Kabbalistic Discovery: Diary of the Hidden Tzaddik Rabbi Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz

Kabbalistic Discovery: Diary of the Hidden Tzaddik Rabbi Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz

Personal diary of the G-dly Kabbalist, the hidden tzaddik Rabbi Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz. In his memoirs, Rabbi Leibowitz relates hair-raising stories of his meetings with the tzaddikim of his generation; tzaddikim of the previous generation that he knew; Kabbalistic Torah novellae and correspondence with rabbinic leaders on Kabbalistic topics; Holocaust insights and much more. Bnei Brak, 1995 onward. Not printed.

It is almost unheard of to discover a complete and unknown diary by one of the tzaddikim of our generation an entire decade after his passing. This may be an unfinished draft in preparation for printing a book, or it may be that he wrote it for himself or only for his close relatives. Just as Rabbi Leibowitz was hidden in his lifetime, he is hidden after his death! Only many years after his passing have we received the shining light radiating from the sheets of these sacred leaves, which incidentally are full of rare and powerful blessings.

Rabbi Leibowitz prepared a title page for his diary, and also wrote his name for the book: "Ohr Yehudah - Diary of Rabbi Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz." Among the diary's leaves are also many Kabbalistic letters sent to him by tzaddikim of the generation (some are photocopies of the original letters) and the margins are filled with Rabbi Leibowitz's comments about the letters' contents.

Among the letters are those from Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Yair Weinstock and many letters from the Shefa Chaim of Sanz. The Kabbalistic topics discussed include a bent נ' with Rabbi Leibowitz's approach to the letters' contents in the margins. There is a letter from the gaon Rabbi Chaim Meir HaLevi Wosner. Rabbi Leibowitz added an interesting note about Rabbi Wosner in its margins: "It was the extent of his sacred work. This is the reason the rabbi, shlit"a is not especially satisfied with his work ... notation by Yehudah Ze'ev." Incidentally, Rabbi Leibowitz mentions one of Rabbi Wosner's sons on one of the leaves, the present Admo"r of Shevet HaLevi, Rabbi Yosef Binyamin Wosner. The diary also refers to the Ba'al HaSulam, from whom Rabbi Leibowitz studied Kabbalah.

Rabbi Leibowitz explores many Kabbalistic novellae in his diary, occasionally noting when they came to him and whether they are novel. For example: "I thought of this after Aravit"; "New essay" and so on. We have not checked whether these novellae were printed in his works.

He also writes about his wondrous meetings with tzaddikim of his generation: The Admo"rim of Gur, the Belzer Rebbe, the Chazon Ish and others. For example, he describes his first meeting with the Chazon Ish, an unplanned meeting at the synagogue before they knew each other: "He [the Chazon Ish] asked me: 'New immigrant?' and I replied 'Yes.' He then asked "What do you say about the Land of Israel?' I answered him. He asked again, "What do you say about the air of the Land of Israel? ... The people, the trees?' I didn't exactly understand the questions ... and he gave me a blessing. After that, I learned that this was the author of Chazon Ish ztz"l." He also tells of his first meeting with the Belzer Rebbe, when the latter held his hand for a long time and murmured to himself.

Rabbi Leibowitz relates in his diary about his meetings with tzaddikim before the Holocaust as well: The Chekel Yitzchak of Spinka, Rabbi Shalom Eliezer of Ratzfurt, Rabbi Yoelish of Satmar and others. Rabbi Leibowitz also extensively discusses the Yitev Lev of Sighet.

There are also rare blessings in his diary, blessings that can serve as an amulet when necessary as well, from one of the leading tzaddikim of the previous generation. The blessings were occasionally written with a specific name. Sometimes they were unconnected to content before and after it. For example: "May it be His will that he succeed in everything, spiritually and materially"; "I hereby wish that he, b'ezrat Hashem, be blessed with a kosher and happy holiday"; "May Hashem give him and his family length of days and years, spiritual satisfaction from every perspective ... Yehudah Ze'ev ben Golda" and more.

In addition, Rabbi Leibowitz brings perspective of the Holocaust in his diary, some familiar and some with respect to his specific circumstances and insights on the Holocaust in general.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the hidden tzaddik, Rabbi Yehudah Ze'ev Leibowitz.

Approximately [60] leaves, various sizes. Some are written in his hand, some are typewritten. Some are newspaper clippings, some are in photocopy. The leaves are in plastic covers and collected into a binder. The binder is signed by him.

Overall very fine condition.