By Hashgacha Pratis the Jewish community of Moscow recently received information that the yortzeit of the wonderous Rabbi Yitzchak Aizik Krasilschikov zt”l, known as “Der Poltaver Gaon’ – falls on Thursday, the 10th of Iyar. With this year marking his sixtieth yortzeit, the community leaders arranged to honor his memory at the ancient Jewish cemetery in the town of Malakhovka.
The gaon, author of the commentary “Tvuna” on the Talmud Yerushalmi, was known as one of the greatest Torah scholars of his generation and one of the great scholars of the city of Poltava. Throughout his life, he studied the Torah, taught Torah to many, and also wrote commentaries on the Torah. Even as the situation in Russia worsened and the decrees against Torah students and keepers of its commandments intensified, he did not abandon the Talmud.
In those difficult days, when the authorities persecuted the religious in Russia and the danger was very great, the Gaon continued to sit in his house from morning to evening and diligently study the Torah. He had very few books at his disposal, including only Rambam, Mishnayos, and the Talmud Yerushalmi. Nevertheless, thanks to his great depth and immense perseverance, he acquired a very broad knowledge of the Gemara and Halacha, and even composed his own special commentary on some of the Rambam’s laws and interpreted several tractates in Yerushalmi. His best-known books are: ‘Tvuna’ and ‘Toldos Yitzchak’, which have become foundations in the Torah world.
All his life he aspired to have his Chidushei Torah printed, but persecution by the authorities and the difficult economic situation left this wish as nothing more than a dream. He guarded his writings like the apple of his eye, with a hidden hope that one day they would see the light of day. About a day before his passing, he miraculously managed to deliver his writings to the late Rabbi Zvi Bornstein, who had come from the United States to spread Judaism secretly, and at his request he printed his books, which were received very enthusiastically among scholars and many Rabbis expressed great admiration for them.
When the information about his yortzeit became public, there was a great desire to honor his memory and locate his resting place. A comprehensive investigation was conducted and his grave was found in the Jewish cemetery in the town of Malakhovka, near Moscow. The exact location was found and cleared by the Rabbi of the town of Malakhovka.
Led by the head of the Chevra Kadisha in Russia, Shliach Rabbi Moshe Tamarin, a minyan went up to his kever for the first time to recite Tehillim on his yortzeit. Kaddish was recited by Rabbi Chaim Nissan Bayer and then the Mashpia Rabbi Velvel Rapoport spoke, sharing words he had heard as a child in Moscow from his teacher, Rabbi Shneur Pinsky, who was a friend of the Gaon.
The dear Jews of Moscow have been privileged to preserve the memory of this wonderous personality, and he will surely be intervening on their behalf in the Heavenly realms.
Photo: Mevaser Tov Moscow
