22 Teves – Shotzer Rebbe1 min read
22 Teves is the yahrtzeit of the Shotzer Rebbe, Reb Sholom (ben Mordechai Yosef Moshe) Moskowitz zy”a. He passed away in 5718/1958 and is buried in London, where people flock for yeshuos.
He wrote in his ethical will that just as he worked hard to bring people to teshuvah during his lifetime, he will continue to try to help people after his passing as well. He details the manner in which one should light three candles and accept upon himself some spiritual improvement. He writes that it is preferable to come on Friday before chatzos, and warns one to be truthful, because in the Olam HaEmes there is no falsehood.
The Shotzer Rebbe passed away during the period of Shovavim. The day he recommended for people to visit his kever was Friday, the sixth day, which is connected to the middah of Yesod-Tzaddik. He was known for his great kedusha. This can be understood from an anecdote I heard from Rav Gamliel Rabinovitz shlita, who said that when then Shotzer Rebbe was on his sickbed, he said: “Hashem, You know that I never had hanaah (benefit) from a bed.”
The Bas Ayin (Shemos) writes that the 42-letter Name of Hashem went down to Egypt with us. This is alluded to by the first word of Shemos, ואלה, which equals 42. This is connected to the 42 days of Shovavim (in a non-leap year).
The letters of שמי מ“ב are the initials of the Shotzer Rebbe’s name, שלום בן מרדכי יוסף משה.
This tzaddik brought many Jews to teshuvah. He writes in his ethical will: ידוע שתמיד רציתי להשיב רבים מעון. This seems to be based on what it says regarding Ahron Hakohen (Sanhedrin 6b), רבים השיב מעון. Removing the word עון, the remaining letters, רבים השיב מ, may be seen as alluding to רבי ש‘לום ב‘ן ה‘רב מ‘רדכי י‘וסף מ‘שה.
The year of his passing, תשי״ח equals התשובה. The date, כ״ב טבת, is equal in gematriya to צדיק יסוד עולם with the three words.
Zechuso Yagein Aleinu!
