The Piacezner Rebbe Hy”d1 min read

Although summing up my feelings on the Piacezner Rebbe and what his teachings have done for my journey to an authentic yiddishkeit seems to be an impossible task, I think there are two features that draw me more than anything else: relatability and honesty.

From the very beginning of Chovas Hatalmidim, where the rebbe’s soaring illustration of the greatness of a Jewish youth is directly followed by his assertion that having a good time with friends is sanctioned, and indeed encouraged by Judaism – as long as they are good friends and the awareness of God’s presence is maintained, the student gets the feeling that he is loved, respected, and – most importantly – understood by this gentle giant.

The Piacezner’s relatability is solidified by his humble honesty expressed in Tzav V’ziruz, one of my favorite seforim. There he bares his soul, bemoaning his feeling, upon the occasion of his 40th birthday, that although the checklist of his avodas Hashem is quite complete, becoming a real Jew yet eludes him. The Rebbe opens another door into the depths of his inner world with his poetic expression of dismay over his inability to pass on his glorious worldview to the Chassidim attending his Friday night tisch.

While unique on many levels, these statements reflect the simple humanity of the Piacezner Rebbe. His willingness and ability to bare his soul on paper for all future generations is testament to the effectiveness of the spiritual path he pioneered. It is this refreshing openness and honesty which peeks from behind every line of his writings that so captured my soul as a young teen and continue to do so with each passing day.