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Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach (Template:Lang-he) (or Rav Leizer Shach, at times his name is written as Eliezer Schach in English publications) (January 22, 1898 - November 2, 2001), was a leading Eastern European-born and educated Haredi rabbi who settled and lived in modern Israel.

He was the rosh yeshiva ("dean") of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak the pre-eminent yeshiva of Lithuanian Jewry, and 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 (" master") when referring to him.

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

Life in Europe

Rav 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. Rav Shach soon became one of Rav Meltzer's favorite pupils, beginning a lifelong relationship of friendship and respect.

When World War I began in 1914, many of the Slabodka yeshiva students scattered across Europe. Rav Shach initially returned to his family but then began traveling across Lithuania from town to town, sleeping and eating wherever he could and studying with tremendous diligence in local synagogues, continuing to study Torah "as if there were no war" . After the war Rav 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).

Rav Meltzer became both a father figure and patron to the young Shach, even arranging his marriage with his niece, Guttel, in 1923. Rav Shach received rabbinical ordination from Rav 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 remained in the position until his passing. At this yeshiva, Shach taught many thousands of students, many of whom eventually assumed prominent positions as roshei yeshiva and rabbis.

Rabbinical career

Rav Shach was credited by many for helping revolutionize the concept of the "society of learners" in the post-war Haredi world. Under his leadership, the phenomenon of Haredi men studying in yeshivas and kollels full-time, something that had been comparatively rare in Europe before World War II, became the standard in many Haredi communities in Israel, with the financial backing of Haredi communities and subsidies to young families with many children from the Israeli government. He has thousands of students occupying prominent positions in the Rabbinate, both in the United States and abroad. His works on the Mishneh Torah are regarded as classics.

Political life

Rav Shach was an unwilling member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah beginning the 1970s, having been appointed to that body by the Chazon Ish, during which time he began to take special notice of 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 encouraged and guided the formation of the Sephardi Shas party, under the spiritual leadership of his 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 — who capitalized on his influence with the Sephardic party in order to pressure Agudat Israel — Yosef gradually exerted control over the party and moved it away from Shach, culminating with Shas' decision to support the Labor party in the 13th Knesset in 1992, something both Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel opposed.

In 1988, Shach officially broke away from Agudat Israel and formed the Degel HaTorah ("Flag of Torah") party to represent the non-Hasidic Ashkenazi Haredim. After a 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 slowed down, following deterioration in his health, and ceased altogether afterward. Since then the two main leaders of the party are Rabbis Elyashiv and Shteinman, of which Elyashiv is more dominant.

Rav Shach was deeply opposed to Zionism, both religious and secular. He was fiercely dismissive of secular Israeli culture. For example, during a 1990 speech he stated 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 was also critical of democracy, once referring to it "cancer", adding that "only the sacred Torah is the true democracy."

However, on diplomatic issues many considered Shach comparatively moderate to other rabbinical authorities. Shach quickly realized the tangible political benefits that Haredi society could reap if it cultivated relationships with both poles of the Israeli political spectrum, and also supported the withdrawal from land, in principle, under the Halakhic teaching 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 the passing of Rav Shach, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon noted the appreciation for the late Rabbi Shach's work over many years on behalf of the Torah world and all Jewish issues. "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."

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, Rav Shach phoned Rav 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.”

Opposition to the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Rav Shach was involved in a number of public disputes with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson the Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement from the 1970s through Rav Schneerson's death in 1994. Rav Shach accused his followers of false Messianism. Rav Shach accused Rav Schneerson of fomenting a cult of crypto-messianism around himself. He objected to Rav Schneerson's call for "forcing" the Messiah's appearance. When Rav Schneerson's followers identified him as possibly being the Messiah, Rav Shach called for a complete boycott of Chabad, its institutions and projects by its constituents. In 1988 Shach explicitly denounced Schneerson as a moshiach sheker (false messiah). Rav Shach also compared Chabad and Rav Schneerson to the followers of the 17th century false messiah Sabbatai Zevi.

Pointing to an assertion by the Rebbe in a passage dealing primarily with his predecessor that a Rebbe is ‘the Essence and Being placed into a body,’ Rav Schach described this as nothing short of idolatry. His followers refused to eat meat slaughtered by Lubavitch shochetim or to recognize Chabad Hasidim as adherents of authentic Judaism.

Rav Shach once described Rav Schneerson as "the madman who sits in New York and drives the whole world crazy.".

