4 - Jewish E-Books

JEWISHNEWS
The Missing Grave, Found
THE KEVER OF A SPECIAL RAV IS DISCOVERED
Sometimes mesorah, Jewish heritage, is made tangible.
The recent discovery of the grave of Rav Yosef
Yitzchak Schneerson, the son of the Tzemach Tzedek
of Lubavitch, has opened a new connection to a cen-
outside the chassidic movement. It was known that he
was a rebbe in the town of Ovrutch in the Ukraine, but
has quickly becoming a sought-after place for tefillah.
Rav Yisroel Meir Gabbai, founder of the Agudas Oholei
Tzaddikim Organization, spoke to me from the Ukraine
about this important discovery.
Identifying lost burial places involves various methods.
In this case, the kever
locals who remembered where the Ovrutcher was
buried. Using modern techniques, Rav Gabbai determined
that there indeed was a kever at that spot. Rav
Gabbai also mentioned that, surrounding the kever, are
a bit of the foundations of a building that the communists tried but
failed to erect over the kever.
Rav Yosef Yitzchak impacted Chabad on many levels. He was the
son of the Tzemach Tzedek (the third Lubavitcher Rebbe), the brother
of the Rebbe Maharash (the fourth Rebbe) and the father-in-law of the
There is a fascinating story relating how Rav Yosef Yitzchak’s daugh-
Dovber Schneerson. When the Rebbe was in his grandfather’s—the
Tzemach Tzedek’s—home, the Tzemach Tzedek indicated that he
desired that Sholom Ber become betrothed to his granddaughter
Shterna Sara. Amazingly, The Rebbe Rashab was only four years old
Yitzchak wondered aloud that “maybe when they grow older they
won’t be a match,” the Tzemach Tzedek dismissed the claim, saying
that the Rashab would grow to be a great tzaddik and a good match
for his daughter. A detailed tenayim (engagement contract) was written
that same year between the two mechutanim (who were brothers),
which indicated what each side would provide for the young couple. It
The recently found Kever of Rav Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson of Ovrutch
The Tzemach Tzedek himself contributed toward this fund.
Tcherkas before settling in Ovruch. He led his chassidus with slightly
different minhagim (customs) than those of Chabad. He was known
as a miracle worker in his own right and attracted a large following.
He often davened
long. In fact, when his father-in-law sent a messenger to call on Rav
Yosef Yitzchak, the messenger informed him that he had to wait sev-
tefillah.
thought you told me that you daven b’tzibbur [with a minyan].”
Rav Yosef Yitzchak replied that he had a mesorah originating with
the Baal Hatanya that b’tzibbur meant to gather all of the powers of
the souls as well as all of their nitzotzos (divine sparks), and that took
him quite a while.
kever
once the search had begun. “Things take time and we are having a
kivrei tzaddikim. He
responded, “Yes, there is more to do.”
Thanks to Rav Zalmen Hertzl—author of the sefer, Nesuei Nesiim—
for contributing to this article.
32 AMI MAGAZINE // DECEMBER 7, 2011 // 11 KISLEV, 5772