Rav Avrohom Abba Leifer Pittsburgher Rebbe, Emunas Avraham (Teves 10, 5750 / 1990 - 34th Yahrzeit)
The Pittsburger-Chernovitzer Rebbe
Yahrzeit of Rav Avraham Abba Leifer, zy’a. It is hard to believe that 30 years have gone by since the Rebbe, zy’a was niftar on Asara B’Teves in 1990. As one who was born and raised in Irvington, New Jersey near Newark, our family were recipients of his warmth and hospitality. It is awesome to describe the impact the Rebbe had on Jewish life in Newark and its environs, where he implanted his Chassidishe warmth for over 20 years. At that period in his life, prior to the passing of his revered father, the Pittsburger Rebbe, Rav Yosef Leifer, zy’a, he was known as the Chernovitzer Rebbe.
How does one describe his strong Torah roots, fiery faith, noble character and love of Eretz Yisroel. His mesiras nefesh to walk almost an hour to be toivel in a kosher mikveh before Shabbos Shachris. Our family had the zechus to daven at his first Bais Hamedresh on Hobson Street, near the Irvington border. Later when he built his beautiful new shule on one of the main boulevards of Newark’s Yiddishe area, my teenage friends and I would walk over half an hour each way to enjoy the sound of his heartfelt Tefillos on Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim.
His Youth
His Rebbe, HaRav Avraham Abba Leifer, zt’l (known as the Emunas Avraham) was born in Kroli, Hungary in 1918 to his father, Rav Yosef Leifer, The Tzidkas Yosef, who was the son of Rav Bertche of Satmar, the son of Rav Mordche of Nadvorna, zy’a. During his youth, the Rebbe learned under his father in his hometown. While Rav Avraham Abba was still a child, his father travelled to the USA to raise money to marry off his sisters, who had been orphaned at a young age. Among other places he visited Pittsburgh, where he found a large warm kehillah of observant Jews who were yirei shomayim. They urged him to settle in their city and be their leader; The Tzidkas Yosef agreed and brought over his entire family to settle in the city.
Concerned for the chinuch, the Tzidkas Yosef sent his children away to yeshivas. Rav Avraham Abba learned in the Rachover Yeshiva under HaRav Shloma Zalman of Rachov, zy’a, where he excelled in his studies and received semicha on Yora Deah from his rebbi, when he was a mere 17 years old. From there he went to learn in Sekelheid under HaRav Yehuda Segel-Rosner, zy’a, the Imrei Yehudah, which was considered to be the crowning glory of Hungarian yeshivas. He became one of the most outstanding students, and in time, Rav Isamar of Nadvorna, zy’a chose him as a chosson for his daughter.
During the teenage years that he spent in Europe, far away from his family, he often travelled to various Chassidishe Rebbes. He also went to his uncle, HaRav Eliezer Zev of Kretchnif, zt’l, who displayed unusual affection towards him and had deep Torah discussions with him. His countless sefarim are testimony to his profound proficiency and brilliance in all facets of the Torah.
Baalei Chessed
The Rebbe and Rebbitzen lived a life of true chessed. The Shabbos Seudas always had extra guests and the Rebbitzen would cook and distribute food to needy families. When tragedy befell a local family, the Rebbe and the Rebbitzen took them in and gave them an apartment on the top floor of their home. They also took on the responsibility of marrying off their children- and what beautiful shidduchim they made.
A friend of mine became a baal-teshuva as a teenager and left his home because it was not possible to keep Torah there. The Rebbe quietly took him in and acted as an intermediary with his parents, who refused to accept his new way of life. Today he lives in Meah
