Pinchas Menachem Justman | |
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 Portrait of Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Justman, The Piltzer Rebbe. | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1848 (1848) |
| Died | 1920 (aged 71–72) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
Pinchas Menachem (Elazar) Justman (1848–1920)[1] ThePiltzer Rebbe, also known by the title of his main work, theSiftei Tzadik was aHasidicRabbi who after the passing of his brother-in-law RabbiYehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, became aRebbe for someGerrer Hasidim, inPilica,Poland.[2]
He was born inGóra Kalwaria in 1848 to his father Rabbi Binyamin Leizer Justman[3] and mother Tzina Pesa Justman (née Alter), daughter of theChiddushei Harim the first Gerrer Rebbe,[4] and named Pinchas Menachem. He was known to family and friends asReb Mendele of Ger. His mother, Mrs. Tzina Pesa, died when Pinchas Menachem was young. Orphaned of his mother, he was brought up by his grandparents, RabbiYitzchak Meir Alter (known as the Chiddushei Harim) and his wife. When he was about nine years old, his grandfather took him to visit theKotzker Rebbe, an event which left a lifelong impression on him.He married Hendel Lea, daughter of his uncle Abraham Mordechai Alter, in 1864.[5]
Justman published the fifth printed edition of theJerusalem Talmud, atPiotrkow from 1899 to 1903, with the commentary of RabbiYaakov Dovid Wilovsky (Ridbaz).
In 1905 when his brother-in-law, the second Gerrer rebbe—Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter died, some of the Hasidim sought to bestow the mantle of leadership upon him. He moved out of Gora Kalwaria to Pilica or Piltz as it was known by the Hasidim and become their Rebbe.[4] He added the nameElazar to his namePinchas Menachem when he was very ill, on 23 Tammuz 5672 (8 July 1912).[6] Eventually he recovered from his illness. In 1915 he moved toWieruszów and four years later he moved toCzęstochowa.
He died onShabbat 10th ofKislev 5681 (21 November 1920) in Częstochowa. His funeral was held on Monday because of a disagreement between the Community of Pilz and the Community of Częstochowa regarding the burial place. Eventually he was buried in the Jewish cemetery of Częstochowa,[4] next to his son Yitzchak Meir who died a year earlier.Thesixth Rebbe of Ger was namedPinchas Menachem by his father RabbiAvraham Mordechai Alter—after his beloved uncle Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Justman[citation needed].
He wrote a commentary onTorah, calledSifsei Tzadik, which was published after his death by his son RabbiEnoch Gad Justman and RabbiMenachem Mendel Alter ofPabianice, son of theSfas Emes. His commentary on theTalmud andPsalms disappeared at some point during theHolocaust.
Justman’s first wifeHendel Leah (Alter), gave birth to six daughters and three sons.[7]
Esther - married to RabbiAvraham Abba Bomatz
Chaya Sarah - married to RabbiYitzchak Meir Mintz
Bracha - married to RabbiYitzchak Meir Eibeszic
RabbiIsaac Mayer Justman - marriedRachel Araten. He served as Rabbi in Częstochowa (died 1920)
Feige - married to RabbiHanoch Henich Rotblat
RabbiAvraham Mordechai Justman - marriedRachel (died 1928)
Freida-Ratzh - married to RabbiMeir Yoskovitz
Rachel - first marriage married to RabbiDov Berish Einhorn of Amstov. Second marriage to RabbiYehezkel Biderman
The youngest son and most famous, RabbiChanoch Gad Justman - marriedDevora Matill Halperin. He succeeded his father as Rabbi of Piltz. He later became the Rabbi ofWieluń. He was murdered inTreblinka (died 1942).
His second wifeChaya Yuta (Rothenberg), had no children from him.
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