Living Legacy: Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, zt”l

3 Elul marked the 71st yohrtzeit of the great builder of Torah in America who transformed the landscape of American Torah Jewry at a time when it was spiritually barren. Seventy years later, we continues to reap the fruits of his toil—and, as the Klausenberger Rebbe said Rav Shraga Feivel’s levaya: “Until the end of generations, Klal Yisroel will be indebted to ‘Rav Feivel.’”

 He was a dreamer. He was an initiator. A man of great action, with the most incredible heart that yearned endlessly for Hashem— he endeavored to impart that love to others.

 His talmid, Rabbi Yitzchok Chinn, wrote in later years, describing the uniqueness of this great leader, and his power to so transform American Jewry: “In 1943, Rav Shraga Feivel was sitting an Eish Dos (the organization he founded to train rebbeim) conference in Monsey, and he asked the yungeleit to turn over a nearby rock—which uncovered an entire colony of insects. ‘You see,’ said Rav Shraga Feivel, ‘these insects were living their entire lifetime under the impression that the world is a dark, dreary place. And by introducing a bit of light, you have changed their entire outlook; you have opened a whole new outlook!’”

 This is what Rav Shraga Feivel’s transformation was all about; introducing the light to the youth of America. He would introduce the light through a number approaches, machshava, heart, and timeless works of mussar and chassidus, empowering his talmidim to stand firm against the current of the times, to withstand the strong forces that were so prevalent in the American streets. The talmidim that he would raise went on to carry forth the torch—illuminating the way for the future generations, all thanks to their great master.

 Rav Shraga Feivel was born in Hungary in the year 1886, and went to learn under the Arugas Habosem, the Chuster Rov. In the yeshiva, he became known simply as ‘der masmid.’ From there he proceeded to the yeshiva in Unsdorf, and from there to the famed Pressburger yeshiva, then headed by the Shevet Sofer. He mastered every area of Torah—and especially emphasized the study of Jewish history as our guide to the future.

 Shortly after his marriage, he departed for America, landing in Scranton, Pa., where he attempted to start a business, and later serve as a Hebrew teacher in a Talmud Torah. Following WWI, he returned to his family in Europe, bringing them back with him to Scranton. The family moved to Williamsburg in 1920.

 There, a small yeshiva named Torah Vodaath was founded in the year 1917. In 1921, Rav Shraga Feivel became its principal… and the rest is history. He knew how to deal with each talmid individually—how to ignite their hearts with the love of Torah and Yiddishkeit. He utilized the special moments of Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim to learn with the talmidim, and to impart meaning into Yiddishkeit. A phenomenal ba’al menagen, he employed the meaning of song—heartfelt as well as joyful—to melt the hearts of the talmidim. “You can’t jump from niggun to niggun; you must wring out the last drop,” he would say.

 Torah Vodaath’s legendary Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Heiman, used to say: “Rav Shraga Feivel’s shalosh seudos is the greatest mussar Seder.” And Rabbi Chinn recalled the magic of those holy moments of this highlight of the week… talmidim crying from the depths of their hearts, along with their beloved Rebbe, as they sang v’yizku lir’os bonim ubnei bonim oskim b’Torah ub’mitzvos… to see future generations follow in the path of Torah—something that one could not take for granted in those days…

 He introduced a “touch of chassidus” to Torah Vodaath—teaching Tanya in depth, as well as other works—and always wished that the yeshiva should retain that character; joy, and great fervor in avodas Hashem. His tefillos were legendary; it was so clear how he connected with his Creator, with such love and fervor. One way to illustrate his deep emotion and feeling for Yiddishkeit is, as his daughter explained: “He never visited Eretz Yisroel, for seeing the kosel would be too much for him to bear… his soul would surely depart his body.”

 This defined him: He was constantly emotionally overtaken with the magnitude of the feelings of Yiddishkeit.

 Towards the end of his life, he moved near the Beis Medrash Elyon that he founded—where American-born ‘lions’ that he raised learned Torah with legendary hasmodoh. And it was in that home that he drew his last breath on 3 Elul, 1948. As per his wish, the only hesped permitted would be by Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky at the kever. But the bus driving Rav Yaakov got lost, and arrived too late. Which is precisely the way this giant—whose tzavaah asked; ir zolt hitten dos huhr vahr, you should guard the thread of truth—would have wanted it.

 His nonstop work to further Yiddishkeit can fill volumes—including Beis Medrash Elyon, Aish Dos, Torah Umesorah, and camp mesivta. But most of all, a heart that throbbed fiercely with ahavas Hashem and ahavas Yisroel, which left an indelible impression upon his talmidim who went on to transmit these traditions to generations of American-born boys and girls.

 Torah Yiddishkeit in America today is Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz’s lasting living legacy.

 *This past year, a video from Camp Mesivta in 1942 was dedicatedly restored by Jonathan Haber, a grandson of Harry Haber who was there during that time. In it we are privileged to see Rav Shraga Feivel in his element, energetically conversing with Rav Shlomo Heiman, and with his beloved talmidim. We thank Mr. Haber for his gracious permission to use these images.