Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach (Hebrew: אלעזר מנחם מן שך) (or Rav Leizer Shach, at times his name is written as Eliezer Schach in English publications) (January 1, 1899 - November 2, 2001) was a leading Eastern European-born and educated Haredi rabbi who settled and lived in modern Israel.

He joined Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky as a rosh yeshiva ("dean") of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak, one of the pre-eminent yeshivos of Lithuanian Jewry. The two were later joined by a third Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Dovid Povarsky. Years later, Shach founded the Degel HaTorah political party representing Lithuanian Ashkenazi Jews in the Israeli Knesset, many of whom considered him to be the Gadol HaDor ("great one of the generation") and used the honorific Maran ("[our] master") when referring to him.

He was recognized as a Talmudic scholar par excellence by both Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik (the Brisker Rav) and Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer in their approbations to his Avi Ezri, a commentary on the Mishneh Torah.

Life in Europe

Shach was born in Wabolnick (Vabalninkas, pronounced Vaboilnik in Yiddish), a rural village in northern Lithuania to Rabbi Ezriel and Batsheva Shach. The Shach family had been merchants for generations but Batsheva's family, the Levitans, were religious scholars who served various Lithuanian communities. Batsheva's brother, Rabbi Nisan Levitan, later became an important figure in the Union of Orthodox Rabbis. Elazar was a child prodigy, and was sent to study in the Ponevezh yeshiva at age seven. At thirteen he moved on to the Slabodka yeshiva, where he caught the attention of its dean, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, as well as Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, dean of the Slutsk yeshiva. He soon became one of Meltzer's favorite pupils, beginning a lifelong relationship of mutual friendship and respect.

When World War I began in 1914, many of the Slabodka yeshiva students were dispersed across Europe. Shach initially returned to his family but then began traveling across Lithuania from town to town, sleeping and eating wherever he could while studying with tremendous diligence in local synagogues, continuing to study Torah "as if there were no war" ^[1]. After the war Shach rejoined Meltzer and his son-in-law, Rabbi Aharon Kotler, in Kletsk, Poland. When Meltzer returned to Slutsk, Shach followed him (the Slutsk yeshiva later gained fame as the Lakewood yeshiva in America).

Meltzer became both a father figure and patron to the young Shach, even arranging his marriage with his niece, Guttel, in 1923. Shach received rabbinical ordination from Meltzer, and from 1927 to 1932 taught in the Kletsk yeshiva. He served as rosh yeshiva in Lublin, then taught Talmud at the Novardok yeshiva as well. In 1936 he became rosh yeshiva at the Karlin yeshiva in Luninets.

Escaping to the British Mandate of Palestine

Shortly before the start of World War II and the Holocaust, several yeshivas began considering evacuating their rabbis, students and families. Kotler eventually left for America, travelling across Siberia and arriving in the United States during the war. In 1939 Shach first went to Vilna, where he stayed with Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. Later that year both Shach's mother and his eldest daughter fell ill and died. In early 1940 the Shach family decided to leave Lithuania. Shach's maternal uncle, Rabbi Aron Levitan, had helped Kotler get emigration visas, but Shach decided instead to go to Palestine, where Meltzer was serving as Rosh Yeshiva at Etz Chaim Yeshiva in Jerusalem, (Shach would later serve as the Rosh Yeshiva there as well). His uncle helped him and his family get immigration certificates and took them in after they arrived at his doorstep, destitute.

Several years after the re-establishment of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak, he was asked to be one of its deans. He served in that capacity until his passing. At this yeshiva, Shach taught thousands of students, some of whom eventually assumed prominent positions as roshei yeshiva and rabbis in both Israel and abroad.

Rabbinical career

Shach, was a revered spiritual mentor of more than 100,000 rigorously Orthodox Jews^[2], and was credited by many for promoting the concept of the "society of learners" in the post-war Haredi world. With his strong encouragement, the phenomenon of Haredi men studying in yeshivas and kollels full-time gained popularity. Although this type of setup had been comparatively rare in Europe before World War II, it became the norm in some Haredi communities in Israel and the United States, with the financial backing of Haredi communities, as well as subsidies to young families with many children from the Israeli government.

