Grave

Noda BiYehuda

Yahrzeit (Hillula)

17 Iyar — Rabbi Yechezkel Landau - the "Noda BiYehuda"

Rabbi Yechezkel HaLevi ben Yehuda Landau (1713–1793) – the "Noda BiYehuda" – Rav of Prague. Yahrzeit – 17 Iyar Resting place – Prague, Fibichova Street (Old Jewish Cemetery) Rav Yechezkel Landau, known by the name of his main work "Noda BiYehuda" ("known in Yehuda" – words from Tehillim 76), was invited to take the "rabbinic throne" in Prague, the capital of Bohemia. For the sage's arrival, the community built a raised throne so that "his majesty" could proclaim the words of Torah from it. Alas — the Rav was of towering, mighty stature; few people even reached his shoulders — and his shoulders bumped against the ceiling. He gave his first lesson in one of the most authoritative communities in Europe while stooping over the table. One might say that from then on he continued to "stoop" toward the rabbinic throne from the height of his enormous stature in the wisdom of Torah. Rav Landau was born on October 8 (18 Tishrei), 1713, in the Polish town of Apta (Opatów), to Rav Yehuda Landau, a "parnas" (community benefactor) and one of the leaders of the "Council of Four Lands" — the central body of Jewish self-government in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The family traced its lineage to great Torah sages: to Rashi, to Rav Yehoshua Eshel of Krakow, to the fifteenth-century Talmudist Yehuda Liva of Landau in Germany, and to his son, author of the collection "Agur" (Gathered), which records the rulings and customs of his father. The name of the town became the family surname. From the second half of the sixteenth century, Rav Yechezkel's ancestors lived in Opatów, many of them rabbis and dayanim of the town and outstanding Torah scholars. Opatów was captured several times by the Swedes; it is possible that as a result "Landau" became "Landau" and "Landa" ["Landau" and "Landau"]. His father was the boy's first teacher. Yechezkel became famous very early — he was called the "illui (child prodigy) of Apta," and already in his youth complex halachic questions were addressed to him from many communities across Eastern Europe. He would show special reverence for his parents in his writings: in honor of his father Yehuda, his book "Noda BiYehuda" was named, in honor of his mother Chaya — his second book: "Tziyun LeNefesh Chaya" (A Marker for a Living Soul). At the age of 18 he married the daughter of Rav Yaakov of Dubno — they had 8 children, one of whom, Rav Shmuel (1752–1834), a dayan of Prague, compiled the responsa collection "Shivat Tzion" (Return to Zion) and a commentary on his father's works. At the age of 21, Rav Yechezkel was invited to serve as a dayan (judge) in the town of Brody, one of the most learned Jewish communities in the world, and remained there until 1746. His next position was as rabbi of Yampol, a trading town on the banks of the Dniester (now in Ukraine), from where in 1755 he was called to Prague, where he served as rabbi (of the entire city and of Bohemia), as dayan, and as head of the renowned yeshiva he founded, "Noda BiYehuda," until his passing on April 29 (17 Iyar), 1793. There were, fortunately, not too many "dramatic" events in his life. One reason: tall, powerfully built, with a beautiful strong voice and gentle manners, the rabbi commanded general respect by his very appearance, even before people came to know his boundless knowledge and remarkable insight into people. It seemed he had a "telescope into the depths of a person's character" — he could see through many people at first glance. Few had the courage to enter into conflict with such a giant of spirit and body. Sipurei Tzadikim The Impostor A wealthy man came to the rabbi; he had married off his daughter to a thirteen-year-old boy from a good family. The young couple had a falling-out, and the offended husband left town and disappeared. Five years later a young man appeared with a story of travels overseas, remarkably resembling the missing husband and knowing many intimate details of their life together. The daughter accepted him as her husband, but soon she and her father began to notice certain differences in character from the missing young man. The wealthy man went to the rav with his doubts and brought the "husband" with him. Rav Yechezkel asked the father to have his daughter avoid marital relations until the end of the week, and on Shabbat the father should bring the young husband to the synagogue and let him go ahead through the doors first, to find their usual seats. The young man became flustered… Caught, he confessed to the impersonation in the rav's study. It seems he had befriended the real husband on a ship, and the latter, distressed over his own flight, had told his new friend a great deal about his brief married life. When Rav Landau was asked how he had solved the problem so quickly, he answered: I saw at once that I was dealing with a clever impostor. What will a fraud never think to ask about? — About the holy place, the house of prayer; it simply would never occur to him! Exposure A visiting merchant, before Shabbat, gave 10,000 dinars for safekeeping to his longtime business partner, but the next day the local merchant claimed he had received nothing. Rav Landau summoned the merchant and told the guest to wait nearby and, at a set time, "accidentally" walk in and demand repayment of the debt. The rav began urging the merchant to give money to the poor — 1,000, or even 500, or even 300… "Business is bad, I can't." At that moment the guest walked in, and bargaining began — the merchant declared he owed nothing, but, in order to clear away all suspicion (the rav hinted that otherwise "this troublemaker will spread gossip all over town, and you'll never wash it off"), he was willing to pay… and the amount rose to 500 dinars. At that point Rav Landau stood up and in a thunderous voice demanded the return of the entire sum: "I was urging you to give at least 300 to charity — you said you had no money — yet here you are ready to give 500, while claiming you owe nothing at all?!" The merchant burst into tears and returned everything. That was with ordinary people; but in a conflict between sages, Rav Landau found it far harder to make progress. In 1749 a dispute broke out that shook the Jewish communities of Europe (and beyond) for a long time. The great