Individual planning of the tours on the subject of «Orthodox judaism»

 

The places that we are inviting you to visit is the places where the great teachers and sages of Torah lived.

It is almost impossible to find a place in Belarus that is not connected to the outstanding personalities whose books we use for studying Torah, Gmora, laws, etc. This is the land they were living on, the land they were buried in. Not all the graves are known, many of them were destroyed during the years of Holocaust.

We are the only religious tour agency in this country and we invite to come for an individual tour over the tzadikim graves.

We will take care of:

- Kosher meals

- Accommodation at the hotel having Shabbat rooms at its disposal

- Safe transfer from/to the airport and over the country

- Daily minyan for prayers (shaharit, minha, arvit)

- An escorting person (Hebrew, English)

- Working out and coordination of the tour program

- Recommendations of Belarusian and Israeli rabbis

 In addition to visiting Belarus, we will help you to plan and organize a visit to cities, towns in Poland and Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine and etc.

 

Meaningful locations for the Jewish that we recommend to visit:

 

1. Radun' at Voranava district, Grodno region.

This shtetl was known worldwide since the Jewish ecclesiastical academy (Talmudic) headed by the famous Talmudist  Israil Meyer-Hafets Haim from Radun (died in 1935) was located there. The young people came even from far abroad to study in the academy.

Grodno regional administration is interested and is willing to allocate the land property next to the cemetery where Hafets Haim is buried as well as provide all support to the investor.

In Radun' there remained the Jewish cemetery (year of 1451) as well as Hafets Haim yeshiva (built at 1882, at present the building accommodates the club).

Rabbi Hafets Haim house us taken out to USA.

Israel Meir (HaKohen) Kagan (Hafets Haim; real surname Poupko was an influential rabbi, a Halakhist and moralist. He is the clerical leader of the Jewish of Poland and Russia, the author of the commentary to Shulchan Aruch “Mishna Berura” and author of the Chafetz Chayim and Sh'mirat HaLashon on the laws of bar of slander and gossip and other important halachic works. He was born in Dzyatlava, Grodno Governorate in 1839 in the family that highly observed the Jewish tradition. His parents were Ari-Leib and Dobrusha. He died in Radun' in 1933.

 

2. Grodno.

At the Jewish cemetery there is the grave of the rabbi Shimon Škop Judah ha-Cohen (by-name is Shimon Bryansker; 1860, shtetl Turets, Minsk Governorate, -1940, Vilnius) – an outstanding halachic leader, public person and promoter of religious education. He was born in the family of rabbi. When he was 12 y.o. he entered to the yeshiva in Mir city and years after moved to the yeshiva in Volozhin. He was one of the best-loved disciples of  the rabbi N.Ts. I. Berlin.

Shimon Škop (1890-1940) was a rabbi in Zanemanski Vorstadt of Grodno. When in 1920 Grodno yeshiva “Schaar ha- Torah” remained without a leader the rabbi Shimon-Judah Škop took his place “…when Shimon Škop died the Jewish of Grodno city wanted to bury him at the central cemetery and the Jewish of Vorstadt wanted to bury him here. Thank Heaven he was buried here...”

In Grodno there was buried the rabbi Alexander Zyskind who died in the year of 5554. He was the author of the well-known “Yesod Veshoresh Ha'Avod”. Zyskind had lot of learners and followers. In 1990s the memorial was erected on his grave. Before he died, he gave the will at the area of 100 meters from his grave to bury nobody but holy men. It was always an empty space there. This is the mark how his grave was found.

 

3. Lyubavichi

There are locations in this world that have always been pilgrimage destination for the people of different religions. Rome, Jerusalem, Makkah, Medina …. Lyubavichi, the village lost in the woods amid Smolensk, Orsha and Vitebsk can be fairly added to this list.

 

The Third rebbe of Lyubavichi Menachem Mendel (Tzemach Tzedek) and his son the Fourth rebbe of Lyubavichi Shmuel (Maharash) are buried at the cemetery.

