The Rabbi, the Reincarnation, and the Rift
How could it be that such a tzadik as R' Yehonasan Eibeschutz (1690-1764) had such machlokes against him to the extent that the Yaavetz, suspected him of being from the sect of the followers of the false Moshiach Shabsai Tzvi, and R' Emden stirred up the whole world against him? Why was this decreed upon him? R' Yaakov Emden (1697-1776),
This can be understood according to what R' Yitzchak Isaac of Komarna (1806-1874)¹⁰ wrote: at times, a tzadik stands embroiled in a controversy due to a previous incarnation, just as exceedingly lofty soul, had had in a previous lifetime. A great controversy was directed against him, in order to weaken his mind and break his heart, so as to refine and rectify him.
R' Yitzchak Isaac of Komarna further explains that R' Yehonasan Eibeschutz had been the reincarnation of someone else with the same name. And that is, Yehonasan ben Gershom,¹¹ who was a priest in the idolatrous episode of Pesel Michah. Due to this, he needed to undergo a rectification, and therefore R' Yehonasan Eibeschutz came in reincarnation. R' Yehonasan Eibeschutz spread Torah his entire life, but his days were full of pain and suffering, in order to atone for the sin of his previous incarnation. R' Yehonasan, who himself was an
Similarly, R' Akiva Yosef Schlesinger (1837-1922),¹² Kolmaya, wrote before Pesach in the year 1860 that a great mekubal from Tibet came. Among the many things he said was about the great the son-in-law of R' Hillel dispute that occurred between R' Yehonasan Eibeschutz and R' Yaakov Emden. R' Yehonasan Eibeschutz had Yehonasan ben Gershom who had become a priest in the episode of Pesel Michah, and therefore was accused of being from the sect of Shabsai throughout his life. This was in order to rectify that flaw.
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L'ilui Nishmas Netanel Yehonatan Shakroun Hy"d ************************************** been a reincarnation of Tzvi and endured persecution
9 As in Pesachim 27a. See Rabbeinu Bachayei in Kad Hakemech, Erech Rosh Hashana, p. 70.
¹⁰ Nesiv Mitzvosecha, Shvil Hatorah, Chapter 1.
¹¹ Sefer Shoftim 18:30.
¹² Shomru Mishpat, Volume 2, p. 72a.
¹³ Devarim 22:8.