halachist and kabbalist Rav Yaakov Emden (1698–1776) suspected another outstanding sage, the kabbalist Rav Yonatan Eybeschutz of Altona (1690–1764), of secret heresy — Sabbateanism. The leaders of the generation had to intervene: the Vilna Gaon, Rav Landau, Rav Falk ("Pnei Yehoshua"), and the Chatam Sofer. The Noda BiYehuda issued a proclamation, "Igeret Shalom" (Letter of Peace), declared the amulets attributed to Rav Eybeschutz — which contained hints of Sabbatean "kabbalah" — to be forgeries, and cleared him of all accusations. Yet he opposed Rav Eybeschutz's move to Prague and knew that one of Eybeschutz's own sons had in fact become a Sabbatean; apparently some doubts remained. The mission of reconciliation succeeded only partially, and the quarrel dealt a heavy blow to the authority of the rabbis and to the stability of Jewish life, even though the dispute was conducted "for the sake of Heaven." Rav Landau's activity as head of the community was varied and successful. He was held in great esteem at the Austro-Hungarian court and sought to maintain peaceful relations with the non-Jewish population. Yet he did not deviate from the Law by even a hair's breadth. By the Law of Maria Theresa A wealthy Kohen from Prague wanted to marry a divorced woman (forbidden to a Kohen), and the Rav categorically refused to give his blessing. The persistent man went all the way to the Empress, who then ordered that the marriage ceremony be performed. Rav Landau immediately agreed, and under the chuppah he instructed the groom to repeat: "With this ring you are consecrated to me according to the law of Empress Maria Theresa" (instead of "according to the law of Moshe and Israel," as is customary). The crowd that had gathered at the wedding to watch Rav Landau violate the Torah quickly dispersed, and the Rav explained: "By the law of Moshe it is forbidden; so marry by the law of the Empress." The matter fell through, and soon enough the troublemaker himself changed his mind. Rav Landau's standing in the eyes of the people and the authorities only grew as a result. Rav Yechezkel fought actively against sectarians, placing a cherem (ban) on Sabbateans and Frankists, and he opposed the emerging Chassidic movement, in which he feared encountering yet another pseudo-kabbalistic sect. Some Chassidic leaders, in particular the Kotzker, thanked the Vilna Gaon and the Noda BiYehuda for this, saying "otherwise we might truly have become a sect." The Haskalah movement, "Jewish Enlightenment," was at first received favorably by the rabbi — he encouraged a broad education; but soon, when it became clear that most of its leaders were trying to "dilute the Torah" and force Jewish life to conform to that of the surrounding nations at the cost of changing or even abolishing some of the mitzvot, he became its firm opponent. Rav Landau and the Baal Shem Tov As we will soon see, without him we might not have the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov, the Kedushat Levi, the Noam Elimelech, the Likutei Moharan, the Bnei Yissaschar, the Tanya, the Sfat Emet, and other books. Rav Landau was a great Gaon in Torah and a great tzadik, and was also well versed in the hidden Torah. He was a fierce opponent of the newly founded Chassidic movement of the Baal Shem Tov. He was on friendly terms with the Baal Shem Tov, but did not believe him to be a great tzadik. When the Baal Shem Tov was in his town, he would stop to visit Rabbi Yechezkel, who personally attended to him in order to fulfill the mitzvah of "hachnasat orchim" (hospitality). When the Baal Shem Tov realized that his visits were causing the Noda BiYehuda to interrupt his Torah study, he stopped coming. Rabbi Yechezkel's wife, however, truly believed the Baal Shem Tov to be a great tzadik and would visit him together with her sons. The "Divrei Chaim" of Tzanz said that had the Noda BiYehuda been alive, he would have sat under his table just to learn from him. Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin told one of his talmidim, a grandson of Rabbi Yechezkel, that he had heard from the Ohev Yisrael, who had heard it from the Maggid of Zlotchov, that when the time came for the Baal Shem Tov's neshama to descend into this world, all manner of accusing angels spoke up, arguing that Mashiach would come before his appointed time if the Baal Shem Tov were to descend into the world. The defending angels argued in favor of the Baal Shem Tov's coming into the world. In the end it was decided that another lofty neshama would also be sent down, one who would likewise be a great tzadik, but who would oppose the Baal Shem Tov and his teachings. This division would prevent Mashiach from coming before his time. That other great tzadik was Rabbi Landau, the Noda BiYehuda. Thus we may truly say that the Noda BiYehuda was the most important figure in the history of Chassidut, because without him the Baal Shem Tov could not have come into this world. Why the Vilna Gaon Did Not Bless the Noda BiYehuda with Both Hands In the book "Maaseh Alpas" by Rav Ben Tzion Alpas, one of the great geniuses of previous generations, a man of immense devotion to Torah and prayer, who wrote it at the age of 90, the following is recorded. He testifies that he himself heard the following story from the mouth of Rav Yechezkel Landau: "When Rav Yechezkel Landau became a groom, his father-in-law brought him on Shabbat to the Gra to be blessed. The Gra was sitting at the second Shabbat meal eating kugel, and the groom was wearing a shtreimel, and the Gaon wanted to place his hands on the groom's head to bless him, and the groom stepped back so that the Gaon would not smear his shtreimel with his greasy hands from the pashtida, and the Gra placed one hand on the shtreimel and blessed him — and he lived a long life and studied without glasses until his final day." For the rest of his life, Rav Yechezkel Landau regretted what he had done — valuing his shtreimel more than the Gra's hands. The Vilna Gaon's blessing nevertheless took effect, and Rav Yechezkel Landau lived to the age of 91. Later, an explanation was heard from the Vilna Gaon, that one who is not a Kohen may not bless with both hands. May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael! (From a journey to the resting places of the tzadikim with the Rosh Yeshiva of "Yodei Bina," Gaon Rav Yaniv Assuri)