15 Cheshvan · Yahrzeit
Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz - Chazon Ish
Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz (November 7, 1878 - October 24, 1953), known by the title of his great work "Chazon Ish," was an Orthodox rabbi from Belarus who later became one of the leaders in Israel, where he spent his last 20 years, from 1933 to 1953.
Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz was born in Kosovo, Grodno Governorate of the Russian Empire (now the Brest Region of Belarus), the eldest son of Rabbi Shmaryahu Yosef Karelitz of Kosovo; his mother was Rasha Leah, daughter of Shaul Katzenellenbogen. Avraham Yeshaya was named in honor of his older brother Meir. His younger brothers were Yitzchak and Moshe. Yitzchak succeeded their father as rabbi of Kosovo; he, his wife, and daughter were shot by the Germans in their home in mid-1942.
His older sisters were Chenya Chaya, Badana, Tzivia, and Batya. Karelitz's younger sister Pesha Miriam (Mirel) married Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky. Kanievsky regarded his brother-in-law Avraham Yeshaya as his mentor for as long as he lived.
As a young man, Karelitz was sent to study under Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk.
He did not adopt the Brisker method of learning, and it later became clear that he actually opposed it. After two years he returned home and continued studying under his father, who was head of the local Beit Din. He married Basha Bayla of Kvedarna and established a close relationship with Moshe Rosen (the Nezer HaKodesh).
He moved to Vilna around 1920 and grew close to Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, consulting with him on all religious and communal matters. Inspired by Grodzinski and with the help of Avraham Yitzchak Kook, Karelitz settled in Eretz Yisrael in 1933, then under the British Mandate of Palestine. His home in Bnei Brak became an address for thousands seeking religious guidance.
Karelitz, his brother-in-law Kanievsky, and Yaakov Galinsky were very close.
Karelitz devoted his life to Torah study, while also acquiring knowledge in secular subjects such as astronomy, anatomy, mathematics, and botany. After marrying, he continued to lead an extremely modest life; his wife provided for their needs while he spent day and night immersed in Torah study. They had no children.
Karelitz did not publish much of his writing, yet he still achieved recognition as a leading halachic authority. Like his brother-in-law Kanievsky, Karelitz "held no official position, but nevertheless became a globally recognized authority on many matters of Jewish law and life."
He refused to take part in any of the religious-political movements that were very active before and during the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Nevertheless, he had an enormous influence on the Haredi world in Israel, whose formative period coincided with his life there. He held anti-Zionist views and only reluctantly acknowledged the existence of the State of Israel.
David Ben-Gurion, Prime Minister of Israel, and Yitzchak Ben-Zvi, who became Israel's second president, once visited him to discuss political and religious matters.
Two Camels
Karelitz used as a metaphor an example from a Talmudic discussion (Sanhedrin 32b): about two camels meeting on a narrow mountain pass. The camel without a load was expected to yield to the camel laden with goods; similarly, Karelitz argued, secular society must yield to religious society, which carries the "good" of tradition.
Etrog
A variety of Balady citron that he certified for use as an etrog of the Four Species is named after him. Once, after Sukkot, Rav Karelitz handed Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz a packet of seeds taken from the etrog he had used for the holiday and told him to plant them in his yard. Lefkowitz, who had no farming experience, followed his mentor's instructions to plant and water it, and the tree grew and bore fruit. Every year, Karelitz would come to pick his etrog for the holiday from that tree, as did his brother-in-law Kanievsky and other leading rabbis. Lefkowitz also allowed etrog growers to take cuttings from the tree to grow entire orchards of etrogim certified as kosher by Karelitz.
May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!
(Based on Tzadikim.com)