Tzemach Tzedek  (‏הצמח צדק‎‏‎‎), real surname Menachem Mendel Schneerson (‏מנחם מנדל שניאורסון‎‏‎‎); September 9(20), 1789 – March 17 (29) 1866) – 3^rd  of Lyubavichi from Hasidic dynasty of Schneerson. He is maternal grandson of  אלטער רבי‏‎. (Alter Rebbe). When he was born he was called Menachem Mendel.  Since he was 3 y. old under his mother`s lead he studied Torah and Talmud. When he was 14 y. old he got married to his cousin Chaya Mushka.  In 18 y. old he wrote theological treatise “Thaamei-ha- Mitzvah” (Meaning of the commandments).  In 1827 he headed Chabad. He invested a lot to reconcile with the misnagdim and impeded call-up of the Jewish youth to Russian army. He was considered the head of the Hasidic Judaism in Russia and negotiated with the minister of education Uvarov. However, these negotiations came to a dead end and Tzemach Tzedek was under arrest for some time. During all his life he was arrested 22 (!) times.

Shmuel Schneersohn ( ‏שמואל שניאורסון‎‏‎‎; Maharash; March 17 (29), 1834 – September 14 (26), 1882) – the 4^th rebbe of Lyubavichi. He was the seventh son of Tzemach Tzedek. His brothers arranged the sites of Hasidic Judaism in the shtetls Kopys`, Bobruisk, Nezhin. He was the author of the works on the philosophy of the Hasidic Judaism that include “Likkutei Torah “ (from “Torah”, 1884),  “Likkutei Torah Shmuel “ (from “From school of Shmuel”, 1945).

At present 460 inhabitants live in Lyubavichi. They are Russians and Belorussians. There is no Jewish among the people living in Lyubavichi. Only the memorials to the innocent victims of the Nazi remained and the old tombstones on the old Jewish cemetery.

 

4. Volozhin, Minsk region.

There is the cemetery in the center of Volozhin:  the oldest graves there refer to XVI century and the latest made in XX century. Here the founder of the yeshiva in Volozhin – rabbi Chaim Ben Yitzchok of Volozhin (1749 Volozhin, Poland, – 1821, idem.)  is buried, the rabbi and teacher, the disciple of Vilnuis Gaon  Elijah ben Solomon Zalman. In 1803 he founded the well known yeshiva in Volozhin that became a foretype and a role model for major Talmudic scholastic institutions in Eastern Europe in 19 and 20^th centuries as well as in Israel, US and other countries. His yeshiva defined religious image of the Jewish in Lithuania.

 

5.  Indurah, Grodno region.

Up to present times at the cemetery there are survived hundreds of the tombstones made mainly of granite. Some of them refer to XVIII when Indurah was the center of Hasidism. There has remained the grave of a famous preacher, a zaddik. At present this is the place of pilgrimage. The Hasidean often come to this place.

Many natives of Indurah back in the day migrated in Argentina. There exist the memories of a Jewish a famous scientist who described the times he lived  in Indurah.

In the second half of  XVIII Indurah was second large after Pinsk center of Hasidism in Great Principality of Lithuania. The community there was headed by the rabbi Chaim Chaikl ben Shmuel (Chaim of Indura, Chaikl Amdurski). He was the disciple of Maggid (rabbi Dov Ber) and rabbi Araon of Karlin who brought his teaching to Polesie and Lithuania. Chaikl Amdurski Haykel was zaddik in Indurah in the years of 1770-1780.

One of the Martin Buber`s hasidic stories was dedicated to the rabbi Chaim  Chaikl.

After Chaim Chaikl ben Shmuel died in 1787 his son rabbi Shmuel headed the community (died after 1798). However after death of the rabbi Shmuel the Hasidism of Indurah was not resumed.

 

6  Mir. Grodno region

Jewish cemetery has about 100 graves that remained untill now and include the gaves of the zaddiks that are venerated by the Jewish all over the world (shochet of Mir Yeshiva rabbi Yeruham Leibowitz).

