Yitzchok Isaac Krasilschikov
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac ben Dov Ber Krasilschikov (1888–May 13, 1965), also known as the Gaon of Poltava, was an exceptional Talmud
ic scholar and author of a monumental commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud
. He was one of the last publicly practicing Orthodox
rabbis in Communist Russia.
ian town of Kritchev to Rabbi Dov Ber Krasilschikov, he studied in the Mir yeshiva
under the renowned Gaon
Rabbi Eliyahu Baruch Kamai, who was his primary teacher and mentor. Before the Communist Revolution in Russia, Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac served as the Rabbi of Heditz, then of Poltava
, the town from which he gained acclaim as the 'Gaon of Poltava'. It was there, in 1926, that he printed Tevunah, the first volume of his commentary on the Rambam, which he had written when he was but 23 years old. This was the last Jewish religious work published in Communist Russia. During World War II
he managed to avoid the Nazis by residing in Siberia
.
When the Communist authorities increased their persecution of those who studied Torah, primarily targeting the great rabbis of Russia, Rabbi Krasilschikov left the rabbinate and settled in Moscow
, where he took a job as an accountant. He lived with his wife in a modest little apartment near the Kremlin
, where, after each day working for the government, he returned home to immerse himself in Torah study during the night. It was there that the last rabbis of Russia came to hear the Torah emanating from his mouth. He ate only dry foods, for there was also a non-Jewish woman who cooked non-Kosher food in his kitchen (it was a communal kitchen, shared by those in the apartment complex). He did not cease wearing his rabbinic-style clothes, and throughout his life he acted like a Rabbi from a generation of long ago.
Rabbi Krasilschikov is survived by two daughters who currently live in Brooklyn, New York.
of Moscow, asked the visiting American Rabbi Harry (Tzvi) Bronstein of the Al Tidom Association to accompany him to visit Rabbi Krasilschikov, who was lying gravely ill in hospital. At the hospital, Rabbi Krasilschikov confided to Rabbi Bronstein that beneath his cushion was the second volume of his manuscript, Tevunah on the Rambam, which he asked Rabbi Bonstein to publish. However, he cautioned Rabbi Bronstein to be very careful when removing the manuscript; he feared that some of the nurses were secret agents of the KGB
. Rabbi Bronstein responded that although he could not guarantee success in smuggling the manuscript out from behind the Iron Curtain
, if he did manage he would commit to publishing it. In 1976, Rabbi Bronstein was able to keep his word and printed the second volume of Tevunah, fifty years after the first volume had been published in Poltava.
During the same meeting Rabbi Krasilschikov also confided that he had written a dual commentary that would make the study of the Jerusalem Talmud far easier for those who wished to learn it. The twenty volumes containing some twenty thousand pages were, at the time, hidden in his daughters houses. On the following day, May 13, 1965, Rabbi Krasilschikov died.
After making many more unsuccessful attempts, Rabbi Bronstein was arrested on June 5, 1967 at the airport in Kiev
, declared persona non grata
, deported from the country, and forbidden to enter any Soviet-controlled state ever again. However, he continued his efforts to smuggle the manuscripts out through intermediaries.
Finally, on the 17th attempt, the first of the twenty volumes was successfully smuggled out of Russia by Rabbi Yaakov Pollack, the Rabbi of Congregation Shomrei Emunah of Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York. After that event, with the help of friendly consular representatives Rabbi Bronstein was successful in removing the entire manuscript and bringing it to a safe place.
. This volume, edited by a team of scholars headed up by Rabbi Shacna Koliditzki, includes the text of the Yerushalmi
surrounded by the dual commentaries of Rabbi Krasilschikov, titled Toldos Yitzchak and Tivuna. The Toldos Yitzchak commentary is a clear and lucid explanation of the Yerushalmi, while Tivuna is a more detailed discussion of issues in the Yerushalmi that also contains emendations to its text.
The printing of the Yerushalmi with the commentaries of Rabbi Krasilschikov is an ongoing effort which is currently under the auspices of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky
and Rabbi Berel Weintraub. The following tractates have been published thus far:
As time passes, the commentary of Rabbi Krasilschikov, with glowing approbations from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
and Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, is being recognized as the best, clearest, and most straightforward explanation of the Yerushalmi.
