Biographies of the Tzaddikim
Ravina I (Kislev 13, 4182 / 421 - 1,603rd Yahrzeit)
Ravina berei D’Rav Huna, Rosh Mesivta of Sura, together with his teacher, Rav Ashi, collected and commented upon the Gemora of what would henceforth be known as the Talmud Bavli.
Rav Shlomo Zalman Yosef Frankel (Kislev 13, 5618 / 1857 - 167th Yahrzeit)
Rav Shlomo Zalman Yosef, a beloved talmid of the Kozhnitzer Maggid. He studied under his father and received the Chassidic tradition as a talmid muvhok of Rav Meir of Apta, mechaber of Or Lashomayim, and Rav Naftoli Tzvi of Ropshitz, as well as Rav Naftoli’s son-in-law and successor, Rav Osher Yeshaya of Ropshitz.
He lived in dire poverty. Inititally he served as the Yarosluver Rav’s gabbai. Later, he was appointed Rebbe by Rav Shimon Yarosluver, who was the elder Tzaddik of the generation, who crowned him, saying, “I myself was crowned Rebbe by Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk, and he in turn by Rav DovBer, the Mezritcher Maggid, and he in turn by the Ba’al Shem Tov, whose ordination was by Eliyohu HaNovi (Achiya HaShiloni) and so I hereby ordain and crown your Rebbe in their name.”
He was renowned for his many miracles. Once, Rav Meir Premishlaner revealed them to his Chassidim. At first he hid himself through self-affliction and fasting. Rav Aharon Marcus saw his miracles as a battle against the Enlightenment to demonstrate the true existence of Hashem. The Rebbe himself travelled from place to place working wonders and miracles to prove that there is a G-d.
However, his travels were few and far between; his constant mortifications, fasts and afflictions took their toll, leaving him often weak, sick and bed-ridden. Nonetheless, when the time arrived to daven he would strengthen himself, roaring like a lion and davening, aflame with enthusiasm. Eyewitnesses said that his davening was a supernatural event.
He was greatly beloved by other Tzaddikim, such as the heilige Rizhiner and the Sar Sholom of Belz; Rav Chaim of Sanz, however, disputed him and his ways.
In the last year of his life he revealed to the Chassidim that it was his last year and even asked them to bury him in a specific location he hinted at by the Gemora saying tanna heicha kai? Akra kai – where does the Tanna stand akrai – and he passed away in Cracow. The Rav of Cracow, Rav Kalonymous Kalman Epstein, mechaber of Maor Voshemesh had hinted at his place of burial during his youth, and so they were buried next to each other, even though forty years separated their petiros.
Rav Aharon Marcus testified that many who came to daven at his kever experienced miraculous salvations.
Rav Shlomo Zalman Yosef’s son Rav Avrohom Frankel succeeded him as Rebbe in Vilipoli. His sons-in-law were Rav Nosson Nota Dov Lipschitz, the grandson of Rav Arye Leib Lipschitz of Vishnitza, mechaber of Arye Dvei Illai; Rav Yitzchok Tzvi Hirsch Schiff, who succeeded him as Rav in Vilipoli; and Rav Moshe Turim, the son of Nosson Leib, the son of Rav Mendel of Rymanow.
He authored commentaries on Tomer Devora of the Ramak, but before his petira he ordered them buried along with him. A few scattered divrei Torah are printed in Be’eros HaMayim of Rav Hirschel Rymanower.
Among his talmidim was Rav Yaakov Meir Shpielman, Rav of Bucharest.
