The Torah world lost a father figure when HaRav Shlomo Wolbe,
one of the great mashgichim of our generation who left
his imprint on thousands, passed away on the second night of
Chol Hamoed Pesach 5765 at the age of 90. As per his request
in a will, no titles were added to his name.
The bitter news of HaRav Wolbe's histalkus spread
quickly among his many talmidim and the entire Torah
world. The levaya set out the next day from Yeshivas
Givat Shaul in the Givat Moshe section of Yerushalayim, led
by Maran HaRav Eliashiv, HaRav Moshe Shmuel Shapira and other
gedolei Yisroel.
Shlomo Wolbe was born in Berlin to R' Moshe in Tammuz 5674
(1914), just weeks before World War I broke out in Europe. As
a child he studied in his home city and at a young age was
sent to Yeshivas Frankfurt, where he studied under HaRav
Shlomo Breuer. After transferring to Yeshivas Montreux in
Switzerland one day he heard a mussar talk given by a
talmid of Maran Hamashgiach HaRav Yeruchom Levovitz of
Mir Yeshiva. After the talk when he inquired about the
origins of its contents the talmid told him and
suggested that he try studying at Yeshivas Mir in
Lithuania.
R' Shlomo took his advice. At Mir he cleaved to the teachings
of HaRav Yeruchom and after his petiroh he attached
himself to HaRav Yechezkel Levenstein.
When World War II broke out, as a German citizen he could not
remain in Lithuania or Poland so he traveled to Sweden, which
had declared neutrality. There he worked for the US-based
Rescue Committee in coordination with HaRav Binyomin Ze'ev
Yaakobson. For an extended period he served as liaison
between Maran HaRav Aharon Kotler and the talmidim of
Yeshivas Mir, then staying in Shanghai.
At the end of the war he stayed in Lidinge where, together
with HaRav Yaakobson, he started a girls' seminary for
Holocaust survivors. He then made aliya in 5706 (1946) and
studied at Yeshivas Lomzha in Petach Tikva. During this
period he married the daughter tlct"a of HaRav Avrohom
Grodzensky Hy"d, the menahel ruchani of
Yeshivas Slobodka in Europe.
HaRav Wolbe continued his studies at Kollel Toras Eretz
Yisroel in Petach Tikva under HaRav Yitzchok Katz. In 5708
(1948) the Chazon Ish instructed HaRav Wolbe to start a
yeshiva in Be'er Yaakov. HaRav Wolbe drew high caliber
marbitzei Torah to the town, including HaRav Moshe
Shmuel Shapira who was already recognized as one of the
leading talmidim from the ranks of Brisk.
For more than 35 years until 5744 (1988) HaRav Wolbe served
as the menahel ruchani of Yeshivas Be'er Yaakov, which
produced some of the generation's leading marbitzei
Torah, Mussar figures, educators and organizers. Using
his linguistic skills and unique approach he managed to
imbibe thousands of talmidim with the foundations of
Mussar and Torah study.
The Mashgiach molded his students not only through Mussar but
through Torah study as well. During the sedorim he
would walk among the talmidim, offering them
encouragement and spurring them on. A talmid who
learned well during the week won the privilege of sitting as
a guest at his Shabbos table.
During the period of euphoria among secular Israelis
following the Six-Day War the Mashgiach, after receiving the
approval of his rebbe HaRav Yechezkel Levenstein, decided to
set out on a campaign to build emunoh in the general
population. He started an organization that helped set up
Torah institutions for baalei teshuvoh and he himself
went to kibbutzim and army bases to deliver talks.
His inspiring words stirred many secular Jews to return to
their roots and played an instrumental role in founding the
Teshuvoh Movement, which had been nonexistent in Israel until
then.
His efforts to promote teshuvoh were redoubled
following the Yom Kippur War, and he even published a booklet
called Bein Sheshes Le'assor. Written in simple Hebrew
it penetrated the hearts of many secular Jews.
A few years later, noting that the Teshuvoh Movement had
gained momentum as other people and organizations were
becoming involved in disseminating Torah, HaRav Wolbe ceased
his active involvement in this area, assuming an advisory
role instead. He also continued to guide thousands of
baalei teshuvoh and published a book for beginning
baalei teshuvoh called Olom Hayedidus.
Actually HaRav Wolbe had begun serving as a guide for those
involved in the Teshuvoh Movement as the rebbe for many
menahelim ruchanim in the holy yeshivas of Eretz
Yisroel. For years—and when he eventually moved to
Jerusalem as well—he would gather together the
mashgichim and educators at the end and beginning of
each zman to provide them guidance in various topical
matters of import.
In 5744 (1984) he moved to Jerusalem's Givat Shaul
neighborhood, where he agreed to serve as the rov of Kehillas
Chanichei Hayeshivos. For years he gave regular Mussar talks
at Yeshivas Mir, Yeshivas Kol Torah, Yeshivas Lakewood and
Yeshivas Netzach Yisroel Ramailles.