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic scholar and author of a monumental commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud
Jerusalem Talmud
The Jerusalem Talmud, talmud meaning "instruction", "learning", , is a collection of Rabbinic notes on the 2nd-century Mishnah which was compiled in the Land of Israel during the 4th-5th century. The voluminous text is also known as the Palestinian Talmud or Talmud de-Eretz Yisrael...
. He was one of the last publicly practicing Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
rabbis in Communist Russia.
Early years
Born in 1888 in the small BelarusBelarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian town of Kritchev to Rabbi Dov Ber Krasilschikov, he studied in the Mir yeshiva
Mir yeshiva (Poland)
The Mir yeshiva , commonly known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, was a Haredi yeshiva located in the town of Mir, Russian Empire...
under the renowned Gaon
Gaon (Hebrew)
Gaon originally referred in Ancient Hebrew to arrogance and haughty pride . Later became known as pride in general: whether good or bad . Today it may refer to:...
Rabbi Eliyahu Baruch Kamai, who was his primary teacher and mentor. Before the Communist Revolution in Russia, Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac served as the Rabbi of Heditz, then of Poltava
Poltava
Poltava is a city in located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Poltava Oblast , as well as the surrounding Poltava Raion of the oblast. Poltava's estimated population is 298,652 ....
, the town from which he gained acclaim as the 'Gaon of Poltava'. It was there, in 1926, that he printed Tevunah, the first volume of his commentary on the Rambam, which he had written when he was but 23 years old. This was the last Jewish religious work published in Communist Russia. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he managed to avoid the Nazis by residing in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
.
When the Communist authorities increased their persecution of those who studied Torah, primarily targeting the great rabbis of Russia, Rabbi Krasilschikov left the rabbinate and settled in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where he took a job as an accountant. He lived with his wife in a modest little apartment near the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
, where, after each day working for the government, he returned home to immerse himself in Torah study during the night. It was there that the last rabbis of Russia came to hear the Torah emanating from his mouth. He ate only dry foods, for there was also a non-Jewish woman who cooked non-Kosher food in his kitchen (it was a communal kitchen, shared by those in the apartment complex). He did not cease wearing his rabbinic-style clothes, and throughout his life he acted like a Rabbi from a generation of long ago.
Rabbi Krasilschikov is survived by two daughters who currently live in Brooklyn, New York.
Talmudic commentaries
Rabbi Krasilschikov authored a 20-volume dual-commentary on the Talmud Yerushalmi in Moscow between the years 1952-1965. However, this was done in secrecy, due to fear of and oppression by the Communist regime, which had outlawed the study of Torah. Violators of this ban were subject to severe punishment and exile to Siberia. The work of Rabbi Krasilschikov was done without the benefit of any formal academy, and with very few reference works. It is reported that he did not even have a complete set of Talmud Bavli.Deathbed confession
On May 12, 1965, Rabbi Yehudah Leib Levin, the Chief RabbiChief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Moscow, asked the visiting American Rabbi Harry (Tzvi) Bronstein of the Al Tidom Association to accompany him to visit Rabbi Krasilschikov, who was lying gravely ill in hospital. At the hospital, Rabbi Krasilschikov confided to Rabbi Bronstein that beneath his cushion was the second volume of his manuscript, Tevunah on the Rambam, which he asked Rabbi Bonstein to publish. However, he cautioned Rabbi Bronstein to be very careful when removing the manuscript; he feared that some of the nurses were secret agents of the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
. Rabbi Bronstein responded that although he could not guarantee success in smuggling the manuscript out from behind the Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
, if he did manage he would commit to publishing it. In 1976, Rabbi Bronstein was able to keep his word and printed the second volume of Tevunah, fifty years after the first volume had been published in Poltava.
During the same meeting Rabbi Krasilschikov also confided that he had written a dual commentary that would make the study of the Jerusalem Talmud far easier for those who wished to learn it. The twenty volumes containing some twenty thousand pages were, at the time, hidden in his daughters houses. On the following day, May 13, 1965, Rabbi Krasilschikov died.
