitchiks' origin in the town of Brisk, or Brest-Litovsk, located in what is now Belarus...
. He was given special access to writings from his cousin and his uncle, Reb Chaim Brisker, which he incorporated into his own understandings of various Gemara sugyas. Rabbi Moshe Shmuel was the main editor of the works of the Brisker Rov on Kodoshim.
Reb Moshe Shmuel was granted semicha
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...
by Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer
Isser Zalman Meltzer
Isser Zalman Meltzer, , was a famous Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, rosh yeshiva and posek. He is also known as the "Even HaEzel" - the title of his commentary on Rambam's Mishne Torah....
.
During this period he also became very close to the Chazon Ish. After his marriage in 1946, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel spent one year learning the Chazon Ish's Kollel
Kollel
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...
(known as Kollel Chazon Ish
Kollel Chazon Ish
Kollel Chazon Ish is an elite group of married Rabbis who study the Talmud. The Kollel is located in Bene Barak, Israel. It is located on Rashbam street.The Kollel was originally established by Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, who was known as the "Chazon Ish"...
and then was hired to deliver Talmudic lectures in Yeshivas Kol Torah for three years. At the behest of the Chazon Ish, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel joined Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe
Shlomo Wolbe
Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe was a Haredi rabbi born in Berlin and died in Jerusalem. He is best known as the author of Alei Shur , a work of musar literature discussing personal growth as it pertains to students of the Talmud.-Life and teaching positions:Shlomo Wolbe was raised in an irreligious Jewish...
in establishing Yeshivas Be'er Yaakov. He was also the Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Ramle, the town where his Yeshiva was located, for a short time before resigning because it took away too much time from running his Yeshiva.
Rabbi Moshe Shmuel consulted with the Chazon Ish and Brisker Rov on all the Yeshiva's matters. In 1953, on the day of the death of the Chazon Ish, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel held a two hour conversation in 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...
with the aging sage.
In 1968, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel was repeatedly asked to join the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah refers to the supreme rabbinical policy-making council of any of several related Haredi Jewish organizations....
by Rabbi Yisrael Alter
Yisrael Alter
Yisrael Alter, , also known as the Beis Yisroel after the works he authored, was the fourth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1948 until 1977....
, the Gerrer Rebbe
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
and Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna
Yechezkel Sarna
Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna was the successor to Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka, as the spiritual mentor of that Yeshiva. He moved it from Europe to Hebron in 1925 and following the Hebron Massacre of 1929 to Jerusalem. In 1934 he assumed the position of Rosh Yeshiva...
. Eventually he acceded to their request when the latter paid him a personal visit.
Works
From the year 1963 until the year of his death, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel published many Talmudic works on the Orders of NashimNashim
Nashim is the third order of the Mishnah , containing the laws related to women and family life...
, Nezikin
Nezikin
For Jewish law on damages, see Damages Nezikin or Seder Nezikin is the fourth Order of the Mishna...
, and Moed
Moed
Moed is the second Order of the Mishnah, the first written recording of the Oral Torah of the Jewish people . Of the six orders of the Mishna, Moed is the third shortest. The order of Moed consists of 12 tractates:# Shabbat: or Shabbath deals with the 39 prohibitions of "work" on the Shabbat...
. They are broken up into two sets of books: Kuntres HaBiurim are in-depth analysis of various Talmudic topics, often based on exclusive manuscripts and ideas which Rabbi Moshe Shmuel heard from the Brisker Rov. Sha'arei Shemoous is a compilation of Rabbi Moshe Shmuel's novellea arranged per folio in the Talmud on the tractates which he published his works. The sons of Rabbi Moshe Shmuel also published his work on Tanach entitled Zahav MiShvah. He also worked extensively with manuscripts of various Rishonim
Rishonim
"Rishon" redirects here. For the preon model in particle physics, see Harari Rishon Model. For the Israeli town, see Rishon LeZion.Rishonim were the leading Rabbis and Poskim who lived approximately during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the Shulkhan Arukh and...
and published a special edition of the Ri Migash with his own footnotes.