7 Sivan · Yahrzeit

Count Potocki - Avraham ben Avraham, the Ger Tzedek of Vilna

Count Valentin Potocki - Avraham ben Avraham, the Ger Tzedek of Vilna Yahrzeit - 7 Sivan Burial place - the old Jewish cemetery (called "Shnipishok" or Piramont) located to the north of the Jewish ghetto of Vilna (Virshulishkes, Vilnius 07192). The Ger Tzedek was born in Poland into a Polish noble family and was known as Count Potocki (a Catholic priest). His family was a respected one, but he decided to become a Jew. He came from the same family as Sophia, after whom Sofiyivka Park in Uman is named. He was killed for refusing to renounce his newfound faith. The Vilna Gaon offered to save him through Kabbalah, but the Ger Tzedek refused. He said he wanted to give his life "Al kiddush Hashem." He also said that the souls of converts are those people who wanted to accept the Torah but could not, because the rest of their nation did not want to accept it. He came to Judaism while studying in Rome, and it was there that he concluded that Christianity was entirely false and that truth could be found only in the Torah and Judaism. He decided that he would convert. In those days, conversion to Judaism was punishable by death. Count Potocki fled to Holland, where there was freedom of religion. He underwent conversion and was given the name "Avraham ben Avraham." Avraham ben Avraham longed to find himself in a vibrant atmosphere of Torah study. So soon afterward he left Holland and traveled to Lithuania. He settled in a small village on the outskirts of Vilna, where he hoped to remain as inconspicuous as possible. One day the authorities discovered Avraham ben Avraham's identity and whereabouts. They arrested him, imprisoned him, and sentenced him to execution. The night before the execution was the night of Shavuot. The Vilna Gaon came to visit Avraham ben Avraham and found him weeping. "Why are you crying?" the Gaon asked him. "Are you afraid to die?" "No," answered the Ger Tzedek, "on the contrary, I am overjoyed that I have the opportunity to publicly sanctify the Name of the Most High!" "I am crying because I am afraid that I will be alone in Gan Eden. I have no father. I have no children. Who will be with me in the World to Come?" "You are mistaken," replied the Vilna Gaon. There is a midrash explaining a verse in Yeshaya: "Thus says G-d: 'I am the First and I am the Last...'" "I am the First - for I have no father, I am the Last - for I have no son." "This is a puzzling midrash," the Vilna Gaon continued. "Why would the verse need to tell us that G-d has neither a father nor a son?!" This is an error printed in the midrash. The correct wording of the midrash is as follows: I am the First - for those who have no father, I am the Last - for those who have no sons. You will not be alone in Gan Eden," declared the Gaon. "Hashem will be your Companion!!" Avraham ben Avraham was burned at the stake on the second day of Shavuot. His remains were rescued by several Jews disguised as Poles. His ashes were gathered and buried in the Jewish cemetery in Vilna. Every year, by the instruction of the Vilna Gaon, the Jews of Vilna held a special memorial tefillah l'ilui nishmato on the second day of Shavuot. Today, Count Potocki's grave lies beside that of the Vilna Gaon, within the same ohel. May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!