Yisroel Spira

Rabbi Yisroel Spira, was the Bluzhever Rebbe, born in Poland and lived most of his life until his death in Brooklyn, NY.

Early Life and Family

Spira was born on 12 November 1889 in Reisha (Rzeszów), Galicia, to Rabbi Yehoshua Spira (the "Keren Yehoshua", of Ribiditscher) and Tziporah Spira. Spira's father was the son of Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Bluzhev (Błażowa) (1841–1924), who was called after his major work, the Tzvi LaTzaddik (Hebrew צבי לצדיק). Spira's father's father was the son of the Tzemach Dovid (Hebrew צמח דוד) of Dinov who was the son of Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dynów (c. 1783 – 1841), the author of Bnei Yisaschar (Hebrew בני יששכר).

Spira's first wife was Rebbetzin Perel Unger, the daughter of Rabbi Shalom David Unger, the Zashavna Rebbe. She was killed in 1942 by the Nazis.His second Rebbetzin was Bronia Spira (Melchior) (born 2 June 1910) from Sosnowiec, whose first husband, Rabbi Yisroel Avrohm Koshitzki had perished in the Bełżec extermination camp.

Career

Spira was ordained at the very young age of thirteen by the Maharsham of Brezan (Berezhany). He served as the rabbi of Prochnik and was later appointed rabbi of Istrik, near Sanok in south eastern Poland. After his father's death in 1931, he was made Rebbe of Bluzhev (Blazowa in Polish).

In 2005 Rabbi Yoseph Spira, Spira's grandson, complied two volumes of Spira's Torah thoughts, called Shufra Deyisroel (Hebrew שופרא דישראל) and a biography called Leaid Bivney Yisroel.

World War II

During the Second World War Rabbi Spira was interned in the infamous Janowska concentration camp. In October 1942, he was transferred to Bełżec, yet was able to escape back to Janowska. He was later transferred to Bergen-Belsen, where he was liberated on 15 April 1945.

Spira's first wife was Rebbetzin Perel Unger was killed by the Nazis on 31 October 1942. The rest of his family, among them his brothers, Rabbi Eliezer of Ribaditch, and Rabbi Meir of Bluzhev, were all killed by the Nazis.

Stories about Rabbi Spira's experiences during the Holocaust were later compiled by Yaffa Eliach in her book "Hasidic Tales of the Holocaust"

United States

After the war, Spira relocated to Williamsburg, in Brooklyn and later to Borogh Park, NY. He played an important role in the development of Agudath Israel of America. He died on 30 October 1989. At the time of his death, he was the senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. Its spokesman, Rabbi Yitzchok Brandriss, said Rabbi Spira was the oldest living Hasidic Rabbi.

Rabbi Spira is buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.