Approximately 200,000 people attended Shach's funeral.^[3]

Political life

Shach was a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah beginning the 1970s, having been appointed to that body by the Chazon Ish; during this time Shach is said to have noticed the second-class situation of Sephardim in Israel, including Haredi Sephardim, who at that time were without any real political representation and generally voted for the Likud or Agudat Israel. In an attempt to give the Sephardim more political influence, Shach is said to have been instrumental in the formation of the Sephardi Shas party, now under the sole spiritual leadership of his one time ally, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Shas ran for the 11th Knesset in 1984, and Shach called upon his "Lithuanian" followers to vote for it in the polls, a move that many saw as key political and religious move in Shach's split with Agudat Israel. While initially Shas was largely under the aegis of Shach, Yosef gradually exerted control over the party, culminating in Shas' decision to support the Labor party in the 13th Knesset in 1992, something both Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel opposed.

On the eve of the November 1988 election, Shach officially broke away from Agudat Israel in protest at Hamodia publishing, as paid advertisements, a series of articles based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Shach criticized Schneerson for his presumed messianic aspirations. Shach wanted the Aguda party to oppose Lubavitch, however all but one of the Hasidic sects within the party refused to back him. Shach and his followers then formed the Degel HaTorah ("Flag of Torah") party to represent the non-Hasidic Ashkenazi Haredim. Schneerson mobilized his followers to support the Agudat Israel party, and his efforts were largely responsible for Aguda's success at the polls. Aguda secured nearly three times the amount of votes it had in 1984, and increased its Knesset representation from two seats to five. Degel HaTorah won two seats.^[4] After the bitter contest in the 1988 elections, Degel HaTorah agreed in the 1992 elections to work together with Agudat Israel under the name of United Torah Judaism, an agreement which has continued until the present.

Around 1995 Shach's political involvement diminished, following deterioration in his health, before later ceasing altogether. Since then, the two main leaders of the party have been Rabbis Elyashiv and Aryeh Leib Shteinman, of whom Elyashiv is more prominent.

Shach was deeply opposed to Zionism, both religious and secular. He was fiercely dismissive of secular Israelis and their culture. For example, during a 1990 speech he lambasted kibbutzniks as "breeders of rabbits and pigs" who did not "know what Yom Kippur is". In the same speech he said that the Labor Party had cut themselves off from their Jewish past and wished to "seek a new Torah". Shach never seemed concerned over the discord his harsh statements might cause, saying that "There is no need to worry about machlokes...one is obligated to be a baal-machlokes. It is no feat to be in agreement with everybody!"^[5] Shach was also critical of democracy, once referring to it as a "cancer", adding that "only the sacred Torah is the true democracy."^[6]

However, on diplomatic issues many considered Shach relatively moderate compared to other rabbinical authorities. Shach supported the withdrawal from land, under the Halakhic principle of Pikuach Nefesh ("the saving of a life"), in which the preservation of lives takes precedence over nearly all other obligations in the Torah, including those pertaining to the sanctity of land. Shach criticized Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (at that time mainly settled by secular and Religious Zionist Jews) as "a blatant attempt to provoke the international community", and called on Haredim to avoid moving to such communities.

After Shach's death, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon noted appreciation for his work. "There is no doubt that we have lost an important person who made his mark over many years. I express condolences on behalf of all of us; we share in the mourning and sorrow of his family and the haredi community."^[7]

When a delegation of rabbis, headed by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, begged him to travel to the United States to collect money for Chinuch Atzmai, he promised to think about it. They promised that he could return after three days at most, so as not to cause much bitul Torah. A short while later, Shach phoned Feinstein and told him that despite his desire to help the campaign, he would not be able to make the trip. “When I arrive in America, a large crowd will be waiting for me. I won’t be able to tolerate that honor,” he explained his refusal to go. “Every person has to make his utmost effort to help, but the honor that they accord me will be beyond what I can tolerate.” ^[8]

Opposition to the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Shach launched a number of public attacks against the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, from the 1970s through Schneerson's death in 1994.^[9] He accused Schneerson's followers of false Messianism, and Schneerson of fomenting a cult of crypto-messianism around himself.^[10] He objected to Schneerson's call for "demanding" the Messiah's appearance, despite Schneerson having cited Rabbinical precedent for this, including that of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (the Chofetz Chaim), one of the most important figures of the 20th century Torah world.^[11] When some of Schneerson's followers identified him as possibly being the Messiah, Shach called for a complete boycott of Chabad, its institutions and projects by its constituents;^[12], though there is no evidence of this campaign having any effect on Chabad or its members. In 1988 Shach explicitly denounced Schneerson as a meshiach sheker (false messiah).^[13] a call in which Shach, again, was not joined by any other Orthodox leaders. Shach also compared Chabad and Schneerson to the followers of the 17th century false messiah Sabbatai Zevi.^[14]

Pointing to a statement by Schneerson that a rebbe is "the Essence and Being [of G-d] placed into a body",^[15] Shach described this as nothing short of idolatry.^[16] His followers refused to eat meat slaughtered by Lubavitch shochetim or to recognize Chabad Hasidim as adherents of authentic Judaism.^[17]

Shach once described Schneerson as "the madman who sits in New York and drives the whole world crazy."^[18].

