19 Tishrei · Yahrzeit
The Vilna Gaon
Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman (1720-1797) - known as "Der Vilner Goen" (the Vilna Gaon), "HaGaon HeChassid" — the Pious Gaon, Eliyahu Gaon, the Vilna Gaon — acronym of HaGaon Rabbi Eliyahu - Kabbalist, Rabbi, spiritual authority.
Yahrzeit - 19 Tishrei
Burial place - the Old Jewish Cemetery (known as "Shnipishok," as mentioned above, or Piromont) located to the north of the Vilna Jewish ghetto (Virsulishkes, Vilnius 07192).
Even as a child, Eliyahu of Vilna astonished the congregation when, at the age of 7, he delivered a scholarly discourse in the Great Synagogue of Vilna. By the age of 10 he had surpassed all his teachers, and through independent study with total concentration, he acquired mastery of Torah in both its revealed and mystical aspects. Every minute of his life was devoted to Torah study. He never slept more than two hours a day; he never accepted any rabbinic position or leadership of a yeshiva. He taught a few students chosen from among the foremost Torah scholars of his generation. He also mastered astronomy, mathematics, and music.
Known for his fierce opposition to Chassidism, which had been initiated in 1736 by the Baal Shem Tov, he and his followers in this anti-Chassidic movement were known as "Mitnagdim," or opponents. Their opposition was based on the conviction — strongly denied by Chassidic leaders — that Chassidism treated the Oral Law too freely, that it substituted emotion for intellect in Torah study, that its form of prayer departed too far from the traditional form of prayer, and so on.
The Vilna Gaon cleared a new path for Talmud study, focusing on achieving clear understanding through deep analysis of the principles and approaches of the early authorities. His approach stood in sharp contrast to the pilpul method of the Polish yeshivot, by which a range of questions could be answered. He labored diligently to correct Talmudic and Midrashic texts. Subsequent discoveries of ancient manuscripts confirmed the validity of his corrections, which appear in the Vilna edition of the Talmud (Haga'ot HaGra).
His works, which were recorded and published by his students, include Aderet Eliyahu, a commentary on the Torah; a commentary on Koheleth; Shenot Eliyahu, a commentary on the Mishnah, Order of Zeraim; Biur HaGra, a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch; a commentary on Sefer Yetzirah, a kabbalistic work, and many other works.
His commentaries on the Torah are filled with fascinating insights that reveal the unity of the Written Torah and the Oral Law, showing their common source in Divine revelation.
The Vilna Gaon was revered in Vilna and throughout the world for his phenomenal knowledge and his character. One of his most outstanding students was Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, founder of the Volozhin Yeshiva. Following the Gaon's approach to learning, this institution disseminated Torah for more than 100 years. Today, most yeshivot follow the Volozhin model of study, preserving the living approach to Torah developed by the great Vilna Gaon.
The Vilna Gaon is buried in Vilnius. Also resting here alongside him are his father, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman; his son, Rabbi Avraham; his mother, Traina; Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel; Rabbi Yehuda Sarfa v'Daina (known by the acronym Yesod); Rabbi Avraham Danzig, author of the book "Chayei Adam"; Rabbi Shmuel ben Avigdor, the last Rav of Vilna, as well as Count Valentin Potocki - the righteous convert - Avraham ben Avraham.
Count Potocki and the Vilna Gaon
Count Potocki came from a respected Catholic family, but chose to become a Jew. He was from the same Potocki family as Sophia, in whose honor Sofiyivka Park in Uman is named. He was killed for refusing to renounce his newfound faith. The Vilna Gaon offered to save him through Kabbalah, but the righteous convert refused. He said he wished to give his life "Al Kiddush Hashem."
He also said that the souls of converts are those of people who wanted to accept the Torah but could not, because the rest of their nation did not wish to accept it.
He came to Judaism while studying in Rome, and it was there that he concluded that Christianity was utterly false and that truth could be found only in the Torah and Judaism. He resolved that he would convert to Judaism.
In those days, converting to Judaism was punishable by death. Count Potocki fled to Holland, where there was freedom of religion. There he underwent conversion and was given the name "Avraham ben Avraham."
Avraham ben Avraham very much wanted to find himself in a more Jewish environment for studying Torah. So shortly afterward he left Holland and traveled to Lithuania. He settled in a small village on the outskirts of Vilna, where he hoped to remain unnoticed.
One day the authorities discovered Avraham ben Avraham's identity and whereabouts. They arrested him, imprisoned him, and sentenced him to death.
The night before the execution was the night of Shavuot. The Vilna Gaon came to visit Avraham ben Avraham and found him weeping.
"Why are you weeping?" the Gaon asked him. "Are you afraid to die?"
"No," answered the righteous convert, "on the contrary, I am overjoyed that I have the merit to publicly sanctify the Name of the Almighty! I am weeping because I am afraid I will be alone in Gan Eden. I have no father. I have no children. Who will be with me in the World to Come?"
"You are mistaken," answered the Vilna Gaon. "There is a Midrash explaining a verse in Yeshayahu: 'So says G-d: "I am the First and I am the Last…"'
'I am the First - for I have no father,
I am the Last - for I have no son.'
"This is a puzzling Midrash," the Vilna Gaon continued. "Why should the verse need to tell us that G-d has neither a father nor a son?!
This is an error in the printed text of the Midrash. The correct wording of the Midrash reads as follows:
I am the First - for those who have no father,
I am the Last - for those who have no sons. You will not be alone in Gan Eden," declared the Gaon. "Hashem will be your Companion!"
Avraham ben Avraham was burned at the stake on the second day of Shavuot. His remains were rescued by several Jews disguised as Poles. His ashes were gathered and buried in the Jewish cemetery in Vilna.
Every year, by the Vilna Gaon's instruction, the Jews of Vilna would recite a special memorial prayer, l'ilui nishmato, on the second day of Shavuot.
Today, Count Potocki's grave is next to that of the Vilna Gaon, within the same ohel.
May the merit of the tzadikim protect Am Yisrael!
https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/91-Rabbi-Eliyahu-of-Vilna
Pilgrimage site:
Grave: The Gaon of Vilna