Drogichin, Belarus (pages 139-140)

[Page 139]

(December, 1952). He also made plans to produce a Yiddisher Gezelschaftelecher Lexicon about Jewish life in London; the war, however, interfered with his plans. From 1939 Warshavsky was a member of the Jewish Writers and Journalists Association of England.

        In Chicago, Rabbi Warshavsky was the publisher and editor of the Chicager Zeitshrift (Chicago Periodical) (from September, 1950); editor of the Chicago Bulletin of the Rabbinical Center (1954); he prepared and edited the Drohitchin Yizkor Book; he was the author of the book, The Book of Eicha [Lamentations] of the Third Destruction (1952). He also prepared a book of essays [unpublished as of when the yizkor book was published]. Rabbi Warshavsky collaborated on and wrote poems, articles, treatises, literary portraits, memoirs, images and essays in the following newspapers: Dos Vort (Vilna), Grodner Moment (1929), Grodner Express (1930), Dos Yiddishe Tagblatt (Warsaw, 1931), Pinsker Vort (1931-32), Brisker Shtimma (1932), Der Moment (Warsaw, 1932-39), Radio (afternoon edition of Moment), Heint, and Heintike Nayes (Warsaw), Unzer Express (Warsaw), Religiezner Front and Yiddish Tribuna (Warsaw), Der Nayer Ruf (Rabbi S. Auerbach, 1939, Warsaw), Die Zeit (M. Meyer, London, England), Die Vachenzeitung (London), Kanader Adler (1941), Unzer Vort (Goldenberg, London, 1943), Lashon un Leben (poet stencils, London), Zion in Kampf (Paris, 1949), Shul Leben (A. Reichman, New York, 1955).

        His work was reprinted in Die Yiddishe Velt (Philadelphia, Cleveland, 1941), Yeshurun, Unzer Velt (Munich, 1948), Moreh Derech (Salzburg, 1947), Unzer Zil (Linz).

        His parents, David and Feigel Warshavsky, and his sister, Fruma Gittel, were killed, may G-d avenge their blood! The Warshavskys had three children, Yehudit-Gittel, Ze'ev-Zelig and David.

Bibliography

Yiddisher Gezelshaftlicher Lexicon (Biography of Warshavsky, p. 898); Heint (April 7, 1939, Warsaw); Der Moment (May 26, June 20, 1939, Warsaw); Die Vochenzeitung (May 2, December 12, 1941, London); The Jewish Standard (May 2, 1941, London); Polish Jewish Observer (January 8, 1943, London); Tarbut (Journal, 1948, London); Die Zeit (April 13 and 16, 1950, London); Die Yiddishe Shtima (Feb. 6, 1953, London); Sentinel (May 25, 1950, Chicago); Der Morgen Journal (Match 21, 1947, April 25, May 30, June 16, 1950, January 23, 1952, New York); Der Tag (May 3, 1950, November 2 and 23, 1951, New York); Tag Morgen Journal (Feb. 2, Dec. 31, 1953, July 8, 1954, New York); Forverts (April 27, 1950, New York, May 5, June 14, June 18, 1950, Chicago), etc.

The Life and Passing of the Kholozhin Rebbe

Radio (Moment), Warsaw, October 26, 1932

As mentioned earlier, on the 20^th of this month, the Kholozhin Rebbe, Rabbi Eliyahu Mordechai Levinovitz died in Drohitchin. Although he was very popular and well known, even outside of Poland, there are actually very few people who knew how to appreciate his greatness, sanctity, etc.

The Kholozhin Rebbe was a remarkable and friendly person. He wasn't a rebbe with a whole group of chassidim, ceremonies etc. He also wasn't such a great scholar, and didn't spend his entire day studying – he never even studied in a yeshiva. However, he was a very pious person and a person of action. He always had his head in a book, and was always giving charity. He hosted guests and had a fine character - he did things. He hated publicity, and always did his work anonymously so no one would find out about him. He lived very modestly, was restrained, and dressed simply. In winter he would wear a peasant coat, with fur on top. Nevertheless, anyone with sensitive hearing could

[Page 140]

[Photo:] R. Eliyahu Mordechai Levinovitz

hear him murmur psalms as he banged his hammer on an anvil. A person could tell this wasn't just anybody, but rather a hidden and G-d fearing tsaddik. People started traveling to him to receive his blessings, and he was implored to reveal himself as a hidden tsaddik. R. Eliyahu was born in 1846 in the town of Utian, near Vilna. His father, Yaakov, was a contractor, and was highly regarded in town. At the age of 7, young Eliyahu lost his father, and his mother remarried. Her second husband was someone named David Bashes from Yakovlev, a Jewish colony near Drohitchin.

        A few years later, Eliyahu went to learn to be a blacksmith in Drohitchin. Even as a youngster, he showed tremendous fear of G-d. When he got older, he married a girl from Pinsk, and settled in the village of Kholozhin, 17 kilometers from Pinsk, and the place that gave him the name, Kholozhiner. He opened his own blacksmith shop, and hired a teacher to study with him in his free time. He also used to fast frequently, immerse himself in the river (as a mikvah), and invited any guest who happened to come by. Soon there were rumors of marvelous events related to the “blacksmith,” and people started coming to him for blessings and advice.

        This continued for 42 years, until the outbreak of World War I. Since his village was close to the war front, the rebbe had to move to the village of Horbacha, near Drohitchin. In 1920, he settled in Drohitchin, where he remained until his death. Of course, because of his age, the rebbe was no longer involved in blacksmithing, though his children continued it instead. He didn't even use the money that people gave him for his blessings and advice, but instead would give it away to yeshivas.

        At the end of his life, he became very weak, and was almost totally deaf. However, he was still extremely sharp mentally, and even continued accepting requests just two hours before he passed away.

        According to his will and testament, he was buried together with two bags of receipts for contributions he had sent to yeshivas and other worthy institutions.

Dov B. Warshavsky

Correspondent from Drohitchin, writing in the Pinsker Vort, April 15, 1932

An American Jew Writes to the Kholozhiner Rebbe

We received a letter this week from the United States addressed to the Kholozhiner. The writer said that he was wanted to request the holy Rebbe to help find Charles Lindberg's kidnapped child. Here is what the letter said:

13 Adar, 5692 [March 21, 1932]

Holy Rebbe!

        A twenty-month old child was kidnapped from his parents here in the United States, and I would very much like to know whether through you G-d could tell us where the child is located. The child's parents, the Lindbergs, are not Jewish. It's been four weeks, and the child cannot be found. It would be a great honor for the Jewish People in the United States if the child could be found. I hope that through you G-d could locate the whereabouts of the child.

        I hope to hear good news from you. Pray to G-d for my family and me.

        Yours truly,
        H. H. Bloom

        This is the entire text of the letter, which also contained 5 dollars. The Rebbe was extremely interested in the letter. After thinking over the issue for a while, he responded as follows: “The child is ill, but will be found on June 5, 1932.”

        His response was immediately sent to the United States. The letter, and especially the response from the Rebbe, caused a great sensation in Drohitchin. Everyone was dying to know whether his response proved correct.

D. B. W.

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