In addition to Shach's objections to certain Chabad members proclaiming Schneerson to be the Messiah, he also argued against the Chabad position on many other issues. In the early 1980s, Shach, together with Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the "Steipler")^[19],issued proclamations strongly condemning the Lag BaOmer parades that Chabad has been holding around the world since the 1940s. Chabad strongly opposed both peace talks with the Palestinians and relinquishing territory to them under any circumstances, while Shach supported the land-for-peace approach. During the 1988 elections, Schneerson endorsed Agudat Israel over Shach's newly-formed Degel HaTorah party, and instructed Israeli Chabad to campaign for it. In the resulting shake-up, Shachs Degel HaTorah posted very weak results, with both the Agudat Israel and Shas parties each garnering approximately three times as many votes as Degel HaTorah. This was the worst showing of any religious party in Israels 1988 election. ^[20] Despite the refusal of other religious groups to join, Shach's war against Chabad/Lubavitch and its leader was unrelenting. He is quoted as saying, "Even if I knew for certain that they would burn me alive, I would still not desist in my campaign against false messianism, for this is bona fide avodoh zorah."^[21]

Shach is quoted as saying: "I have heard claims made in my name that at a gathering connected with the upcoming elections, I said the people of Chabad are not Jews. I publicly announce that in malice do they distort my words! I spoke in Hebrew, and this is what I said: what they [Chabad] do is not the "Jewish" way. They distorted my words on purpose to damage and libel me for they think that from this they will derive some benefit and gather more votes in these elections. And when they claimed that I called them the children of an impure woman, I testify before heaven and earth that I never said words such as these but only criticized their effort to build a ritual bath that was not in line with the standards of the Chazon Ish,^[22] may the memory of this righteous man be a blessing... I do not forgive anyone who fabricates words on his own and then says that I said them. And with this I request that each and every one will pass these words to his fellow."^[23]

Despite Shach's opposition to Schneersohn he is reported to have nevertheless recited Tehillim when Schneerson fell ill. Shach explained “My battle is against his erroneous approach, against the movement, but not against the people in any personal way. I pray for the Rebbe’s recovery and simultaneously, also pray that he abandon his invalid way.”^[21]

Rabbi Elya Svei, one of the rosh yeshivas of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, said in his eulogy for Shach that "Another area in which Rav Shach took the sole initiative and responsibility was in the less than popular task of protesting Messianic proclivities within Lubavitch. Rav Shach assumed the responsibility of decrying this perversion. Rav Shach started to fight this battle alone. He illuminated the truth so that others could also see the posed threat and follow his lead."^[24]

Opposition to other Orthodox Rabbis and Groups

In addition to his criticism of Schneerson, Shach was critical of the following Rabbis:

In a lengthy attack on Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Shach accused him of writing heresy and things "that are forbidden to hear", and "...endangering the survival of Torah-true Judaism by indoctrinating the masses with heresy".^[25]

Rav Adin Steinsaltz (Even-Yisrael), was likewise accused of heresy by Shach, who, in a letter written two days before Rosh HaShana 5749, wrote that "…and similarly all his other works contain heresy. It is forbidden to debate with Steinsaltz, because, as a heretic, all the debates will only cause him to degenerate more. He is not a genuine person (ein tocho ke-baro) and everyone is obliged to distance themselves from him. This is the duty of the hour (mitzvah be-sha’atah). It will generate merit for the forthcoming Day of Judgement."^[26]

Many other prominent rabbis agreed with Shach that Steinsaltz's works contain unacceptable ideas, including Rabbis Chaim Kanievsky, Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, Nissim Karelitz, Aharon Leib Shteinman, Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, Chaim Kreiswirth, Eliezer Waldenberg, Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, Shmuel Wosner, and Meir Brandsdorfer.^[27]

He was also critical of Rabbi Yehuda (Leo) Levi and various others.^[28]

In a conversation that he had with an American rabbi in the 1980s, Shach stated, "The Americans think that I am too controversial and divisive. But in a time when no one else is willing to speak up on behalf of our true tradition, I feel myself impelled to do so."^[12]

