IN-DEPTH FEATURES
HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop -- the Granat
13 Nisan 5631 (1871) -- 3 Tishrei 5690 (1929)

"One time while I was strolling with an older student of the Grodno yeshiva," related HaRav Dovid Zaritsky, "we passed Grodno's Jewish cemetery. Suddenly the student climbed over the cemetery's fence and stretched out on HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop's grave. Then he cried out, `Rebbe, in whose care have you left us?' His weeping was like that of a son for his father."

Who was HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop? Why did he evoke such heartfelt sentiments in his students?

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop was the rosh yeshiva of Radin during the time of the Chofetz Chaim, and one of the Torah world's greatest roshei yeshiva. Describing this greatness, HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz wrote: "In the past generation, four roshei yeshiva reinstated Torah's glory in Am Yisroel. They were: HaRav Chaim of Brisk, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop, HaRav Boruch Ber Leibowitz and HaRav Shimon Shkop . . . HaRav Naftoli Tzvi analyzed, investigated and prepared the wells for the laying of the foundations [of Torah study]."

Early Years

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop was born in Grodno on 13 Nisan 5631 (1871). His father, HaRav Moshe, an outstanding talmid chochom and the rosh yeshiva of Grodno's local yeshiva, was so humble that he was totally oblivious of his stature. His mother, Rasha, descended from the Gaon of Vilna and was known for her piety.

As a child, Naftoli Tzvi displayed rare intellectual abilities, astounding Grodno's lamdonim with his astute questions and deep comprehension. In order to develop his potential, his parents sent him to Kelm when he was only fourteen to study under HaRav Simcha Zissel, the Alter of Kelm. After that he studied briefly in Slobodka, and then in Telz where he became very close with its rosh yeshiva, HaRav Eliezer Gordon. For a brief period, he also studied in the Novardoker yeshiva in Slonim, where he formed a close relationship with the Alter of Novardok, HaRav Yosef Yozel Horowitz.

In 5649 (1889), HaRav Naftoli Tzvi returned to Slobodka, which at that time was headed by HaRav Yaakov Yisroel Rabinowitz, best known as HaRav Itzele Ponovezher.

HaRav Itzele had a unique approach to Torah study which he had honed during his years of study with HaRav Chaim Soloveitchik (and which was called HaRav Chaim's approach). This approach involved separately analyzing every train of thought of the Talmudic sugya under study until the sources of each Talmudic principle and insight were clearly ascertained.

Highly impressed by this method, the brilliant HaRav Naftoli Tzvi joined HaRav Itzele's shiur and became deeply attached to him. Years later, one of the factors which led the Chofetz Chaim to choose HaRav Naftoli Tzvi to head the Radin yeshiva was his familiarity with this approach.

Marriage and Tragedy

At the age of twenty-one, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi became engaged to the daughter of HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the Alter of Slobodka. However she passed away a few months before the wedding. Although HaRav Naftoli Tzvi was brokenhearted, he found comfort in his Torah studies and in delivering chaburos to his friends.

A year after the kallah's petiroh, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi married Pesya Leah, the daughter of the well-known tzaddik HaRav Eliezer Yaakov Chavas of Yanishok.

The wedding, which took place on 11 Tammuz 5655, was attended by all of the great roshei yeshiva of the time. HaRav Yaakov Chavas, a very distinguished askan who founded many kollelim throughout Russia and Lithuania, was fully aware of the value of his son-in-law. In the invitation HaRav Yaakov sent to his relative HaRav Eliyahu Meir Feivelson (who later became his son-in-law, too) he wrote: "I am very grateful to Hashem for having granted my daughter a husband who is capable of being nothing less than a godol beYisroel."

Shortly after the wedding, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi returned to Kelm where he joined a large group of outstanding avreichim.

The mussar approach he absorbed in Kelm, coupled with that which he had imbibed in Slobodka, by means of his contact with HaRav Yosef Yozel Horowitz whom he had met in Slonim, shaped him into a total mussar personality

After four years of studying in Kelm, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi was invited to serve as rosh yeshiva of the Or HaChaim yeshiva ketanoh in Slobodka, founded by HaRav Tzvi Levitan.

