Rav Amrom Yishai HaLevi Bilitzer was born in 5594/1834. His father was Rav Yitzchok Isaac Bilitzer, the Rav of Nagiada, Slovakia, mechaber of Be’er Yitzchok.
Rav Amrom Yishai learned under Rav Chaim Sofer, the mechaber of She’eilos U’Teshuvos Machaneh Chaim.
He married Rebbetzin Shifra, the daughter of Rav Shlomo Heiman, a noted Talmid Chochom from Ungvar.
He was appointed the first official Rav in Szerencz, a growing Kehilla in the northeast region of Hungary. He was instrumental in its growth, establishing a Yeshiva there in which Torah was taught up until the Holocaust.
Rav Amrom Yishai corresponded regularly with his Rebbe, Rav Chaim Sofer. There are many teshuvos written to Rav Amrom Yishai in She’eilos U’Teshuvos Machneh Chaim. Rav Chaim Sanzer, in a teshuva to Rav Amrom Yishai (Divrei Chaim, vol. 2, Orach Chaim, siman 5), lavishes upon him titles such as Charif and Chassid.
His son-in-law Rav Feivish Tzvi Gross, in his sefer Nachlas Tzvi, also praises him highly.
Rav Amrom Yishai served as Rav in Szerencz for thiry-five years, a period of spiritual growth for his Kehilla. He was niftar on the 24th of Tammuz 5649/1889 at the age of sixty-five and was buried in Szerencz.
He was succeeded by his illustrious son, Rav Pinchos Bilitzer, mechaber of Giv’as Pinchos, where many of Rav Amrom Yishai’s chiddushim are printed.
His sons-in-law were Rav Chaim Mordechai Adler, Rav of Paryia; Rav Yehuda Leib Lemberger-Lvov, Rav of Ruszhani; and Rav Meshulom Feivish Zvi Gross of Brooklyn, mechaber of Nachalas Tzvi and Ateres Tzvi.
His descendants have erected an ohel over his kever in Szerencz.
Zechuso yagen aleinu.
www.hamodia.com/features/this-day-in-history-24-tammuzjuly-22/