Position regarding Hassidim and Hassidut in general

Shach wrote^[29] that he was not at all opposed to chassidim and chassidus (including Chassidus Chabad from the previous generations^[30]); he said he recognized them as "yera'im" and "shlaymim" (God-fearing and wholesome) and full of Torah and Mitzvos and fear of heaven.^[31] Shach often said and wrote that the slander spread against him about his persecution of chassidim was something he could never forgive, for it had transformed him into a baal machlokes, a disputant, at a time when he loved peace and pursued it to the nth degree.^[21] He is quoted as saying, "We are fighting against secularism in the yeshivas. Today, with Heaven's help, people are learning Torah in both Chassidic and Lithuanian yeshivos. In my view there is no difference between them; all of them are important and dear to me. In fact, go ahead and ask your Chassidic friends with us at Ponevezh if I distinguish between Chassidic and Lithuanian bochurim."^[32] In a letter which was printed together with his responsa and essays, he writes, "G-d forbid that it be said that there exists a controversy between misnagdim and chassidim. This is pure intentional maligning and hatemongering . . . a reprehensible sin, which cannot be pardoned. I do not forgive this libel, and all the students who studied with us can testify that we never differentiated or discriminated between chassidic students and yeshivish ones. Each one respects the other." ^[33]

Rabbi Shach always showed great respect toward Chassidic bochurim who studied well.^[34]

Support from Litvishe Haredi leaders

In 1982, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman, and others signed a document which protested the slander being spread about Rabbi Shach. The document protested "the slander and vituperation [being leveled] against one of the greatest of our generation's gedolim, the elder of the roshei hayeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, who raises the banner of daas Torah high and expresses the Torah's views on every matter relating to Klal Yisroel."^[35]

In 1982 when the honor and standing of Rabbi Shach were challenged by various segments of the Orthodox press, Rabbi Elya Svei led the protest for his honor. In a rousing address to the thousands of bnei Torah attending a rally to this end, Svei explained that “the nikleh, the boor, fails to distinguish between weighty matters and insignificant ones; to him all is kal, of little importance. The nichbad, the honorable man, is one who finds gravity, kveidus, in everything because every gesture carries potential for kovod shamayim.”^[36]

Another document ^[37] supporting Rabbi Shach, written in 1989, was signed by many American Haredi leaders, including Rabbis Avraham Yaakov Pam, Mordechai Gifter, Shmuel Kamenetsky, Elya Svei, Aharon Schechter, Yaakov Weinberg, Henoch Leibowitz, Reuven Feinstein, Malkiel Kotler, Zelik Epstein, and Chaim Dov Keller.

Whenever it would come to signing a public proclamation or letter on behalf of Klal Yisrael, the Steipler insisted that Shach's signature appear before his. It was not uncommon for the Steipler to come to Shach unannounced in order to consult with him on a matter of vital concern for the Jewish people.^[38] Rabbi Shlesinger, son-in-law of Rabbi Shlomo Lorenzc, lived in Bnei Brak and served as an emissary between Shach and the Steipler. On many occasions, when Rabbi Shlesinger would bring the Steipler documents and letters from Rabbi Shach to sign, the Steipler would sign them without even reading them.^[39] The Steipler constantly said that since Shach did not move daled amos without Torah, the Ribono shel Olam gave him the ability to pasken in every aspect of this generation’s needs.^[40]

Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum had wanted so much l’achar mei’ah v’esrim shanah to speak in learning with Shach, zt’l, and Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt’l. But he was concerned that since they were tremendous tzadikim and had suffered greatly, he would not be put within their sphere in Shamayim. He felt he needed yesurim to reach their madreigah.^[41]

Rabbi Noach Weinberg had an extraordinarily close relationship with Rabbi Shach, which often brought him to Rabbi Shach's door.^[42]

Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein once called Rabbi Shach the "greatest ba'al chessed of our generation" ^[43]

• "Rabbi Shach is the Gadol Hador.” ^[44] - Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky

• "It is difficult to give expression in just a few words to the great loss to Klal Yisroel with the passing of the unique one in his generation, HaRav Eliezer Menachem Man Shach ztllh"h, but we should draw attention to a special point about him: in addition to his holy labor in disseminating Torah he took upon himself the yoke of leading the whole generation. The yeshivas have indeed lost a rosh yeshiva who guided them in the paths of Torah and yiras Hashem and Klal Yisroel has lost its leader. Everybody knew already during his lifetime that he was carrying the burden of the generation [on his shoulders]. Everyone remembers how HaRav Shach ztllh"h fought for the preservation of religion and acted on his own with mesirus nefesh, and Hashem granted him success in putting religion on its proper foundations. His whole leadership ability stemmed from his omol and yegias haTorah. . . He merited a lot of things by virtue of the 48 ways of acquiring Torah and by his omol haTorah." ^[45] - Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eliashiv