HaRav Tzvi Levitan, one of HaRav Yisroel Salanter's youngest students, founded the Ohr HaChaim yeshiva when he was only twenty-three. At first it had only twenty students, but in time it grew to include hundreds. HaRav Tzvi was very concerned about the spiritual welfare of the younger generation, and whenever he encountered a Jewish youngster who wasn't receiving a yeshiva education he would try to persuade him to enroll in the yeshiva. When HaRav Naftoli Tzvi joined the staff, the yeshiva expanded even more, and many parents sought to enroll their children in Ohr HaChaim because of his warm and fatherly approach.

To Radin

When the Chofetz Chaim learned of the achievements of the thirty-three year old HaRav Naftoli Tzvi in spreading Torah, he wrote him: "I heard that Hashem is helping you in your efforts to teach Torah and to instill your students with yiras Shomayim. I would be very happy -- if Hashem so wills -- if Kevodo accepted the position of rosh yeshiva of Radin, on condition that the administration of the Yeshiva of Slobodka agrees to this appointment."

When HaRav Naftoli Tzvi was invited to serve as rosh yeshiva of Radin HaRav Moshe Londinsky, one of the greatest Torah scholars of that time, occupied that position. The reason the Chofetz Chaim asked HaRav Naftoli Tzvi to replace HaRav Moshe was that the rapidly expanding yeshiva required someone who could discipline the students, an ability HaRav Moshe lacked. Realizing that such a figure was necessary for the yeshiva's success, HaRav Moshe voluntarily stepped down from his position as rosh yeshiva.

As soon as HaRav Naftoli Tzvi arrived in Radin he developed a close and lasting friendship with HaRav Moshe, who highly approved the Chofetz Chaim's choice of a new rosh yeshiva.

Rosh Yeshiva Par Excellence

What made HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop one of the greatest roshei yeshiva of all times?

The main key to his success as a rosh yeshiva was his loving attitude toward his students. HaRav Naftoli Tzvi was like a father to them and in his warm manner, he knew how to encourage and guide them.

HaRav Nochum Genechovsky, a student in Radin at that time, relates: "When I applied to Radin, I was a bit anxious. As a result, I introduced myself as the son of a famous rov in a large city and as the grandson of a great gaon who had written a number of prominent seforim. But HaRav Naftoli Tzvi gently stopped me and with a warm smile said: `I adopt every new student in the yeshiva and consider him my very own son. Isn't being the son of the rosh yeshiva of Radin -- my son -- sufficient yichus?'

HaRav Aryeh Leib Grossnass, the famed dayan of London, related how as a twelve-year-old he traveled alone from his home in Germany all the way to Radin, hoping to be accepted into the yeshiva. For some reason though, the yeshiva's secretary rejected him, perhaps because he felt that a youngster with a German upbringing might not be suited for Radin. Heartbroken, the young Aryeh Leib sat down on the steps to the yeshiva and began to cry.

Suddenly, a fatherly looking man passed by and asked why he was crying. When Aryeh Leib explained how upset he was about his rejection, the man asked: "Why do you want to study in Radin, when there are yeshivos in Germany too?"

"In those yeshivos," Aryeh Leib replied, "Torah isn't studied the entire day, as it is in Radin."

Impressed by Aryeh Leib's sincerity, the man took him inside the yeshiva and told the secretary to register him.

"That man," HaRav Aryeh Leib, later on related, "was HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop."

Noting HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's relationships with the yeshiva's students, Rav Dovid Zaritsky relates:

"HaRav Naftoli Tzvi would study bechavrusa with every outstanding student in the yeshiva, maintaining such study sessions at all hours of the day and the night, even on arvei Shabbos."

The brilliant HaRav Nochum Meir Karelitz -- brother-in-law of the Chazon Ish -- relates: `When I arrived in the yeshiva, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi offered to study with me bechavrusa. I, though, shyly apologized, saying: `I already promised some friends that I would study with them, and don't want to offend them by canceling our chavrusas.'

"`But we can study at dawn,' HaRav Naftoli Tzvi replied.

"`I'm afraid that I won't wake up on time,' I demurred.

"That's okay," HaRav Naftoli Tzvi rejoined. "I'll come to your lodgings to wake you."

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Another factor at the core of his greatness was his animated and spirited manner of delivering deep shiurim which inspired his students to think and to aspire for greatness in Torah.

