Memory Lane: Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz’s Visit to Boro Park

Kamenitz in Dire Straits 

In the year 1897, Knesses Beis Yitzchok was established on the outskirts of Slabodka, and in the year 1903, Hago’on Rav Boruch Ber, the great talmid of Rav Chaim Brisker, was appointed Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva. When WWI broke out, he along with the yeshiva wandered to Kremenchug. 

The aftermath of WWI found the Torah world devastated, and great poverty reigned throughout the Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. The yeshiva moved to Kamenitz, near Brisk in Lita. Hundreds of bachurim joined the yeshiva in its new location, and drank in the Torah of the great ga’on. 

If the yeshiva was at its height spiritually, it was in utter crisis materially. Rav Reuven Grozovksy related that “the late 1920’s were extremely difficult for the Kamenitzer yeshiva. We were sunk into debt, and because the financial situation in America was weak, donations to the yeshiva dried up—so much so that we feared that we would need to close the yeshiva. We did not see any recourse other than for the Rosh Yeshiva himself to travel to America and rescue the yeshiva.” 

Prior to his departure, Rav Boruch Ber went to see the Chofetz Chaim and related that he would be traveling to America, and would need to speak before crowds. “But I am not a ba’al darshan, and I don’t know what I will say,” he said. The Chofetz Chaim said, “so you will teach them siddur.” And so it was that during his travels, he chose a different segment of davening at every stop, and would darshen for hours on the deeper meaning of the tefillos. Reb Refoel Levine, the son of Rav Avrohom Chaim Duber, known as “the Malach” related that Rav Boruch Ber stayed with them in Albany for ten days. “At that time, he was holding by ahavah rabbah, and he spoke for more than two hours.”   

“Attention, Yidden of Boro Park” 

Thus, on May 3, in the spring of 1928, we find the following announcement in Der Morgen Zhournal: “Haga’on Rav Boruch Dov Leibovitz set out for America. In a telegram received by Rav Segal of Bayonne, N.J, he was notified that that Hago’on Rav Boruch Dov Leibowitz, Rosh Yeshiva of Kneses Beis Yitzchok, Kamenitz-Litovsk, has left today on the ‘Majestic’ ocean liner. Rav Leibowitz is traveling with the company of his son-in-law, Harav Hago’on Rav Reuven Grozovksy.”

On May 9, the zhournal announces that Rav Boruch Ber was welcomed in City Hall by Mayor Jim Walker in the presence of one thousand Yidden after resting up at the Broadway Central Hotel. Lawyer Louis Gribitz introduced the distinguished guest, and explained that the ga’on came at the invitation of his students who are now respected Rabbonim and prominent Jewish leaders in New York and other cities,” it said. 

Six weeks later, as parshas Shelach approached, a notice appeared in newspaper: “Yidden of Boro Park, pay attention. The great ga’on and tzaddik, Moron Rav Baruch Dov Leibowitz, Rosh Yeshiva of the world-renowned Yeshiva Knesses Beis Yitzchok will be a guest in Boro Park this Shabbos. 

“Today, Friday night, he will daven in the Anshei Sfard Shul. Shabbos morning, he will daven in the Shomrei Emunah Shul. Shabbos at 6:00, the ga’on will hold a content-rich droshoh in halocho and aggodoh at the Shomrei Emunah shul. Sunday, 4:00 in the afternoon, he will deliver a hadran on Shas at the Anshei Sfard Shul. 

“The Rabbonim and ga’onim of Boro Park will greet the great guest and will speak of his greatness, his brilliance, and his piety.

“The kabbolas ponim for the great ga’on is arranged by all the Rabbonim of Boro Park and the presidents of the shuls Mr. Yosef Liebman of Shomrei Emunah and Mr. Zahler of Anshei Sfard. Tnu Kovod l’Torah! Come in your masses! You will have a great spiritual enjoyment!”   

Ninety-five years ago, Rav Baruch Ber stepped onto the American continent in order to gather funds for his struggling yeshiva, and one of the first places he chose to gift with his presence was the community of Boro Park of yesteryear.