• The Brisker Rav, Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik once mentioned to a close student that since his father, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, died, he had no one with whom to “talk in learning” until he met Rabbi Shach.^[44] In his approbation to Avi Ezri, Shach's work on the Rambam, he wrote, "The gaon Rav Elozor Menachem, shlita, does not need any haskomoh from anyone, for he is a very great man and his power in Torah is great, [together] with acuity, thorough knowledge and a profound understanding of the pshat, on the level of the gedolim of our generation."

• "Ha’emes ahuv etzlo, Truth is precious to him"^[44] - The Chazon Ish, Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz

• ". . .since my relative, the Gaon Rav Eliezer Shach shlita joined the yeshiva as a maggid shiur, and I have it on reliable information from members of that Yeshiva that the learning is on a superior level especially now that my above relative has been accepted there, for he is great in Torah and influencing others in Torah "^[46] - Rabbi Aron Kotler in a letter to Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzensky

• "Rav Shach shmekt ois. Rav Shach can sense a dangerous situation much quicker than I can."^[47]- Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld

• "You should ask HaRav Shach. His guiding, primary axiom is daas Torah."^[48] "Yad, yad, peh, peh. His hand is my hand and his mouth is my mouth. Whatever he says or writes is as if it were coming from me." ^[49] "I do not know how HaRav Shach studies. But one thing I am sure of: his initial impression is the psak halocho. He does not have to look it up in any sefer, just ask him the question and the first thing he tells you is the psak halocho." ^[50] - the Steipler, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky

• "If you would cut his veins, you would not see blood flowing; you would see Rashbas and Rebbi Akiva Eigers!"^[49] "His limud is my amulet." ^[51]- Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer

• "If Maran R' Shach is willing to join, he is no lesser versed in halochoh than in the chidushei Torah upon which he expounds in his yeshiva. He is a gaon beyond compare, and if he takes it upon himself to deal in halochoh, he will be the greatest of poskim."^[52] - Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach

• "I bear full witness that the Rosh Yeshiva was an averred hater of controversy and dissension; he despised it. One cannot describe to what extent it was abhorrent to him. He was an extreme pursuer of truth but without allowing any forgoing of kvod Shomayim in the least. He would not permit any leniency on fundamental, ideological issues of Torah and Yiddishkeit; these were things relegated to a trustworthy heart . . . Maran said to me, `This can I testify before the Heavenly Court: I dealt with communal matters with honesty and trustworthiness.' "^[33] "My father and rebbi zt"l [Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach] said Am Yisroel has not had such a leader for many generations, and I heard the same thing said by Rabban Shel Kol Bnei HaGoloh Maran HaRav Elyashiv shlita [Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv]. I heard this from both of them on several occasions. . . Once somebody asked avi mori gaon Yisroel [Rabbi S.Z. Auerbach] regarding a certain directive Rabbeinu Hagadol zt"l had issued. My father got very angry and told him that despite everything we know about Maran and his achievements and the strength of his decisions and approach, more of him remains hidden than revealed, and he is considered a tzaddik nistar. - ^[53] Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach

• "If someone takes the burden of the klal upon himself, it stems from concern for each and every individual. We find this with the gedolim. . . This means that although the foundation of our life and vitality is certainly limud hatorah, where there is no one to make the dejected happy, the Torah itself obligates those who study it to go and cheer them up. The Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh, Rav Shach zt"l, personified this. He was the father for individuals and therefore carried the burden of the klal." ^[54] - Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Shapiro

• "He had pure daas Torah. . . When a person is the embodiment of Torah and his whole being is immersed in Torah and he is totally removed from the matters of this world, and without any personal negios, and he has unlimited devotion to his fellow man, then he necessarily has daas Torah and is protected by Hakodosh Boruch Hu from failure. Such is the siyata deShmaya of a leader of Klal Yisroel, and such was the Rosh Yeshiva zt"l."^[45] - Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz

• "His opinions and rulings were certainly literally daas Torah. . . Anyone who knew Rav Shach saw his gutkeit and his feinkeit. . . The Rosh Yeshiva was a combination of genius in knowledge and understanding of Torah, immense toiling in Torah, good middos and intelligence. He also had incredible mesirus nefesh. . ."^[45] - Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman

