Auction 65
Lot 42:
Likutei Moshe-Yaakov, Drushim on the Torah by Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Hacohen Rabikov, known as the Holy Shoemaker. A mimeographed edition published by his son Rabbi Yosef Rabikov. A fine foreword by his son the publisher who writes, among others, that the Divrei Torah of his father were varied just like his listeners.
First and limited edition of 100 copies only, as the title page notes. Tel Aviv, 1969. [2], 460 pp. portrait. In the National Library, the book appears in the Rare Book Collection.
Tied together. Detached front board. Good overall condition.
On the title page, a dedication handwritten by Rabbi Yosef Rabikov to Rabbi Yosef Woltuch: "לרבי יוסף וואלטוך שליט"א לזכרון, להזכרה ולמשמרת בברכה תל אביב ז’ מרחשון תשכ"ט and his handwritten signature.
Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Hacohen Rabikov, the Holy Shoemaker, was born in Russia in 1873. In his youth he studied Chevruta with the author of the Leshem. He was a secret Kabbalist and Tzaddik, known for his miracles. The Chazon Ish would send people to him who required salvation and he once was heard saying “this requires someone greater than me.” He passed away in 1967 and was buried in Bnei Berak. His grave is still visited by those praying for help and salvation.
The Tzaddik Kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Woltuch of Zlotchov. In his youth, he lived in the Old City of Jerusalem, and every day he would sneak into the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva, study the ways of the kabbalists, and sleep very little. His minhag was to lay next to the graves of tzaddikim and he merited wonderful visions and sight of the souls of tzaddikim. However, he would take care not to go to Rashbi’s tomb on Lag BaOmer because of the large number of people there. It is said that during one of his prayers to bring about the Geulah he merited seeing Rachel Imenu wearing black clothes.
Despite his suffering, he worked Hashem with happiness and excitement.
In Iyar 1983 he told a student that if Hashem willed it he would settle in Jerusalem and he went with two students to pray at the graves of tzaddikim in the Galilee. When he left Meron he told them that he didn’t feel well. They continued to the Idra cave to pray, and he told them again that he didn’t feel well. He asked for some soda water, and when he finished the blessing over the soda, he fainted, was taken to the hospital in Safed, and passed away.
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