Led by gedolei Torah, roshei yeshivos, admorim,
rabbonim and Modzhitz Chassidim, thousands crowded the
streets of Bnei Brak to take part in the levaya of
HaRav Yisroel Don Taub, the Admor of Modzhitz zt"l,
who was summoned to Yeshiva Shel Maaloh on Friday 20
Sivan, 5766 at the age of 78. The histalkus brings to
a close a long period of splendor for Modzhitz Chassidus,
which has been an exemplar of Polish Chassidus for
generations.
Yisroel Don Taub was born in Warsaw on 19 Teves 5688 (1928)
to HaRav Shmuel Eliyohu, the Admor of Modzhitz and the author
of Imrei Eish. His mother was the daughter of HaRav
Moshe Chaim Kahn, an eminent chossid and a prominent member
of the community in Warsaw. His father was married by the
Admor of Afala of the Amshinov-Worka line, because the mother
of the Imrei Eish, the daughter of the Admor HaRav Avrohom
Eiger the son of the Admor of Lublin HaRav Leibel Eiger, was
married to the Admor of Afala, HaRav Yirmiyohu.
When the Imrei Eish moved to Eretz Yisroel to
strengthen Yiddishkeit, his family remained in Poland; only a
year later in 5696 (1936) did the eight-year-old Yisroel Don
and his mother make the move. Still a boy, he began learning
at Yeshivas Heichal HaTalmud in Tel Aviv, which was an
important Torah stronghold at the time, and he soon became
known for his talent in learning and his boundless
shekeidoh.
In 5699 (1939) he traveled with his mother to Warsaw to visit
her parents. When the war broke out in September, through
chasdei Shomayim they managed to escape on the last
ship, sailing back to Eretz Yisroel via Italy. Due to
heavy shelling the ship was stuck at sea for six weeks,
unable to advance to Eretz Yisroel or to retreat to
Italy. But eventually they arrived safe and sound, and were
spared from the Holocaust.
In 5710 (1950) he married the daughter of the Admor of
Bialystok, HaRav Shmuel Shatzdrovitzky, a prominent rov in
Tel Aviv and one of the heads of Agudas Yisroel, which
subsequently selected him to serve as deputy chairman of the
Tel Aviv-Jaffa Religious Council and chairman of Agudas
Yisroel.
He continued learning intensively at a kollel in Tel
Aviv. Throughout the years his greatness in Torah was well
known and he often put his chidushim into writing.
In Tel Aviv he was renown for his yiras Shomayim and
for carefully keeping his eyes from wandering. For over three
decades he served as a dayan and an instructor of
dayonim at the Tel Aviv Beis Din. Due to concerns he
might inadvertently see things better left unseen, he
preferred to walk to the rabbinate building every day rather
than taking the bus.
Later he once said that he had never spoken or heard
loshon hora. Ever humble, he took pains to subordinate
himself completely to his father like a servant to his
master.
When his father passed away in 5744 (1984), HaRav Yisroel Don
became the Rebbe of Modzhitz in his stead. His radiance
reached Jews of all backgrounds and even many simple folk saw
themselves as Modzhitz Chassidim, drawing emunoh and
strength from his teachings.
He never kept official hours, saying that anyone who wanted
to, could come in to see him at any time.
Keeping with the Modzhitz tradition with its emphasis on
niggunim, he put special effort into his
tefillos, composing fabulous melodies for prayers and
piyutim — delicate melodies filled with feeling
and longing.
On weekdays his Shemoneh Esrei would regularly last 20
minutes. He said that during Shomei'a Tefilloh he
could see all the needs of Am Yisroel passing before
his eyes.
Once he was asked to pray for a Jew suffering from a life-
threatening illness and he made an extraordinary effort to
entreat for his sake. Days later, when the patient's
condition had improved, he rebuked the chossid who came to
tell him for not bringing the news more promptly, which would
have saved his fellow chassidim from having to wait during
davening, for he would have spent less time on
bircas Shema Koleinu.
When the Yomim Noraim arrived he became a different man, from
Shabbos Selichos through Motzei Simchas Torah.
For years he served as a member of Agudas Yisroel's Moetzes
Gedolei HaTorah.
The Modzhitz beis medrash was located on Rechov
Dizengoff in one of Tel Aviv's most secular areas. For
decades the site was noted for the hakofos sheniyos
held the night after Simchas Torah at the beis medrash
in the heart of Tel Aviv.
Following concerns that the area would have a detrimental
effect on the younger generation, he started a new beis
medrash on Rechov Chabakuk in Bnei Brak. When government
officials wanted to speak with him he would arrange to meet
them at the original beis medrash, which continues to
operate to this day.
One Erev Shabbos he was visiting the late MK Rabbi Avrohom
Yosef Shapira at the hospital when R' Avrohom Yosef informed
him that the Prime Minister was there. Speaking in Hebrew he
replied that Chazal said one should not look a rosho
in the face and even when the Prime Minister tried to shake
his hand he continued to ignore him. Later he explained that
he had already gone to the mikveh in preparation for
Shabbos and had he touched the hand of a person like this,
who almost certainly had not done the morning netillas
yodayim, he would have had to return to the
mikveh.
One of his last public appearances was at the Siyum HaShas
for Daf Yomi last year. After the event he traveled to
Poland, where he prayed at the graves of his forefathers.
Nine months ago, one week before Shabbos Selichos, the Admor
underwent medical treatment at the hospital and suffered a
major stroke there. Many Jews around the world prayed for his
recovery and his condition did improve somewhat, but he never
recuperated. For nine months he was severely
incapacitated.
When his condition deteriorated at the beginning of last week
he was brought to the hospital. As late as Tuesday evening he
was still aware of his surroundings, but his condition
declined further on Wednesday and early Friday morning he
returned his pure soul to his Maker.
The paroches was pushed aside at his beis
medrash, where for years he had engaged in harbotzas
Torah veyiroh and avodas hakodesh. When his
aron was brought in, the weeping swelled at the sight
of "hasreifoh asher soraf Hashem" and again reached a
crescendo as the aron was taken out to began the
funeral.
Participants in the procession included gedolei
Yisroel, members of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, roshei
yeshivos, admorim, rabbonim, marbitzei Torah
and public figures. The levaya proceeded through Bnei Brak
down Rechov HaRav Kahaneman and then continued to Jerusalem
from the Modzhitz center, through the streets of Geula and
Meah Shearim to the Mount of Olives, where he was buried
beside his forefathers.
Shortly before the grave was covered over, it was announced
his eldest son, HaRav Chaim Shaul, the son-in-law of the
Admor of Alexander, would become the next Admor of Modzhitz,
and that the deceased's other son HaRav Pinchos Moshe, the
son-in-law of the Admor of Lublin, would serve as the rov of
Kehillas Chassidei Modzhitz.
HaRav Yisroel Don Taub zt"l is also survived by his
son- in-law HaRav Yisroel Segal Landa, the son of HaRav Meir
Segal Landa, the late gavad of Antwerp, as well as
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
