Reb Berel Garfinkel, born to Chabad chassidim from the city of Kurenitz, studied in Lubavitch during the years 5676-7 (1916-7). Later he served as mashgiach in several underground branches of Tomchei Tmimim in Russia. After leaving Russia in the year 5696 (1936), he was appointed as mashgiach and general menahel of the yeshiva in Otvotzk, Poland. He brought a new chayus into the yeshiva, and he would often walk among the tables encouraging the bochurim in their learning, calling out, “Lebediker! Lebediker!” He married shortly before World War II. In the beginning of the war he was mashgiach of the yeshiva in the Radom Ghetto. He and his wife were killed al kidush Hashem in Auschwitz in the year 5703 (1943).
In his youth, Reb Berel once told his friends, “Come with me, I will ask the Rogatchover Gaon a question that he won’t be able to answer!” They went to the Rogatchover and Reb Berel asked, “The Torah writes ‘Vayehi erev vayehu boker,’—night and then day. The Mishnah as well begins with the din of Shema at night. If so, why does the Shulchan Aruch start with the halachos pertaining to the morning?"
The Rogatchover was quiet for a very long time, and finally told the astonished bochurim that he does not have an answer. After taking leave of the gaon, Reb Berel said to his friends, “This question the Rebbe Rashab asks in a maamar and does not give an answer. I was therefore certain that the Rogatchover would not be able to answer this question either.”
Reb Mendel Futerfass related:
Reb Berel was five years older than me had incredible capabilities. When he was seventeen years old he was fluent in the three "Bavos" and additional masechtos with Rashi, Tosfos, and other rishonim.
When we met next, he was twenty one. I asked him where he was up to, and he replied sincerely that he knew all of Shas with Rashi, Tosfos, and other rishonim, as well as all the printed maamorim – all by heart! He said it without any air of pride or "humility." He wasn’t proud at all.
(ר' מענדל ע' 253)