 Last year the rabbni from Argentina came to Mir and committed to return again to visit the grave of the spiritual teacher Leibowitz buried at the Jewish cemetery.

 

 7 Pinsk. Brest region.

In Pinsk there exists the reconstructed synagogue (formerly the preaching-house of the rabbies of the Karlinsky dynasty), three graves of the  hasidic zaddiks Aro of Karlin, Osher of Stolin,  Zvi Hirsch, the son of Baal Shem Tov. The holy sites (wherein the graves are not disturbed ) appeared to be next to the fencing of the school No 12 and one of the kindergardens.

Karlin became well known due to the dynasty of  the Perloves, the zaddiks of  Karlin. Aron the Great of Karlin and his son Osher of Stolin originating from the Perloves became the fathers of the famous dynasty and founders of the Karlin and Stolin branch of Hasidism.

There is one more ancient Jewish cemetery located in between the Cotlyarskaya and  Zavalnaya. The grave of the esteemed hasidic zaddik, the only son of Baal Shem Tov, the father of Hasidism, is located in the front row of the graves and is well seen from Cotlyarskaya.

Zvi Hirsch lived in Pinsk and was married to the woman originating from Pinsk. As for his activities it is known that Zvi Baal Shem Tov was wise and virtuous, respected in Pinsk and Karlin  and was a member of the court of the rabbies.  

Aron the Senior of Karlin is a prominent figure of the times zaddik movement was created, father of the Hasidic dynasty of Karlin, born in 1736, died in 1772 in Melnitsa at Volyn` area. Being one of the followers of the rabbi Ber of Mezeritch, K. occupied a prominent position in hasidic tradition. He abided the flow that put mystical extasy and enthusiasm to the fundamentals of the Hasidism and that prevailed with the followers of the rabbi Ber of Mezeritch. K. has left  almost no literary works  except for  his will named: «צואה מהרנ מו״ה אהרן מקארלין‎» and the notes published in the essay «נית אהרן‎», Brody, 1870. The son of K. rabbi Osher of Stolin was the disciple and the successor of the rabbi Solomon of Karlin  and was very popular among the Hasideans.  His dogmatic lections were published in K.'s will as well as the essays of his son rabbi Aron the Junior of Karlin, «נית אהרן‎». 

Aron II Karliner (1802–1872) – son of Osher of Karlin. In his presence Hasidism of Karlin reached its major influence at Polesie and Volyn'. In his essay «Aron`s House» (1875) he taught that everyday life same as a prayer is service to God and achieving spiritual goodness advances the Advent of Messiah. It is then when the most popular songs and melodies were made. He gave moral support and helped with money to the hasidic communities of Karlin that came to Eretz Yisrael. In 1867 he moved to Stolin.

Jewish cemetery lies to the north from the school yard. The people of Pinsk call it «Pokopischa» or «Spokopische». Up to XVIII there was the Jewish street between the synagogue and this cemetery (territory of Zavalnaya str.) called Jewish or Zhidovskaya str. (Jidiše gas). For a long period of time this street was business center of the city.

First Jewish cemetery appeared at Pushkina str. At the beginning of XVI century between the streets Kotlyarskaya snd Zavalnaya (Y. Moshkovskogo str.). Zvi Hirsch, the son of the father of Hadism, the zaddik Baal Shem Tov from Medzhybizh is buried here. The cemetery was destroyed during soviet time.

Hasidic cemetery was located at Pushkina Str. Aron the Great Karliner, his son  Osher, rabby of Karlin  David Freedman, Ezer Weizman (father of the first president of Israel Chaim Weizmann),  family of the famous philanthropists Lurie, Movsas Yitskhok Levin  and Goda Osher Levin called «father of the orphans » are buried there.

Presently the corner of the Sovetskays str . and Irkutsko-Pinskoi divisii str.  is the patch of land that belonged to the offsprings of Aron Perlov, the father of the Karlin hasidic community  (on of the forms of Judaism). Nowadsys here is located the acting synagogue of Pinsk.

