7 Kislev · Yahrzeit
Yahrzeit/Hillula of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Charlop – Yeshivot "Beit Zvul" and "Merkaz HaRav"
Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Charlop - Rabbi of the Sha'arei Chesed neighborhood in Jerusalem, was one of the central figures on the teaching staff of the yeshiva, and later became Rosh Yeshiva of "Beit Zvul" and "Merkaz HaRav."
He was connected to Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook - as both a student and a chasid.
In his personal life, Rabbi Charlop practiced a certain degree of asceticism, including fasting, immersing in a cold mikveh on winter nights, and dedicating himself fully to the early morning prayers at dawn (vatikin) and to Torah study. He was known for the preparation he put into his shiurim for his students. His shiurim and hashkafa were eventually compiled and include shiurim on halacha, Talmud, Tanach, and Emunah. The deep influence of Rabbi Kook can be found throughout all of Rabbi Charlop's works dealing with the holiness of the Land of Israel and the nature of redemption in our generation.
Rabbi Charlop was born on the 18th of Kislev, 1882, to his father Rabbi Zevulun, who served on the beit din of the Maharil Diskin, and his mother Miriam. He studied at the Etz Chaim institutions.
In 1896 he began studying with his father, and also began studying under Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin of Brisk (1819-1897).
Rabbi Charlop's spiritual character was shaped to a great extent by the influence of Rabbi Tzvi Michel, who was immersed in Torah study. For a time he studied at Yeshivat "Torat Chaim" and was one of the members of "Beit Vaad."
Marriage
When Rabbi Yaakov Moshe was sixteen years old, he became engaged to the niece of Rabbi David of Karlin. In addition to his training under Rabbi Tzvi Michel, he studied at Yeshivat Torat Chaim under the brilliant Rabbi Yona Raam, who was twelve years his senior. Later, when the new Kerem neighborhood was built in Jerusalem and Rabbi Yona was chosen as its rabbi, Rabbi Yona began to proclaim the greatness of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe.
Between 1904 and 1908, two important events took place in Rabbi Charlop's personal life: his acquaintance with Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, who was the rabbi of Jaffa, and his appointment as rabbi of the Sha'arei Chesed neighborhood in Jerusalem. The significance of these events was reflected in the strengthening of his public standing as a teacher and spiritual leader serving as the community's rabbi, as well as in the shaping of his spiritual character and way of life as a result of the decisive influence of Rabbi Kook.
Shirat HaYam (Song of the Sea)
On the seventh night of Pesach, Rabbi Charlop would recite "Shirat HaYam" ("the Song of the Sea") at his home.
Torah scholars would flock to his home, listen to a shiur, and then speak on a deeper level about the miracle of the splitting of the Red Sea. After this, Rabbi Charlop would rise and recite it verse by verse with great feeling, to a special melody, and the crowd would respond until the end of the Song of the Sea.
Afterward, he would dance from great joy.
It was clear that many tikkunim were bound up with his Song of the Sea, because the Song of the Sea does not say "then Moshe sang" but rather "then Moshe will sing," to teach that the Song of the Sea is recited every year, and the moment of reciting it unites all the souls of all generations. Yet it is impossible to grasp the full scope revealed in the recitation of these verses.