4 Tammuz · Yahrzeit
Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz - the "Baal HaFla'ah"
Rabbi Pinchas ben Tzvi Hirsch Horowitz - the "Baal HaFla'ah" - together with his younger brother Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg, studied under their father, Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Chortkov (1772-1805).
Yahrzeit - 4 Tammuz
Resting place - Frankfurt am Main
Rabbi Pinchas's father was the renowned Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Chortkov - the one who blessed the Rothschild clan - the full story here:
How to Become a Rothschild
https://silatehilim.com/ночь-проверки-хамеца-или-как-стать-рот/
At an early age they joined the Chassidic movement, becoming devoted followers of the Maggid of Mezeritch.
In his youth, Rabbi Pinchas served as rabbi in Vitkov and Lechovitz, and in 1772 he was appointed rabbi of the prestigious community of Frankfurt am Main and dean of its yeshiva. He served as rabbi of Frankfurt for 33 years, until his passing.
His gracious and warm-hearted nature instantly won the love of the entire community. Even the non-Jewish population admired the new rabbi for the compassion and kindness he showed toward the needy of all faiths.
Taking an active part in communal affairs, he strongly opposed Moses Mendelssohn's German translation of the Torah, with its accompanying commentary called the Biur. Mendelssohn wrote this translation as a means of introducing Jews to the German language and culture. This proved to be the first step on the path to assimilation and a forerunner of intermarriage and conversion.
Rabbi Pinchas's greatest achievement was his work as a posek, a leading halachic authority. The most complex halachic questions were brought to him from far and wide, and were published in a collection of responsa titled "Teshuvot Giv'at Pinchas."
His remarkable knowledge of Torah is evident in his work "HaFla'ah," consisting of Talmudic and halachic novellae. His commentary on the Torah, "Panim Yafot," is written in the spirit of Chassidut and reflects the influence of his mentor, the Maggid of Mezeritch. His son, Rabbi Tzvi Horowitz, succeeded him as rabbi of Frankfurt.
Meeting the Maggid of Mezeritch
Rabbi Shmelke and Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz first came to the Maggid on Erev Shabbat.
Although they expected a lengthy conversation with him, the Maggid dismissed them after only a few words. They had hoped to hear an impressive Torah discourse at his table, and were deeply disappointed when they felt nothing from his words, even though they contained profound secrets of the Torah. Like the Maggid himself upon first meeting the Baal Shem Tov, they decided to return home. Sensing their intention, Rabbi Zusha (a disciple of the Maggid) warned them: "We have learned that if the rabbi is like an angel of G-d, seek Torah from his mouth" [Chagigah 15b]. "Has any of us ever seen an angel? Nevertheless, if one were to cross your path, you would not question him, test him, or seek signs from him. So it is with a true tzadik: from him you must seek Torah." With these words, the brothers returned to the Maggid and asked him to teach them the revealed part of the Torah. The Maggid then posed a very difficult question on the Gemara and offered such a simple and direct answer that they were astonished they had not arrived at it themselves. This was followed by a decisive refutation and yet another solution. After nine such exchanges, the Maggid closed the Gemara and asked: "Why have you come here? Do great men such as yourselves need someone like me?" He then referred to their ascetic way of life, which he knew of through ruach hakodesh: "One who prays and ascends to the higher realms, but at the end of the day remarks, 'You know, today I wasn't so bad!' - his service is cast down from heaven." Hearing this, Rabbi Pinchas and Rabbi Shmelke said: "You ask why we came to you. We would have traveled even a thousand miles to hear such words."
Limud
Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz comments in these words:
The purpose of all the exiles of the Jewish people to the four corners of the earth is to release the sparks of holiness contained in those places. When the Children of Israel left Egypt, it was a complete redemption, for not a single holy spark remained in that land, as it is written: "The Israelites stripped Egypt bare" (Exodus 12:35). The final redemption of Israel from exile will not come until the arrival of Moshiach. Then all the nitzotzot hakedoshim scattered throughout the world will be released, just as happened in Egypt. (Panim Yafot, Yitro)
Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz's main work is "HaFla'ah," commentaries on Ketubot with an appendix, "Kuntres Aharon" or "Shevet Achim" (Offenbach, 1786). A second part, containing novellae on Tractate Kiddushin, also with an appendix, appeared under the title "Sefer HaMakneh" in 1800. Rabbi Horowitz was one of the last of the pilpulists in Germany.
May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!
(https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/4-Rabbi-Pinchas-Halevi-Horowitz)