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Сила Теилим

2 Sivan · Yahrzeit

Rabbi Yisrael Hager of Vizhnitz

Rabbi Yisrael ben Baruch Hager of Vizhnitz was the great-grandson of the illustrious Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin.

Yahrzeit - 2 Sivan Resting place - Zichron Meir, Bnei Brak   He was born on the second of Elul, 1860, and was named after his great-grandfather, Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin. He was the firstborn son of Rabbi Baruch Hager. He married the daughter of Rabbi Meir Horowitz of Dzikov. In 1875 he moved into his father-in-law's home and studied for a long time with his brother-in-law, Rabbi Yehoshua of Dzikov. Three years later he returned to Vizhnitz and became very close to his grandfather, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager. In 1893 he was appointed Rebbe of Vizhnitz. The young Rebbe breathed new life into Chassidus, and this attracted even more followers from the surrounding provinces. He established many Talmud Torahs, as well as a Yeshiva, appointing his son Rabbi Menachem Mendel as Rosh Yeshiva. When the First World War broke out, he was forced to move to Grosswardein (Oradea). He lived there until his passing in Oradea on 2 Sivan, 1936. In 1949 his remains were brought to Israel and reinterred at the Zichron Meir cemetery (in Bnei Brak).

He left behind four sons: Rabbi Menachem Mendel (Av Beit Din of Vizhnitz), Rabbi Eliezer (Av Beit Din of Vizhnitz), Rabbi Chaim Meir (Rebbe in Bnei Brak and father of the current Vizhnitz Rebbe, Shlita), and Rabbi Baruch (father of the Seret-Vizhnitz Rebbe, Shlita).

After the Second World War, the remains of Rabbi Yisrael Hager were transferred to the Zichron Meir cemetery in Bnei Brak.

  Who Would Enter Gan Eden First The following story took place between Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro of Munkacz and Rabbi Yisrael Hager of Vizhnitz. Once they arrived together at an event, and as they were about to enter the house, each of them wanted the other to enter first. Each of these great Rebbes kept insisting that the other go in first. In the end, Rabbi Yisrael of Vizhnitz entered first (perhaps because he was 12 years older). The significance of this story was revealed several years later, when Rabbi Yisrael of Vizhnitz passed away on 2 Sivan, and the following year, on that very same day - the first yahrzeit of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe - the Rebbe of Munkacz passed away as well.  

May the merit of the Tzadik protect Am Yisrael!

  (https://www.hevratpinto.org/tzadikim_eng/193_rabbi_israel_hager.html; blog post Zchut Avot)