Present-day Pinsk synagogue is the former preaching house of the Perlovs (Karlinskys) rabbies. From the year 1841 to 1901 the building was made of wood and after the fire at the beginning of XX century it was re-billt of brick. The prohibited congress of the rabbies of Western Belarus and Western Ukrain took place here in Mach 1940.

The preaching house of the Perlovs  was closed in 1941. At soviet times the building was used for different  institutions and further it was turned to a residence. In 1993 the building was returned to Pinsk Jewish community. It was rennovated and under its roof prayers and hasidic chanting can be heard again.

8. Stolin. Brest region.

The ruins of the grand synagogue where the rebbes of Stolin were sermonizing generation after generation, the house of the rabbi, black and white stone gray memorial in the form of an open book erected in Stasino at the spot where the famly of the rabbi was shot are waiting for you in Stolin.

 In XIX Stolin became imortant center of hasidic move. Spiritual leaders of Stolin Hasideans were very influential in Stolin and beyond.

The father of the Hasidic family of Stolin zaddiks was Rabbi Asher Perlov, father of the known Rabbi Aron the Great of Karlin (1736-1772) (suburb at that time and currently within the area of Pinsk city) who wrote the commentary to Torah, holidays and ethical teaching «Sefer Beit Aron». Rabbie Aron was the disciple of the magid from Mezeritch, the follower of the Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov– the founder of the Hasidism. The son of the Rabbi Aron the Great the Rabbi Asher Perlov (1765–1826) moved the center of the dynasty from Karlin to Stolin after disagreements he had with the family of misnagdims from Karlin. The zaddik Rabbi Aron the Second known as «man from Mlynov» or «holly old man» spent in Stolin all his life.

Stolin ghetto was totally ruined September 11-12, 1942 on the eve of  Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, when 7 000 people were killed at Stasino among whom was rabbi of Stolin Moishe Perlov and his family

 

9. Borisov, Minsk region.

Jewish cemetery (1902). The grave of the famous rabbi of Minsk Y.Y. Perelman is here.

Yeruham Yehuda Leib Perelman (Leib Perelman, known as HaGadol MiMinsk – the Great from Minsk. 1835, Brest-Litovsk – 1896, Minsk) - an important rabbi of the Lithuanian Jewish. He became famous mainly as the main rabbi of Minsk and head of Minsk yeshiva.  Perelman family is a famous Lithuanian family of the rabbis. At the end of 1950s the Jewish cemetery was removed and the rabbi and his wife were re-buried in Borisov. The offspring of the famous HaGadol MiMinsk are the famous semitologist Gita Gluskina and the professor of mathematics of the universities in Leningrad and Tel Aviv Yefim Gluskin.

10. Retchitsa. Gomel region.

The grave of the rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (1840 & - 1908) – the grandson of the third Chabad zaddik Menachem Mendel Schneerson known as Tzemach Tzedek,  great-great-grandson of Shneur Zalman of Liadi is there. He became the spiritual rabbi in Retchitsa at 1880. Founded the yeshiva of Chabad.

11. Slonim, Grodno region.

Zaddik Abraham Weinberg (Abraham I), the founder of the Hasidic dynasty of zaddiks is buried here.

The greatest notoriety to Slonim in XIX was brought by the rabbi Abraham Weinberg (Abraham I) – the founder of the local Hasidic dynasty of zaddiks who wrote a number of works on theology.

After Abraham I died in 1883 his position passed to his grandson Shmuel.  Nowadays the yeshiva of Abraham family founded in Slonim in 1942 is working in Jerusalem. The yeshiva is headed by one of the Abraham`s II descendants.

