The following is an excerpt of an article published in the
Hamodiah newspaper fifty years ago by Rabbi Y. Halevi
Grossfogel who discovered the photograph that we published
last week in our "Sparks of Greatness" feature. This
information was brought to our attention and we are bringing
it to the attention of our readers.
The portrait of HaRav Aryeh Leib ben HaRav Osher, the author
of the Sha'agas Aryeh, Turei Even, Gevuros Ari, and
other seforim, was previously unknown to the public.
It was therefore a special merit for this writer, with
enormous effort, to have been able to procure the picture of
ha'ari shebachaburoh, zechuso yogein oleinu, omen.
Some twenty (or more) years ago, I heard of a family in Metz
who traces its lineage to the Sha'agas Aryeh, z"l.
Unfortunately, the family is assimilated. One of their
rooms is adorned with a large portrait of the gaon.
The expertly handcrafted image of the leader of the
geonim was etched in polished brass and bronze. (The
picture was published in the first volume of Pe'er Hador
and elsewhere).
I entreated one of my friends in Metz to ask the said family
to permit photographing the engraved image and to send me
the photo. When the photograph arrived, my joy was
incomplete. Not a small amount of grief had accompanied it.
The engraving did not take place during the gaon's
lifetime but immediately after his passing. The picture
was on the day of his burial, as he was lying dead,
appearing as if sleeping.
Incidentally, none of the historians knew the exact date of
his passing. Rather, they said that he passed away some time
during the summer of 5145 (1785). (He was born in 4055
(1695).) However, the sentences engraved underneath the
image inform us of the precise date. [According to the
inscription] he passed away on Thursday, the 15th of Tammuz
in the year 5145.
As we look at and contemplate the photograph, we are amazed
by his large head, that is much larger than usual. The face
is almost like a long and broad forehead. There is a
tradition that his appearance was like his name: R' Aryeh
Leib. A lion of the spirit whose face aroused an awe of
grandeur. His eyes burned like fiery torches and intimidated
those in his presence.
[The rest of the article repeats material that appeared in
our feature last week.]
