Biography of Rabbi Mordechai Veitzel Rosenblatt (1836-1916) and his relationship to the Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis charity in Israel

RABBI MORDECHAI ROSENBLATT VEITZEL (1836-1916)

CHIEF RABBI OF ASHMINA & SLONIM, TALMUDIC GIANT, RENOWNED AS "LITHUANIAN" MIRACLE WORKER

Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt Veitzel was born in 1836 in the city of Antipolia (Antapoli) near Kobrin in the region of Grodna. Although his father Rabbi Avrohom Menachem Mendel had rabbinical ordination and was invited to serve as Rabbi in various cities, he preferred to make a living by engaging in the business of grinding wheat kernels, as his ancestors before him. This branch of the Rosenblatt family was therefore nicknamed "Veitzel", which in Yiddish means kernel of wheat.

Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt was a great Talmudic scholar. At an early age he studied under Rabbi Isaac Hirsch, the Rabbi of Siatitz, who enthusiastically gave him 'semicha' at the tender age of fourteen. After his marriage to Chaya, the daughter of Rabbi Shimon Velvel, Rabbi Mordechai moved to Pinsk and studied under the renowned Rabbi of Pinsk, Mordechai Zakheim who ordained him as a Rabbi. In Pinsk he developed a close relationship with the sage Rabbi Shmuel Avigdor of Karlin. After receiving rabbinical ordination from these two great rabbis he returned home in 1864 to Antipolia. He wanted to continue his studies quietly and unobtrusively, but his fame soon spread and he was invited to become assistant rabbi to the Chief Rabbi Pinchas Michoel Rokeach Grosleit, author of "Leket Hakotzrim", and "Divrei Pinchas", who cherished and loved Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt dearly as a son.

In 1870 Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt was appointed Chief Rabbi of Boten (Butten)near Grodno, a position he held for eighteen years. There he led a totally ascetic and abstinent lifestyle, and soon became known as a pious and sagacious Tzaddik, and Miracle Worker whose blessings were fulfilled. His fame grew and multitudes of people, Jew and non-Jew alike including the nobility, flocked to him from near and far, to seek advice and receive a blessing. His photo hung in many homes throughout Lithuania as a Talisman. This was a remarkable and unique phenomenon, since Lithuanian Jewry was not as carried away by the concept of "miracle workers" as were the Polish, Russian, and Hungarian Chasidim. He was also very involved in doing acts of kindness to the townspeople and founded Chevras Malbish Arumim to provide clothing for the city's poor and destitute and Hachnasas Orchim to provide lodging for itinerant wanderers as well as travelers.

sadly, his wife Chaya passed away in 1881, leaving him alone with a household of young orphans to raise. He later remarried his second wife the daughter of Rabbi Avraham Greenberg. In 1887 Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt was appointed Chief Rabbi of Korelitz (Pinsk District)when the previous Rabbi Eliyahu Boruch Kammai moved away. Four years later, in 1891, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of Ashmina, a city near Vilna. In Ashmina he wrote numerous rabbinical decisions in response to halachic questions which were sent to him for his legal opinion and huge numbers of petitioners also travelled to Ashmina from all over for his sagacious advice and to receive a blessing. Although he later moved to Slonim to serve as their Chief Rabbi, he is remembered best as Chief Rabbi of Ashmina.

Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt had two sons and two daughters. His oldest born Rabbi Asher Rosenblatt Veitzel was the Rabbi of Drohichyn, and one of the Rabbinical Board Members of Yeshiva Etz Chaim which was established by Rabbi Shmuel Salant. His second son, Rabbi Shmuel Yoshua Rosenblatt Veitzel was a great scholar but rejected all rabbinical offers and instead engaged in business in Slonim.

His sons-in-law were also great rabbis; one was the Chief Rabbi of the Goldlieve Congregation (Sobelsk District), and the other was Rabbi Eliyahu David Epstein Chief Rabbi of Boten (Grodno District), an older brother of Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein the famed Rosh Yeshiva of Slobodka-Hebron.

Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt wrote hundreds of brilliant halachic decisions which were published by his students under the name "Hadras Mordechai" in 1899. Many of the great pre-war rabbis were either his students or had received their rabbinical ordination from him.

Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt Veitzel corresponded frequently with Rabbi Shmuel Salant, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusaem, and was instrumental in ensuring that the funds collected on behalf of Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant reached their destination. In 1902 Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt wrote a very strong and enthusiastic letter on behalf of Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant which was printed in "Gvul Olam" Jerusalem 1903.

Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt Veitzel passed away in 1916 on the 28th of the first Adar at the age of 76. The titles that were engraved on Rabbi Mordechai Rosenblatt's gravestone speak volumes of the reverence and awe that he commanded. It reads: "Here Lies the Holy Ark, the Prince of Torah, the Storehouse of Fear of G-D, the Teacher & Light of Israel" The Chofetz Chaim said " Who is so great as to merit being with him in Gan Eden"! May the memory of this great Gaon & Tzaddik be a blessing to all.