Saga of escape
True to his word, Rabbi Bronstein tried to smuggle Rabbi Krasilschikov's Talmudic works out of the country. During his first attempt, all twenty volumes were microfilmed and brought to the American Embassy in Moscow, from where they were to be taken out of the country via diplomatic pouch. However, on the night before they were to be flown out, a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the American Embassy and the microfilm was destroyed.After making many more unsuccessful attempts, Rabbi Bronstein was arrested on June 5, 1967 at the airport in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, declared persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
, deported from the country, and forbidden to enter any Soviet-controlled state ever again. However, he continued his efforts to smuggle the manuscripts out through intermediaries.
Finally, on the 17th attempt, the first of the twenty volumes was successfully smuggled out of Russia by Rabbi Yaakov Pollack, the Rabbi of Congregation Shomrei Emunah of Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York. After that event, with the help of friendly consular representatives Rabbi Bronstein was successful in removing the entire manuscript and bringing it to a safe place.
Publication
In 1980, the Mutzal Me’esh Institute of Bnai Brak, under Rabbi Bronstein's auspices, published the first volume of Rabbi Krasilschikov’s commentary, on Tractate BerachotBerakhot (Talmud)
Berachot is the first tractate of Seder Zeraim, a collection of the Mishnah that primarily deals with laws relating to plants and farming...
. This volume, edited by a team of scholars headed up by Rabbi Shacna Koliditzki, includes the text of the Yerushalmi
Yerushalmi
Yerushalmi may refer to:* Jerusalem Talmud * Meurav Yerushalmi * Targum Yerushalmi* Targum Pseudo-Jonathan * Jerusalemite- Family name :* Aharon Yerushalmi...
surrounded by the dual commentaries of Rabbi Krasilschikov, titled Toldos Yitzchak and Tivuna. The Toldos Yitzchak commentary is a clear and lucid explanation of the Yerushalmi, while Tivuna is a more detailed discussion of issues in the Yerushalmi that also contains emendations to its text.
The printing of the Yerushalmi with the commentaries of Rabbi Krasilschikov is an ongoing effort which is currently under the auspices of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky
Chaim Kanievsky
Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky, , is an Israeli rabbi and posek. Kanievsky is considered a leading authority in Haredi Jewish society.-Biography:...
and Rabbi Berel Weintraub. The following tractates have been published thus far:
- [Berachot/http://www.hebrewbooks.org/20274], two volumes (1980)
- SheviitShevi'it (Talmud)Shevi'it is the fifth tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. It deals with all laws of allowing the land to rest in the seventh year, the laws of Shemittah produce and the remission of debts...
(1982) - Pe'ahPe'ahPe'ah is the second tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. The tractate is a fitting continuation of Seder Zeraim. Following the initial subject of blessings and benedictions, instilling an attitude of reverence and gratitude, this tractate begins the discussion of the main...
(1985) - DemaiDemaiDemai is the third tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. There is some debate as to the literal meaning and origin of the word...
(1988) - Kilayim (1989)
- TerumotTerumotTerumot is the sixth tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. It discusses two type of donations, one the terumah which is generally 1/50 of your crop given to the Kohen and 10% of the Masser that is given to Levite is given to the Kohen, called "Terumat Masser." The laws of...
(1987) - Maaserot and HallahHallah (Talmud)Hallah is the ninth tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. This "Hallah" was separated from bread dough made from the five species of grain and put aside for a Kohen in Biblical times and the time of the Jewish Temple...
, single volume (1991) - Ma'aser SheniMa'aser SheniMa'aser Sheni is the eighth tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. It concerns the Second tithe obligation as well as the laws of Revai. For more info also look at the tracate Ma'aserot ·...
(1991) - OrlahOrlahOrlah is the tenth tractate of Seder Zeraim of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. It discusses the laws pertaining to any fruit bearing tree, whose fruits cannot be eaten during the first three years the tree produces fruit...
and Bikkurim, single volume (1995) - ShabbatMoedMoed is the second Order of the Mishnah, the first written recording of the Oral Torah of the Jewish people . Of the six orders of the Mishna, Moed is the third shortest. The order of Moed consists of 12 tractates:# Shabbat: or Shabbath deals with the 39 prohibitions of "work" on the Shabbat...
- Eruvin
As time passes, the commentary of Rabbi Krasilschikov, with glowing approbations from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, scholar and posek , who was world-renowned for his expertise in Halakha and was regarded by many as the de facto supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America during his lifetime...
and Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, is being recognized as the best, clearest, and most straightforward explanation of the Yerushalmi.