During this period he also founded the Beis HaMussar, which
offered a kollel and a beis vaad for
avreichim. His goal was to foster avodas
haBorei, education, good middos and Torah study
for its own sake. Here various vaadim were set up
focusing on tefilloh, Torah study, education,
midos, and other vital topics. Hundreds of
avreichim came every week and some of them received
personal guidance from the Mashgiach.
Upon reaching the age of "gevuroh" a decade ago he
started Yeshivas Givat Shaul, which he headed until his last
day on earth. The yeshiva, with its 200 students, later moved
to Givat Moshe (Gush 80) along with the Beis HaMussar.
Over the course of his lifetime HaRav Wolbe wrote thousands
of letters to bochurim and avreichim seeking
chizuk in emunoh, Torah study, sholom
bayis and bein odom lechavero. Every problem of
education for the previous generation came before him.
Talmud Torah principals and roshei yeshivos consulted
him before founding their talmud Torah or yeshiva, and
continued to seek his advice on how to teach students, what
to focus on, and the entire range of education issues. He
would dedicate all of his time and energy to every matter of
education placed before him.
Prominent mashgichim and menahelim ruchanim
gathered regularly to hear his Mussar talks. Just as the
mashgichim of past generations left their imprint,
HaRav Wolbe left his imprint on the last generation and the
generations to come.
During the past years he was very involved in the problem of
students dropping out of yeshiva, including several meetings
in his home to discuss the issue with mashgichim. In
the course of these meetings it came to light that cell
phones constitute one of the primary stumbling blocks among
young men. He encouraged and attended the large gathering on
Motzei Shabbos Parshas Vayigash this year, where maranan
verabonon including HaRav Eliashiv, shlita,
announced the ban against the use of cell phones by yeshiva
students.
Over his lifetime HaRav Wolbe wrote numerous unsigned books.
His first work was Part I of Alei Shor, which caused a
revolution in the yeshiva world. It carried approbations from
HaRav Yechezkel Levenstein, HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz, HaRav
Yaakov Kamenetsky and the Admor of Ozhrov the author of
Eish Dos, who perused the manuscript and added
comments. Years later he published Part II of Alei
Shor, noting in the introduction that much had changed in
it from what was written in Part I after having studied
bechavrusa for several years with HaRav Yitzchok
Hutner zt"l.
HaRav Wolbe's published works included Olom Hayedidus,
Odom Bikor on the life and teachings of HaRav
Yeruchom, Pirkei Kinyon Daas and Zeri'o Uvinyon
Bechinuch, which was the only work he agreed to have
translated into several languages. Recently he released the
book, Mitzvos Hashekulos, and in the past year he
published Maamorei Yemei Rotzon, which contains Mussar
talks he gave in the past during the month of Elul at
Yeshivas Be'er Yaakov. In 5730 (1970) he published a booklet
to serve as a guide for chassonim and
kallos.
About six months ago his health began to fail, yet he
continued to run the yeshiva to the best of his ability and
to deliver Mussar talks and vaadim. He gave his last
talk in the beis medrash of the yeshiva on Shabbos
Zochor, speaking at length. On Erev Pesach he was admitted to
Shaarei Tzedek Hospital, but despite the doctors' efforts he
returned his soul to his Maker on the second night of Chol
Hamoed in the presence of his family members and close
talmidim.
In his will he requested not to have his mittoh
brought into the beis medrash and that it be carried
only by his older talmidim. He also asked that the
levaya pass by Beis HaMussar before proceeding to Har
Hamenuchos, where he did not want to be buried in the
rabbinical section.
The levaya set out from his apartment at Yeshivas
Givat Shaul in Givat Moshe, where Tehillim were
recited by his son-in-law, HaRav Yaakov Eliezer Schwartzman,
rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Lakewood in Eretz Yisroel. His son-
in-law HaRav Yechiel Bamberger, the rov of the chareidi
kehilloh in Haifa, offered short words of parting and
noted that although it was permitted to give a hesped
during Chol Hamoed for a talmid chochom who taught
thousands of talmidim, he was obliged to honor his
father-in-law's request not to be eulogized.
Thousands joined the funeral procession as it wound through
the neighborhoods of North Jerusalem, eventually arriving at
Har Hamenuchos Cemetery where he was buried near his brother-
in-law, HaRav Chaim Kreiswirth.
HaRav Shlomo Wolbe is survived by his wife, his sons R'
Avrohom and R' Yaakov, his sons-in-law, HaRav Ezriel
Erlanger, the mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir in the US,
HaRav Yechiel Bamberger, the rov of the chareidi
kehilloh in Haifa, HaRav Yaakov Eliezer Schwartzman,
the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Lakewood in Eretz Yisroel, and
his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all following in
his path of Torah, yir'oh and Mussar.