• "The essence of this rally is not only in the words of chizuk we have heard this evening; it is truly an assembly of Torah, and how much more so, since we have merited hearing daas Torah and pure hashkafah from Maran, the rosh yeshiva, may Hashem lengthen his days and years until the coming of the Redeemer, and grant us the privelege of hearing the voice of Hashem on high for many more years."^[55] - Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe, speaking at the Degel HaTorah convention at Yad Eliyahu Arena on March 26, 1990

Family

Shach had three children, all born in Kletsk in the 1920s: Miriam Raisel, Devorah, and Ephraim. Miriam Raisel died as a teenager in 1939 of pneumonia. Devorah married Rabbi Meir Tzvi Bergman, a Torah scholar in Israel, and had several children. Ephraim was unsatisfied with the Haredi lifestyle^{[citation needed]} and eventually became a member of the Religious Zionist camp. He served in the Israel Defense Forces, received a doctorate in history and philosophy, and presently works as a supervisor for the Israel Ministry of Education.

Rebbetzin Guttel Schach died in 1969 from complications relating to diabetes.

Quotes

• "I remember how I was educated in my parents' home: when my yarmulke fell off my head, I was taught that you had to cry from distress. They were guided by a concern for the punctilious observance of mitzvos. Once I woke up after the zman Krias Shema according to the Magen Avraham and I burst out crying and continued to cry about it all day long." ^[46]

• "If one man can kill six million Jews, one man can save six million Jews." - Speaking at Yeshivat Aish HaTorah in 1977^[56]

Correspondence with other gedolim

• Letter to R' Shach from the Chazon Ish, Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, regarding Torah discussion which R' Shach wrote in Knesses Yisroel publication ^[57]
• Letters from R' Shach to Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski regarding various Torah subjects ^[58]
• Correspondnce between R' Shach and Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer regarding various Torah subjects ^[59]
• Correspondnce between R' Shach and Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner regarding various Torah subjects ^[60]
• Correspondnce between R' Shach and Rabbi Mordechai Gifter regarding various Torah subjects ^[61]
• Letter from R' Shach to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, and Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum ^[62]
• Letters from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein to R' Shach ^[63]

Bibliography

• Avi Ezri - Commentary on Yad ha-Chazaka of Rambam
• Yigias Erev - Lectures (from later years) on various masechtos
• Bais Hamedrash - Lectures given in Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak
• Gilyonos Minchas Chinuch - Comments on Minchat Chinuch
• Mishnas Rabbeinu - Compilation of letters which include insights on various masechtos
• Shiurei Rabbeinu Avi Ezri - Lectures on various mashectos
• Kovetz Hadrachah L'ben Yeshiva - Guidance to yeshiva students
• Sefer Hagilyonos - Comments on various sefarim
• Michavim U'maamarim - Six volumes of letters and articles
• B'zos Ani Boteach
• Hee Sichasi - Talks from later years
• Machsheves Zikainim - Talks said at various times
• Machsheves Mussar - Compilation of mussar talks
• Shimusha shel Torah - By Rabbi Asher Bergman. Two volumes. Volume 1 is Rabbi Shach's memories of various gedolim. Volume 2 is about Rabbi Shach.
• M'rosh Emanah - Thoughts on the weekly Torah portion
• Torascha Shashuai - Thoughts on the weekly Torah portion
• Hamelech Hamishpat - Talks for Elul and Yamim Noraim
• Orchos Hayeshiva - By Rabbi Asher Bergman - A collection of maamarim, sichot and stories from Rabbi shach. On limudei torah and yirat shumayim and hashkafah for bnei yeshivah
• P'neenai Rabbeinu Ha'Avi Ezri - By Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Shulsinger
• Lulei Toratcha - Stories from the life of Rabbi Shach, as it is related to the weekly Torah portion - Published by Ohr HaSefer
• Haggadah - Rabbi Elazar Menachem Shach - A Pesach Haggadah interwoven with fascinating stories related to Rabbi Shach - Published by Hotzaat Tvunah
• Yeshurun - Volumes 11-12 (In memory of Rabbi Shach) - Contains many Torah discussions from Rabbi Shach

Biographies and stories:

