Rav Shimshon of Ostropoli

Early years

Rav Shimshon of Ostropoli zy"a was born around the year 1600 in Koretz, in Volhynia, then part of Poland and today in Ukraine. His father was Rav Pesach, son-in-law of Rav Shimshon of Kremnitz, and Rav Shimshon was named for this grandfather. Rav Shimshon of Kremnitz was a son of Rav Betzalel Liva and one of four brothers who were all gedolei hador, the best known of whom was the Maharal of Prague.

As a boy he began learning Torah under his father. It is thought that he also learned under Rav Nosson Nota of Austra, author of Tzon Kodoshim on Seder Kodshim. He entered the study of the hidden parts of Torah while still young. He himself wrote that he began learning Kabbalah at an early age and toiled immensely to master that wisdom, and he grew into one of the foremost mekubalim of his time.

Torah and leadership

Ostropoli, a town in the plains of Ukraine, became his home when he was appointed its Maggid (preacher), and he was fondly known as Rav Shimshon Maggid. He also headed a yeshivah there, where he taught his talmidim both the revealed and the hidden parts of Torah. Some of his divrei Torah that are printed today come from the notes of those talmidim.

His greatness in both parts of Torah, together with his holiness and brilliant mind, spread his fame across Europe. The gedolim of his time testified that he learned with Eliyahu HaNavi and received many revelations of the secrets of Torah from him. He also learned with malachim and maggidim, who taught him many secrets, and some gedolim wrote of him, "All of his words are prophecy." Secrets of the Torah were also revealed to him in dreams. In one place he writes that Rav Nosson Nota of Krakow, the Megaleh Amukos, appeared to him in a dream and explained a difficult passage in the liturgy.

Rav Nosson Nota Hanover, who lived through those years, records that a maggid visited Rav Shimshon daily to study the hidden Torah together. Rav Shimshon composed a commentary on the Zohar following the teachings of the Arizal, though it was never printed. He signed his writings with the name Dan, since he held that his soul stemmed from Dan, son of Yaakov Avinu, and Shimshon HaGibor, whose name he bore, was of that tribe. The secrets of Kabbalah were so sacred to him that he feared to reveal them, and his writings often plead with Hashem for pardon in case he disclosed something he had no permission to disclose.

Teachings and seforim

Dan Yadin, printed in Zolkiev in 1709, is Rav Shimshon's commentary on Sefer HaKarnayim, a profound work of Kabbalah authored by Rav Yitzchok, son of the Rabad, though some attribute it to Rav Aharon of Kardina. His commentary on the Zohar, Machaneh Dan, remains unprinted. Rav Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, author of Bnei Yissoschor, promised his whole library to whoever could locate a copy for him. A copy was found, but only shortly after Rav Tzvi Elimelech had passed away.

His best-known writing is a kabbalistic piece on the ten makkos, meant for Pesach. It assures those who recite it on Seder night of protection throughout the year, and some Haggados include it. Equally well known is his writing on the forty-two masoyos, the stops along the road from Egypt to Eretz Yisroel, which is likewise considered a segulah. The sefer Nitzotzei Shimshon preserves some of his Torah discourses and thoughts.

Later years and passing

In the years leading up to the decrees of Tach veTat (5408-5409; 1648-1649), the Chmielnicki massacres that killed 100,000 Jews in Poland, the maggid warned Rav Shimshon of what was coming. Only a great return to Hashem could avert the calamity. Every community repented, but the decrees had already been sealed.

In Eitz Chaim, the Ramchal records that Rav Shimshon put the Sitra Achra under oath concerning the decrees. It replied that they would be lifted only if Shabbos, bris milah and the Torah were annulled. Rav Shimshon answered that not a single letter of the Torah would be annulled. This parallels the era of Rebbi Akiva, when the Roman government likewise decreed against Torah, Shabbos and milah, and Jews gave their lives al Kiddush Hashem.

On the 3rd of Av 5408 (1648), the Cossacks and Tartars conquered the fortified city of Polnoa, aided by the Ukrainian guards who were supposed to protect the cities from invaders. Many Jews had fled to Polnoa to seek shelter within its walls, and Rav Nosson Nota Hanover testifies that Rav Shimshon was there. The attackers headed straight for the shul, where Rav Shimshon was davening with three hundred followers, all said to be great chachomim. They were wrapped in talleisim and dressed in shrouds, and they were killed al Kiddush Hashem in the middle of davening. Rav Shimshon lived about forty-eight years.

A matzeivah stands in the center of Ostropoli, and it seems that his coffin was brought there once calm returned to the area.

Legacy

The Chozeh of Lublin writes that Rav Shimshon was Moshiach ben Yosef, and that this is why he was killed, as is destined to happen to Moshiach ben Yosef. He adds that because Moshiach ben Yosef was killed in the person of Rav Shimshon, this misfortune will not repeat itself when Moshiach finally comes. His words are quoted by Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin and the Damesek Eliezer of Komarna. Chassidim relate that it was known even during his lifetime that Rav Shimshon carried the neshamah of Moshiach ben Yosef, if only his generation had merited it.

Many of his descendants became great rabbonim. Among them are Rav Yoel Baal Shem of Zamotch, Rav Leiber HaGodol of Berditchev, Rav Yaakov Yosef of Polnoa, one of the greatest talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov, Rav Yaakov Shimshon of Shpotivka, Rav Meshulam Deivish Heller of Zbarish, and Rav Shlomo Eliyashiv, the Leshem, who was the grandfather of Rav Eliyashiv.