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Living Legacy: The Nitra Rov, zt”l

Living Legacy: The Nitra Rov, zt”l

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27 Nissan marks the 18th yohrtzeit of the previous Nitra Rov, Rav Sholom Moshe Halevi Ungar, zt”l, a true old world Hungarian rov, who greatly impacted the American landscape, and produced thousands of talmidim—among them many prominent morei hora’ah who illuminate the Torah world to this day, carrying his light forward. 

Rav Sholom Moshe was born in the Slovakian town of Krompach, where his father, Rav Shmuel Duvid Halevi, zt”l, Hy”d, was then serving as a rov. When he was about fourteen, his father was appointed rov in the Slovakian town of Nitra, where he was known as one of the most prominent rabbonim in prewar Hungary. The Nitra yeshiva, which he founded, was also one of the most important Torah institutions in that world (his son in law was Rav Michoel Ber Weissmandl, zt”l). 

He escaped along with his father into the Slovakian forests, where they remained through the winter of 1945, and where his father tragically succumbed to illness, weeks before the end of the war. Together with a friend he buried his father in a temporary grave. He survived the war through great miracles—having tragically lost his Rebbetzin and three children, Hy”d. 

Following the war, he returned to Nitra, where the people appointed him as Nitra Rov. Here he immediately reopened the Nitra yeshiva as well, and the word went to talmidim, who were dispersed and scattered throughout Europe, that the Rov, and other marbitzei Torah from the yeshiva were back at their posts—and so these bachurim, who had endured so much, streamed back to Nitra where they threw themselves into learning Torah. 

After a year, the Nitra Rov saw that Communism was beginning to take hold, so he brought the yeshiva over to America—but the yeshiva did not cease learning throughout the entire voyage. They landed in Somerville, N.J., following which they settled in Mt. Kisco, in Westchester County, where the yeshiva continues to thrive today. 

Throughout his years at the helm of the yeshiva, the Nitra Rov was an angelic figure who served Hashem with utmost temimus, his tefillos emanated from deep with his heart, with tremendous emotion, his mitzvos were carried our conscientiously, with fire and zeal, and his deroshos inflamed the hearts of all his listeners. Talmidim recall the pain of the Shechinah which was evident on his face in the three weeks, and especially during recital of the kinnos during the nine days, as per the Minagim of the Chasam Sofer, to which he clung ardently. 

As noted, among his talmidim are extremely prominent talmidei chachomim and balebatim who will always keep in front of them the image of their Rebbe, whose entire essence was serving Hashem with ehrlichkeit and temimus, and who dedicated his life to building Torah for the future generations—and they comprise the Living Legacy of the Nitra Rov, zecher tzaddik livracha. 

Living Legacy is a special project of BP24, and appears weekly. Comments or suggestions may be emailed to [email protected] 


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