Sefer mucal me-ha-esh, New York 5715 BY RABBI HALBERSTAN SANZ -BELZ TOIROS MUTZAL MEHAESH HEBREW VG CONDITION ...

Sefer mucal me-ha-esh, New York 5715 BY RABBI HALBERSTAN SANZ -BELZ TOIROS MUTZAL MEHAESH HEBREW VG CONDITION, HARDCOVER THE WRITINGS OF RABBI AHRON HALBERSTAM WHO WAS KILLED BY THE NAZIS IN THE HOLOCAUST

מוצל מהאש - רבי אהרן האלבערשטאם מביאלא ביליץ - 

RABBI Aron Halberstam (1865 Chrzanów – 11 June 1942 Tarnów[1.1]) – a Hasidic rabbi and leader of the Orthodox Jews from Biała, a descendant of the tzadik from Chrzanów Józef Zeew Halberstam.

He was one of the three sons of Tzipora (daughter of Menachem Mendl Rubin) and Józef Zeew Halberstam from Chrzanów. His father was the chairman of a rabbinical court and an admor (tzadik) in Chrzanów. He stemmed from the dynasty of Nowy Sącz tzadikim. A hundread years after his ancestor Chaim had become a Hasid, the Halberstam family's influence spread over more than 40 towns in Galicia and Hungary[1.2].

Like his ancestors, Aron Halberstam received thorough religious education. He first learned from his grandfather and father and later attended a Hasidic yeshiva in Nowy Sącz. His first wife was Rebeka Rachela Rotenberg, daughter of Alter Meir Dawid, a tzadik from Wolbrom. In 1881, after the death of Rebeka, he married Debora, daughter of Jozua Izaak Kluger.

Halberstam came to Biała because of the conflict regarding Rabbi Natan Glaser, who was too 'progressive' for most of Orthodox Jews there. Halberstam was then appointed chairman of the rabbinical court, in fact becoming the Orthodox rabbi in Biała. This is said to have taken place in 1889 (according to Eliasz Miron – 1897[1.3]. Aron performed this function for 50 years, until 1939.

He lived with his family in a house in the suburbs of Biała, where the local community of Orthodox Jews from Biała quickly became to gather. He was actively involved in religious and educational undertakings directed at radical Orthodox Jews from Biała. His influence was also visible among some of the other members of the Jewish community of Biała. He ran a Hasidic 'klaus' (prayer room and beth midrash) in Bielsko and Biała. In 1924, he opened the "Morei Torah" (“Teachers of the Law”) school in Biała. It was a religious school which taught several secular subjects in addition to subjects typical for a Hasidic yeshiva. The school was very popular and Halberstam, although not being in charge of it, was seen as an extraordinary teacher and educator. He was also known for his sermons and religious treatises, part of which was published in the collection Meged Shamaim ('Blessing of the Heavens').

We know nothing of Aron's direct participation in the administrative activities of the kehilla or other local societies. Nevertheless, he had influence in the Community Board, evidenced by a lobby of Orthodox Jews who claimed to be representing Halberstam's views during the deliberations on the 1929 budget[1.4]. It is possible that in a similar way, he co-founded and managed Orthodox societies like "Marbitzei Torah" (Promotion of the Law) in Biała, "Talmud Torah", "Bet Yaakov", houses of prayer and other institutions in Bielsko. Even though Aron was respected by both the local Hasidim and the more 'progressive' part of the Jewish community, unlike the other members of his family he was never recognised as a tzadik. Until his death, he was only the chairman of the rabbinical court and the unofficial leader of Orthodox Jews from Bielsko and Biała. He died during the Holocaust, in unknown circumstances on 11 June 1942[1.5].

We know the names of all four of Aron's children, but only Menachem Beniamin Ben Cion (born 1881) lived to come of age and survived the Holocaust. His other children – Chaim (circa 1900–1932) and Chawa (circa 1905–1930) were buried in the Jewish cemetery in Biała. In the years 1966–1967, due to the closing of the cemetery, their remains were exhumed and moved to the Jewish cemetery in Bielsko at Cieszyńska Street (sector G, row VI, grave number: Chaim –3018, Chawa–3027)[1.6].

According to Marcin Wodziński, Halberstam was neither an important religious figure, nor did he substantially influence the Jewish community in Bielsko and Biała. It was not due to insufficient education or lack of charisma. Hasidism did not have many followers in Biała, and especially not in Bielsko. The indifference and sometimes even hostility towards this movement was caused by strong influence of the Enlightenment trend from Germany and the employment structure with a majority of liberal professions, wealthy industrialists and clerical workers[1.7].

Texts by Aron Halberstam:

Halberstam A., Sefer mucal me-ha-esh, New York 5715 [1955] 

Halberstam A., Jore De’a, Biłgoraj 5698 [1938].

Halberstam A., Meged arec, no date or place of publication.

Halberstam A., Orech Chaim, Mukaczewo 5666 [1906].

Halberstam A., Pri Megadim, no date or place of publication .

Halberstam A., Pri Noe, New York 1957 [online] http://www.hebrewbooks.org/9254