• The Man of Vision: The Ultra-Orthodox Ideology of Rabbi Shach (Ish Ha-Hashkafah: Ha-Ideologia Ha-Haredit al pi HaRav Shach), by Avishay Ben Haim, Mosaica Publishers
• Manhig Shel Dor - Published by Ohr HaSefer
• Maran Rosh Hayeshiva Rav Shach - by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Stern. The first comprehensive biographical sketch to appear in Hebrew after the demise of Rabbi Shach - Published by Israel Book Shop
• Maran Horav Shach - by Rabbi Asher Bergman
• B'Mechitzasam Shel Gedolei HaTorah #1 - By Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz

English Books:

• Path to Greatness - The Life of Maran Harav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, Vol I: Vaboilnik to Bnei Brak (1899-1953) - By Rabbi Asher Bergman. Translated by Yocheved Lavon. Published by Feldheim Publishers, 2009. 634 pages. - ISBN 978-1-59826-440-1
• HaRav Schach: Conversations : Stories to Inspire the Yeshiva World - By Elazar Menachem Man Shakh, Asher Bergman, Yaakov Blinder - Published by Feldheim Publishers, 2004 - ISBN 9781583306710 ISBN 1583306714 ^[64]
• The Rav Shach Haggadah - adapted by Yaakov Blinder from the Hebrew Haggadah Kinyan Torah ; compiled by Asher Bergman in association with Shalom Meir Wallach- Published by ArtScroll / Mesorah, 2003 - ISBN 1578-19737-6 ISBN 978-1578-19737-8
• In Their Shadow: Wisdom and Guidance of the Gedolim Volume One: Chazon Ish, Brisker Rav, Rav Shach [Translated from the Hebrew title B'Mechitzasam Shel Gedolei Hador #1]- By Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz - Published by Feldheim - ISBN 978-1-59826-207-0
• The Rosh Yeshiva Remembers - Stories that inspire the yeshiva world, as retold by Rabbi Eliezer Menachem Man Shach, shlita - [Translated from Vol. 1 of Shimusha shel Torah] By Rabbi Asher Bergman - translated from the Hebrew by Dovid Oratz - Published by Mesorah Publications 2004 - ISBN 1578194598 ISBN 9781578194599
• Rav Shach on Chumash - an anthology collected from his disciples and those close to him - By Rabbi Asher Bergman - Published by Mesorah Publications - ISBN 1578193613 ISBN 781578193615
• Rav Shach Speaks - Published by Israel Book Shop - A collection of the letters, speeches and writings of Maran HaRav Shach - By Rabbi Asher Bergman, Bnei Brak, Israel 1999. Translated by Gavriel Rubin ; edited for context by Dov B. Lederman ; final editing by M. Rosenzweig.

• Torah Leaders - By The Jewish Observer Mesorah Publications - ISBN 1-57819-773-2

References

• Rabbi Shach and Lithuanian Anti-Zionism (E.Segal)
• From child genius to ultra-Orthodox leader, 1898-2001, by Shahar Ilan, Haaretz, 2001.

External links

Obituaries:

• Obituary, by Lawrence Joffe, The Guardian
• Obituary by Joel Greenberg, The New York Times
• Obituary in Telegraph
• Obituary in the Jewish Press

Eulogies and Articles about Rabbi Shach:

