Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher - Av Beit Din

Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher - Av Beit Din Guttmacher, Eliyahu (1796, Borek, now in Poland – 1874, Grodzisk Wielkopolski, in the same place), an outstanding Jewish scholar and rabbi, forerunner of the Chovevei Zion movement, and one of the founders of religious Zionism, which arose in the 1840s in Central Europe. Yahrzeit - 24 Tishrei Resting place - Grodzisk, Poland He served as rabbi from 1822 in Pleshenitsy (according to other sources, in Pleshen, today the town of Pleszew in Poland). From 1841 until the end of his life, he served in Grodzisk Wielkopolski. He was known for his great scholarship, deep piety, and inclination toward mysticism. In his way of life, Guttmacher resembled a Chassidic tzadik. Jews, drawn by rumors of his righteousness, flocked to him from various places hoping for healing, the exorcism of a dybbuk (an evil spirit), or simply for advice. Guttmacher was burdened by the role of a holy man that was thrust upon him and tried in vain to put an end to the veneration of his person. On the basis of Kabbalah, Rabbi Guttmacher maintained that a necessary part of the redemption of Israel in our time is practical activity toward returning to the ancient homeland. Unlike many rabbis of his time, he asserted that the "geulah" (that is, the messianic redemption) would come only as a result of decisive action by the people themselves. He maintained that it was necessary "to rouse the land from its slumber, redeem it from the Arabs, settle and cultivate the country, fulfilling the specific mitzvot connected with the Land of Israel; then the land will yield its fruits to the people of Israel" – and through this the "geulah" would come. Guttmacher left behind many works on Talmudic and kabbalistic topics, only some of which were published. Many of his manuscripts are kept in the archives of Jerusalem. When the cholera epidemic began in Europe, Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher was 35 years old. He held his first rabbinical post, leading the community of Pleschen in Prussia (now Poland). When the epidemic began, he hastened to write to his teacher, Rabbi Akiva Eiger, rabbi of Posen. Letter from the great Rabbi Akiva Eiger to his student Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher during the Epidemic "With G-d's help. Monday, the week when Parashat Nitzavim is read in the synagogues, Posen… To Rabbi Eliyahu, head of the rabbinical court of the Jewish community of Pleschen. I have received your letter. As for prayer in the synagogue, in my opinion, one truly should not gather in a cramped space. However, one may pray in small groups… no more than 15 people, beginning at first light, and do likewise in the afternoon. After the morning and evening prayers, read a few psalms of your choosing, and then the penitential prayers. Then remember in your prayers His Majesty [the King of Prussia], his descendants, and all who dwell in this land. See to it that no more than the stated number gather [for prayer] – perhaps by posting a guard for this purpose. Beware of catching cold. Everyone should wrap their loins in flannel. Do not eat poor food, especially pickled foods. Limit your consumption of fruit, fish, and beer. Do not overeat. It is better to eat small amounts, but often. Keep things clean; do not leave trash and slops in the house. Change into clean, freshly laundered clothing several times a week. Do not worry, and try not to be anxious. Do not walk the city streets at night. During the day, when the sun is shining, it is good to walk outside the city to get some fresh air. Open the windows in the morning to air out the rooms. Do not leave the house on an empty stomach; on an empty stomach, one should chew a little mustard seed or oak bark. Wash your face and hands with water in the morning. Sprinkle the rooms several times with good, strong vinegar mixed with rosewater." Rabbi Guttmacher was not only a city rabbi and religious authority, but also actively supported the Jews of the Holy Land: he collected funds for them and assisted various projects and institutions… So it is no surprise that when cholera broke out in Jerusalem on Sukkot 1865, Rabbi Meir Auerbach, the city's chief Ashkenazi rabbi, wrote to Rabbi Guttmacher with details of the epidemic in Jerusalem. He also reported the death of Rabbi Nachum Levi of Shadek, a well-known Jerusalem Torah scholar, thanked him for a recent donation to the Jerusalem Polish community, and indirectly asked for further funds. A receipt sent by Rabbi Auerbach to Rabbi Guttmacher a year later shows that the latter continued to support the Polish community. In 1874, shortly after Rabbi Guttmacher's passing, a small collection of prayers, practical recommendations, and incantations against epidemics was published. Most of the book consisted of an account of the burning of incense in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Torah, the High Priest Aaron burned incense to protect the Jews from the plague: "And Aaron took as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had begun among the people; and he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped." (Bamidbar, 17:12-13) According to the Talmud, the "anti-epidemic" properties of incense are a secret that the Angel of Death revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai, where he ascended to receive the Torah: Every angel became Moses's friend and gave him a gift… And even the Angel of Death gave him something. For it is said: "He placed the incense mixture [on the fire-pan] and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped." (https://ja-tora.com/wp.../uploads/2020/05/AkivaEger2.jpg)     Segula for Salvation Rabbi Eliyahu had a son - Rabbi Tzvi Guttmacher, author of "Ken Meforeshet" and "Nachalat Tzvi." A kabbalist and miracle-worker, Rabbi Eliyahu of Grodzisk (Graidits) would receive thousands of Jews who came to him seeking blessings and healing from illness. Outliving his son, Rabbi Eliyahu published his work "Ken Meforeshet" with the following words in the preface, which became the source of the segula for Rabbanit Kanievsky: "When someone is in especially great need of salvation and help from the Almighty, he should study the Mishnah tractate 'Kinnim' with the commentaries of Rabbi Ovadiah Bartenura, Tosafot Yom Tov, and my son. Then a special prayer should be recited (the text follows the Mishnayot). Then one should turn to the Almighty with one's request, and with hope that the prayer will be answered. If no answer is received right away, this should be repeated for three consecutive days – once a day." The book "Sukkat Shalem" (p. 107) states: "And we have heard from well-known families that they performed this segula and had no need of doctors." It is well known that Rav Chaim Kanievsky repeatedly recommended it to those who came to him in need of salvation. This segula has brought salvation to many people. Rabbanit Kanievsky also instructed unmarried women to ask members of their families to study these mishnayot and pray for them. And when she herself felt unwell, she would ask members of her own family to study Masechet Kinnim on her behalf.   Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher's Segula for Kol Yeshuot: https://silatehilim.com/мишнайот-киним-сгула-для-спасения-от-р/   (https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/1266-Rabbi-Eliyahu-Gutmacher)