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi was like the angel who strikes the heads of plants and says: "Grow." In his shiurim he never stated his final conclusions, but would let the students reach the conclusions themselves, guiding and directing them along the way. When a student hurled a question which demolished the entire structure of the carefully prepared shiur, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi would break out into joyous dance and clap his hands ecstatically, feeling that his main purpose in life, which was to elicit pointed kushyos from his students, was being accomplished.

Under his guidance in the yeshiva, students would shoot questions, while HaRav Naftoli Tzvi would fire back replies. Students would refute; HaRav Naftoli Tzvi would rebut -- until the entire beis medrash was aflame with rischa deOraisa.

Personal Example

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's greatness as a rosh yeshiva was manifested not only by his brilliant shiurim, but also by his personal example in every facet of life.

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi was known for his extraordinary analytic abilities. In his efforts to elicit the halocho from the gemora, he would probe the sugya at hand until reaching the truth. During this process, he would "build worlds and destroy them," making chiddushim, finding explanations, and then tearing them apart until he finally reached a satisfactory answer. At such times, he would wrap a towel around his head in order to absorb the perspiration he exuded as a result of his efforts. Witnessing his exertion profoundly affected his students, who were spurred to emulate him.

Describing this aspect of HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's personality, HaRav Yitzchok Meir Pachiner, HaRav Isser Zalman Meltzer's son-in-law, once wrote:

"HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop knew neither rest nor peace until he had arrived at the core of the truth with all its ramifications and profundities. When he arrived at the truth, he would leap for joy, as if he had received a Divine revelation of Torah's mysteries."

He also taught his students to rejoice when they had posed a good kushya, and his joy over the shekida of a student was unbounded. He would relate to every sevoro a student stated as if it had been made by one of the Rishonim. This attitude fanned his students' aspirations to grow in Torah.

His heartfelt and fervent davening and his yiras Shomayim influenced his students no less than his brilliance. HaRav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, the Ponovezher Rov, who studied under HaRav Naftoli Tzvi for over five years in Radin, describes this kedushoh:

"When we heard HaRav Naftoli Tzvi studying mussar with fervor and enthusiasm every day before ma'ariv, our hearts would melt, cherdas kodesh would envelop us and our thoughts would be cleansed and uplifted. He was an oved Hashem who never stopped seeking spiritual perfection. He never rested on his laurels, and adorned himself with every good character trait. When he davened, he would cling to Hashem with the naturalness of a child pleading with his father."

Relationship With the Chofetz Chaim

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi had a special relationship with the Chofetz Chaim, and personified Chazal's dictum that one should cling to the dust of the feet of talmidei chachomim. By his total submission to the godol hador, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi taught his students the meaning of emunas chachomim and hadar zekeinim in its finest form.

In HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's 25-year stay in Radin, he never missed the Chofetz Chaim's weekly talk. Furthermore, he would prepare for these talks in advance, like one preparing for a unique spiritual experience. After the talks, he would discuss them with his students with awe and amazement.

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's love and esteem for the Chofetz Chaim was mutual -- kemayim ponim el ponim -- and the praises the Chofetz Chaim heaped on him are amazing.

The Chofetz Chaim also involved HaRav Naftoli Tzvi in the compilation of the Mishna Berurah, especially when the Chofetz Chaim had to summarize a halocho or decide between differing opinions and methods among the poskim.

This esteem for HaRav Naftoli Tzvi also led the Chofetz Chaim to include him, along with HaRav Elchonon Wassermann, in the extrication of the dybbuk from the body of a young Jewish girl from a village near Vilna.

A Genius in Middos

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi was a living mussar sefer and a genius in middos tovos.

A Jew who was reputed to be a thief once met HaRav Naftoli Tzvi on the street. HaRav Naftoli Tzvi not only invited him to his home for a meal but also prepared a pleasant room for him for the night.

When people asked HaRav Naftoli Tzvi how he could invite such a person into his home, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi replied: "Does the fact that he is a thief absolve me from my obligation to fulfill the mitzva of being hospitable toward him? He is a Jew too, and he is also a human being. True, he might steal all I own. While this obligates me to watch him carefully, it doesn't exempt me from the mitzvah of hachnosas orchim on his behalf."

Later on, it was learned that HaRav Naftoli Tzvi had remained awake all that night, keeping a close watch over his guest.