• [1] from Rav Dayan Binyamin Beeri of Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh
• Eulogy written by Shlomo Katz
• Biography from Yated Ne'eman
• Brief biography about Rabbi Shach
• The Roots of the Greatness of Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach His Share in Torah, His Dedication to Truth by Rabbi Yisroel Friedman
• It Was Torah by Rabbi Avi Shafran
• Article about Rabbi Shach by Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky [Printed in Jewish Observer]
• Article about Rabbi Shach by Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky [Printed in Yated Neeman]
• (Hebrew) Interview with Dr. Ephraim Shach about his father, Rabbi Elazar Shach
• Tzava'a of Rabbi Shach (in Hebrew)
• Eulogy for Rabbi Shach given by Rabbi Elya Svei
• Eulogy for Rabbi Shach given by Rabbi Meir Tzvi Bergman
• Article about Rabbi Shach from Jerusalem Post
• A Sketch of the Ponevezher Rosh Yeshiva by Rabbi Dovid Zaritsky
• Rabbi Shach's Battle Against False Messianism by Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz
• Real Jewish power: Another Vision of Leadership by Jonathan Rosenblum
• We Have Lost a Father by Jonathan Rosenblum
• Memories of HaRav Shach, zt"l - Chapter 20 - Memoirs of Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz
• Memories of HaRav Shach, zt"l - Chapter 24 - Memoirs of Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz
• Memories of HaRav Shach, zt"l - Chapter 25 - Memoirs of Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz
• We Will Run After You - HaRav Shach's Early Communal Leadership by Yisroel Spiegel
• A Chassidishe Askan's View of HaRav Shach, zt"l by Rabbi Mordechai Friedman
• Thousands Visit Final Resting Place of HaRav Shach, ztvk"l to Mark Sheloshim by A. Cohen
• Talking About Maran HaRav Shach ztvk"l
• Le'Oro Neileich - Stories about HaRav Shach
• [http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5762/BO62orvschrfrdmn.htm The Luchos and the Broken Luchos are in The Oron -- Part 1:
• South African Jews Mourn Passing Of HaRav Shach by D. Saks
• Rabbeinu Hagodol Ztvk'l By Nosson Zeev Grossma
• The OU Mourns the Passing of Rabbi Schach
• Stories and Anecdotes Extracted from Sorosecho Sha'ashu'oi: Stories of our Great Teacher the Rosh Yeshiva, ztvk'l Arranged According to the Weekly Parsha by Rabbi O. Bergman
• A Single Mussar Thought: HaRav Moshe Aharon Braverman Shares Memories Of His Fifty Year Association With HaRav Shach zt'l As Told to Dov Partzowitz
• Lebenslied -- the Lifesong of Maran, ztvk'l by HaRav Yehudah Dvir
• Prince of Torah: Rav Shach and Limud Hatorah - An interview with Rav Shmuel Deutsch by Arye Gefen
• If One Would Give all his Wealth for the Love that Maran zt"l Loved the Torah, they would not Believe It by HaRav Meir Heisler, transcribed by Rafael Berlson
• The Torchbearer And His Amulet: The Relationship Between Reb Isser Zalman zt'l and HaRav Shach zt'l
• Sparks of Greatness: Maran Rosh Hayeshiva -- HaGaon R' Elozor Menachem Man Shach, ztvk"l To mark the end of the sheloshim
• HaRav Shach Zt'l, Founder And Mentor Of Yated Ne'eman by Rabbi Nosson Zeev Grossman
• Rabban Shel Yisroel zt"l by Yisroel Friedman
• Overflow Crowd in Lakewood at Hesped For HaRav Shach zt'l by Moshe Rockove

Audio:

• Several Eulogies and rememberances of Rabbi Shach
• Speeches of Rav Shach in Yiddish
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Pesachim
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Yevamos
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Kesubos
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Nedarim
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Gittin
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Kiddushin
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Bava Kamma
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Bava Metziah
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Bava Basra
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Yesh Nochalin
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Sanhedrin
• Shiurim of Rav Shach on Makkos
• Rabbi Hanoch Teller discussing the life of Rabbi Shach: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
• Eulogy on Rabbi Shach by Rabbi Aharon Kahn of Yeshiva University
• Rav Shach Returned the Pride of the Sefardim from Aryeh Deri

Videos:

• Video of Rabbi Shach speaking at Degel Hatorah convention at Binyanei HaUma.
• Video of Rabbi Shach speaking at Degel HaTorah convention (Starts at 17 minutes into video) at Yad Eliyahu Arena on March 26, 1990.

Misc.:

• Teachings of Rabbi Shach (in Hebrew)
• A Rosh Hashana Message from Rav Shach, the Steipler, and Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, zt"l
• Steadfast Faith Vs. Temptation by Maran HaRav Elozor Menachem Man Shach, zt"l
• Practices and Guidelines of HaRav Shach in Yeshiva- Related Matters by Rabbi Gershon Eidelstein
• To Cry Out and Plead for Mercy from Hashem, But to Understand That This is Not All! Maran HaGaon R' Shach, zt'l in words of chizuk concerning the people's needs in times of trouble
• Fear of Heavenly Judgment by Maran HaRav Elozor Menachem Man Shach zt"l
• We have to Recognize and Acknowledge what America has Done for Us by Maran HaRav Shach, zt"l
• If there is the slightest deviation, our behavior is no longer in accordance with the Torah altogether by Rabbi Shach
• Each Day Like New by Maran Rosh Hayeshiva HaRav Eliezer Menachem Shach shlita
• For the Rosh Yeshiva, Bais Yaakov was a Complete Shulchan Oruch in its Own Right by Yated Ne'eman Staff
• Shearis Yisroel: A Tribute to the Memory of HaRav Shach zt"l by Yated Ne'eman Staff
• The Day the Lion's Roar Terrified the Land - Part 1 By B. Levy
• The Day the Lion's Roar Terrified the Land - Part 2 By B. Levy

Pictures

• Pictures of Rabbi Shach