5 Cheshvan · Yahrzeit
Yahrzeit/Hillula of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch was born on 4 Sivan 5555 (1795) in the city of Lissa, Germany, in the province of Posen.
Yahrzeit - 5 Cheshvan
Resting place - Thorn, Poland
In his youth he studied Torah with great Gaonim, Rabbi Yaakov of Lissa (author of the Chavot Da'at) and Rabbi Akiva Eiger of Posen. He was known for his extraordinary abilities and incredible diligence in learning.
In every generation there have been great rabbis who placed Jerusalem above all else. They always dreamed of returning to Zion, yearning for the day when they could settle and live in Eretz Yisrael. One of them was Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, who more than 150 years ago worked with all his strength toward settling and rebuilding the Land.
Once, as a small child, he fell and cut his head open, greatly upsetting his family. Someone ran to fetch the doctor, and his father and mother could not hold back their tears. Young Tzvi Hirsch said to them with a smile: "Why are you so upset? From now on I can hope to become great in Torah, because my head is now open." Indeed, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch soon became one of the greatest Torah scholars. Many communities asked him to come and serve as their rabbi, but Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch did not wish to use Torah as a means of livelihood.
After his marriage he settled in his wife's hometown of Thorn (today Torun, Poland). There he started a small business, which his wife ran while he studied Torah day and night. The Jewish community of Thorn quickly recognized the greatness of this young avreich and asked him to become the town's rav. He agreed, holding this position until the end of his life (about 40 years) without salary. On his table stood simply a box marked "For settling Eretz Yisrael," and anyone who wished to leave a donation could do so. His home was always open, and people came from everywhere seeking his help. He had a kind heart, feeding the poor and marrying off orphans with his own money. People also came to him for advice, and he attended to the needs of the local community, taking part in everything that happened in Thorn.
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer devoted his entire life to Torah, tzedakah, and charitable works. Since he lived near the border, Jewish refugees from Poland and Russia came to him, and he helped them as much as he could to reach wherever they wished to go.
In 5603 (1843) he published his first book, "Even Bochen," a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat, chapter 89, as a sample of his book "Moznaim LaMishpat U'Mishneh Acharona." However, many years passed before he was able to publish his great work "Moznaim LaMishpat," consisting of extensive commentary on every halacha, as well as halachic rulings on the entire Choshen Mishpat. This book made his name renowned throughout Germany, and many of the greatest rabbis began turning to him with their questions on Torah and halacha.
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer did not confine himself to halacha. He also worked intensively on Scripture and Hebrew grammar, and he took an interest in both medieval and modern Jewish philosophy. In the same year that he published "Even Bochen," he also released the book "Emunah Yesharah" in two parts, and later wrote a commentary on the Five Books of the Torah.
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch loved Eretz Yisrael deeply and devoted his life to it. He wrote extensively about the mitzvah of living in Eretz Yisrael, and he also corresponded with the great men of his generation about rebuilding the Temple and the possibility of erecting an altar to offer sacrifices.
In his work "Derishat Zion" he developed a plan aimed at redeeming land from foreigners and settling Jewish farmers there. Among other things, he stated: "When we redeem the land, we pave the way for our G-d and the path to the Final Redemption."
At the beginning of 5623 (1862), Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch had the opportunity to travel to Konigsberg to meet with many rabbis of Russia, and there he presented them with his plan. The Gaon Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, who was present at the gathering, promised that when he returned to Kovno, "Jewish property owners who lease out their property will give one percent of the rent toward cultivating fields in Eretz Yisrael, and the tenants will do the same."
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch also influenced the most generous members of the Jewish community, such as Sir Moses Montefiore and Baron Anschel Rothschild, to support the fund he founded, Eretz Noshevet. And how great was his joy when he learned that Montefiore, during his fourth journey to Eretz Yisrael, had purchased a plot of land near Jaffa and planted an orchard there. This was the first Jewish orchard in the new settlement of the Holy Land.
In his later years, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch decided to travel to Eretz Yisrael, the love of his entire life. However, his family, fearing for the fragile health of their elderly father, who had already turned 76, begged him to refrain. So he sought the advice of the tzadik Rabbi Avraham of Chernov, who advised him not to go to Eretz Yisrael, because a man like him could work more effectively for the benefit of the Holy Land, as well as for the benefit of the poor, by remaining where he was. So he stayed in his town and continued his work in support of the settlement of Eretz Yisrael.
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer passed away at the age of 80 on 5 Cheshvan 5635 (1874) in Thorn, where he was buried with great honor. With the small amount of money found in the deposit box of the "Eretz Noshevet" fund after his death, a plot of land was later purchased for him near the grave of Rachel Imeinu.
May the merit of this great tzadik protect Am Yisrael!
(from the site Tzadikim.com)