Slonim is the cradle of the Hasidic dynasty of zaddiks. Its founder is rabbi Abraham ben Isaac Mattathias Weinberg (1804-83) – the head of Slonim yeshiva who later became Hasidean. (see Hasidism). Being one of the major Hasidic leaders of his time A. Weinberg had great influence with the Jewish communities of the northern part of  Polish-Lithuanian province Polesie – from Slonim to Brest-Litovsk and from Kobrin to Barnovichi. Among A. Weinberg works the most well-known are “Chesed le-Abraham” (“Mercy to Abraham”, 1886) and “Yesod HaAvoda” (“Basis of worship”, 1892). In these and other works A. Weinberg showed the great knowledge and insisted on value of learning the Torah, praying, adoration of God and fear for Him.

The disciple of A. Weinberg Menahem Nahum Epstein founded his dynasty of zaddiks in Belostok. When A. Weinberg was alive one of his grandsons Noach (died in 1927) settled in Eretz Israel in Tiberias where Slonim Hasidism gained widespread since end of XIX. Slonim Hasidism became widely known for its specific hasidic melodies. After A. Weinberg death his position was taken by his other grandson Shmuel (died in 1916) who was very successful in consolidating religious institutes of Hasidism, was active in raising money for Jewish community in Eretz Israel.

After Shmuel died Slonim Hasidic community rifted: the majority chose Shmuel`s  younger son Abraham II (died in 1933) and the minority chose the eldest son Issachar Ari (died in 1928). Abraham II moved from Belostok to Baranovichi where in 1918 he founded yeshiva “Torahd Chesed”. In this yeshiva there was taught philosophy of Hasidism as well as Misnagdim (see Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, Vilna Gaon). He visited the followers of Slonim Hasidism in Eretz Israel twice (1929, 1933). After his death his son Shlomo who was killed by the Nazi in 1943 became the leader of Hasideans in Slonim. His works were published in 1967 under the title “Zikhron kadosh” – “Memory of the holy”). Issachar Ari took over the position of his father in Slonim itself. After Issachar died is son Abraham who moved to Eretz Israel in 1955  became the leader of the Hasidic community. In 1942 Slonim Hasideans in Jerusalem founded ‘Yeshiva Slonim Bet Abraham”. In 1955 Slonim hasideans in Israel selected Noach, the son of Abraham II, as the leader (ADMOR (abbreviation for ADoneinu MOreinu Rabeinu)  of their community.

12. Bobruisk, Mogilev region.

Rabbi Shmaryahu Noach Schneersohn (1845-1921)  was the third son of the rabbi Yehuda Leib and the third and the last Admor Chabad Kapusta, grandson of the rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1789-1866) known as Tzemach Tzedek (“Sprout of Goodness”).

Upon demand of the hasideans the rabbi was buried not in the row where other rabbis of Bobruisk were buried but separately in a special place. This was done for the purpose that the house can be constructed above the grave where  any time people can come and pray. Thousands of the Jewish laid the beloved rabbi to rest.

In the village Kamenka (12 km away from Bobruisk) there were shot Shmuel Alexandrov and Isaac Bespalov.

Shmuel Alexandrov (1865-1941) – the rabbi who had personal correspondence with the rabbi Kook. He was a disciple of the yeshiva in Volozhin, that said he identified himself as a fee explorer and was interested in philosophy of Kant and Schelling as well as Kabbalah. He was the author of the works Tal Thia (“Dew of revival”) and Bat Judah. Geullah. (Daughter of Judah. Liberation).

Rabbi Bespalov hold this position during the toughest years of religious persecutions. Under the pressure of the government in 1929 he was forced to formally quit the position of the rabbi. Nevertheless de-facto he continued to be the spiritual leader of the community.  Rabbi Shmuel Bespalov with his wife and two daughters was killed by the Nazi in October 1941 during the operation on elimination of the Jewish in Bobruisk. Those who managed to escape told that prior to execution rabbi Shmuel was talking to the Nazi harsh foreboding them that they will die as all the haters of the Jewish.   The officer who headed the operation gave the order to cut the rabbi`s tongue. After that he was murdered. Let the Lord revenge for his blood.

When planning your tour you will not be left alone with an intricate dilemma of the choice. Our advisers (info@jewish-tour.com) will assist you.