Rav Aharon Halberstam was born in 5586/1826, in Rudnick. His father was Rav Chaim, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz.
He was a talmid of his father, and would also travel to the courts of other leading Rebbes, among them Rav Tzvi Hirsh of Rimanov, Rav Dovid of Tolna, the Sar Sholom of Belz and Rav Avrohom of Trisk.
Rav Aharon married the daughter of the nogid Rav Yaakov Weinberger of Dukla.
In 5617/1857, Rav Aharon was appointed Rav in the city of Sanz.
Following his father’s petira (25th of Nissan 5636/1876), Rav Aharon was the only son who was not appointed Rebbe. He refused to accept the Chassidim who came to his house.
During his tenure as Rav, Rav Aharon applied a cherem against one of the residents of the city, who refused to accept the ruling of his Beis Din. This incident led to Rav Aharon being imprisoned for six weeks.
Rav Aharon wrote down many chiddushei Torah, but shortly before his passing, he burned all his manuscripts.
After taking ill, Rav Aharon traveled to Vienna to meet with doctors. He was niftar as he made his way home, on Rosh Chodesh Av 5663/1903, at age seventy-seven. He was buried in the ohel with his father, in Sanz.
Rav Aharon’s sons were Rav Shmuel Shmelke; Rav Shalom, who served as Rav in Pikli and Sanz; and Rav Aryeh Leibish of Sanz-Gribov. His son-in-law was Rav Moshe Halberstam of Bardiov.
Some of his Divrei Torah were published in Megged Eretz, by Rav Aharon Halberstam of Biale-Bilitz (a great-nephew) and in other seforim as well.
Zecher tzaddik livrachah.