When the home was overcrowded, he would tell the members of his family not to send guests to the local hekdesh, but to go there themselves and thus to make room for the guests. "These guests," he said "are members of the household too, and immediate family members do not take precedence over them."

His chinuch was evident in the behavior of his children. One time, his son Reuven disappeared and was found sleeping in a barn among the cows. When asked to explain his behavior, he replied: "I have stomach pains, and am afraid that I might have typhus. I left the house in order not to infect anyone else. I figured that the barn was the only place where I wouldn't come in contact with other people."

Pain and Suffering

During the First World War, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi remained in the yeshiva alongside his students, despite the hunger and pain they suffered. Under those very difficult conditions, he continued to teach and to deliver regular shiurim.

Toward the end of the war, the yeshiva moved from Shumiatz to Snovesk, where many students, among them HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's son Avrohom, contracted typhus.

HaRav Avrohom recovered, but HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's wife Pesya Leah contracted the disease and passed away on 5 Nisan 5680 (1920).

This tragic event shattered HaRav Naftoli Tzvi. Nonetheless, he continued to study and teach as usual.

In the beginning of the summer of 5689, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi began to suffer from excruciating headaches. His doctors warned him to study less, saying that such activity posed a danger to his life. HaRav Naftoli Tzvi replied: "My life will be in greater danger if I don't study Torah."

One morning, during Selichos week that year, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi suffered a stroke and lost consciousness. The doctors' efforts to revive him were of no avail. For three days and nights, the students of the yeshiva prayed for his recovery. On erev Tzom Gedaliah 5690, the fifty-nine year old HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop returned his pure soul to its Maker.

HaRav Yitzchok Chaiken (who later became rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chachmei Tsorfas in Aix-les-Bains) and HaRav Elchonon Wassermann were present in the Chofetz Chaim's room when the news of HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's petiroh reached him. HaRav Chaiken related: "When the Chofetz Chaim learned of HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's petiroh, he cried out: `Who will shield Am Yisroel now?' "

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's petiroh constituted an irreplaceable loss for the Torah world in general and for the yeshiva of Radin in particular. The shining example of the archetypical rosh yeshiva -- a genius in Torah and a genius in middos -- continues to inspire us. His descendants are following the path he charted for them and for all bnei Torah.

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's oldest son, HaRav Avrohom Chaim Yosef served as a ram in the yeshiva after his father's petiroh. His second son HaRav Reuven went up to Eretz Yisroel with the group of Slobodka students who founded the Knesses Yisroel yeshiva in Chevron. Later on, he headed the Yishuv yeshiva.

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's oldest daughter, Toiba, married HaRav Yehoshua Eizek Kaminetsky, one of Radin's finest students known also as Eizekel Kobriner. He and his family were murdered by the Nazis, Hy"d.

His second daughter married the brilliant HaRav Boruch Yosef Feivelson, who succeeded HaRav Naftoli Tzvi as rosh yeshiva of Radin. Sadly though, HaRav Boruch Yosef was niftar only four years after his appointment.

Committing His Shiurim to Writing

While HaRav Naftoli Tzvi was alive, his students copied his shiurim into notebooks and they became cornerstones of the yeshivishe learning style. However, since the sources of these shiurim were students' notebooks and not HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's own notes, mistakes arose. Thus, when a student who had seen one of HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's insights in a notebook questioned him about it, HaRav Naftoli Tzvi remarked: "What do you say that I said?"

In order to control and rectify this matter, his shiurim, which had been delivered during his 25 years in Radin, were printed only in stencil form. Attempts were made to edit and review these copies by referring to the most precise notebooks. Due to the arduous, painstaking work this involved, his shiurim were published only in 5702 (1942), twelve years after his petiroh. The first edition, which comprised his shiurim on Nedorim was exactingly prepared by HaRav C. M. Luban in the United States. Later on, in 5745 (1985), HaRav Moshe Drayen of Yerushalayim prepared additional exacting editions of HaRav Naftoli's shiurim.

Then in 5649, the Oraisa publishers put out Chiddushei Hagranat Hasholeim, which was edited and prepared by outstanding talmidei chachomim who consolidated the material in the best notebooks into one work.

HaRav Naftoli Tzvi's brilliant shiurim are currently mainstays in every single yeshiva, and continue to guide and enlighten yeshiva students and talmidei chachomim the world over.

May HaRav Naftoli Tzvi Trop's memory be blessed forever.