In addition to Rav Shach's objections to all Chabad members venerating Schneerson as the Messiah (both before and after his death), the two also disagreed on various issues of Jewish law and philosophy, but particularly politics. Chabad strongly opposed peace talks with the Palestinians or to relinquishing any Israeli territory under any circumstance, while Rav Shach alternately supported both left and right-wing parties in the Israeli elections. During the 1988 elections, Rav Schneerson endorsed Agudat Israel over Rav Shach's newly-formed Degel HaTorah party, and instructed Israeli Chabad to campaign for it.

Rav Shach 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."

Rabbi 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 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, 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."

Despite Rav Shach's opposition to Rav Schneersohn he nevertheless recited Tehillim when Rav Schneerson fell ill. Rav 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.”

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."

In a conversation that he had with an American rabbi in the 1980s, Rabbi 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."

Position regarding Hassidim and Hassidut in general

Rav Shach wrote that he was not at all opposed to chassidim and chassidus (including Chassidus Chabad from the previous generations); he said he recognized them as "yera'im" and "shlaymim" (God-fearing and wholesome) and full of Torah and Mitzvos and fear of heaven. Rav 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. 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." 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."

Rabbi Shach always showed great respect toward Chassidic bochurim who studied well.

Support from other Haredi leaders

In 1982, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman, and others signed a document which protested the slander being said about Rabbi Shach. The document protested "the slander and vituperation 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."

Another document 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 Rav Shach's signature appear before his. It was not uncommon for the Steipler to come to Rav Shach unannounced in order to consult with him on a matter of vital concern for the Jewish people. Rabbi Shlesinger, son-in-law of Rabbi Shlomo Lorenzc, lived in Bnei Brak and served as an emissary between Rav Schach and the Steipler. On many occasions, when Rabbi Shlesinger would bring the Steipler documents and letters from Rabbi Schach to sign, the Steipler would sign them without even reading them. The Steipler constantly said that since Rav Schach 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.

When Rabbi Schach was alive, few roshei yeshivot anywhere in the world would expel a student without consulting with Rabbi Schach and his investigating the matter.

Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum had wanted so much l’achar mei’ah v’esrim shanah to speak in learning with Rav 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.

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

• "Rabbi Shach is the Gadol Hador.” - 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 . 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." - 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. In his approbation to Avi Ezri, Rabbi Shach's work on the Rambam, the Brisker Rav 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, 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" - 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 " - 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."- Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld

• "You should ask HaRav Shach. His guiding, primary axiom is daas Torah." "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." "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." - the Steipler, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky

• "If you would cut his veins, you would not see blood flowing; you would see Rashbas and Rav Akiva Eigers!" "His limud is my amulet." - 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." - 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.' " "My father and rebbi zt"l 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 . I heard this from both of them on several occasions. . . Once somebody asked avi mori gaon Yisroel 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. - 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." - 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." - 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. . ." - Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman

Family

Rav 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 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."

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
• Letters from R' Shach to Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski regarding various Torah subjects
• Correspondnce between R' Shach and Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer regarding various Torah subjects
• Correspondnce between R' Shach and Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner regarding various Torah subjects
• Correspondnce between R' Shach and Rabbi Mordechai Gifter regarding various Torah subjects
• Letter from R' Shach to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, and Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum
• Letters from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein to R' Shach

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:

• 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
• 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 - 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 - 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

1. Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach ZT'L (Jewish Observer) February, 2002.
2. How do you like your halakha? (Haaretz) September 28, 2006.
3. http://www.israelemb.org/press/2001/November/2001110500.htm http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Archive/Cabinet/2001/11/Spokesman4356.htm
4. The Scepter of Chesed by Nosson Weiss. Mishpacha Magazine, Issue 132, November 8, 2006, page 23
5. See Mechtavim v'Ma'amorim : Volume 1, Letter 6(page 15), Letter 8(page 19). Volume 3, Statements on pages 100-101, Letter on page 102. Volume 4, letter 349(page 69), letter 351(page 71). Volume 5, letter 533(page 137), letter 535(page 139), speech 569(page 173), statement 570(page 174). See also here: http://hamercaz.com/hamercaz/pics/database/aoi/223_myFile.pdf
6. Independent, The (London), Nov 10, 2001 by David Landau. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20011110/ai_n14431755
7. Faith and Fate: The Story of the Jewish People in the 20th century, Berel Wein, 2001 by Shaar Press. pg. 340
8. ' A Historian's Polemic Against 'The Madness of False Messianism By Allan Nadler. http://www.rickross.com/reference/lubavitch/lubavitch9.html See also Toward the Millennium: Messianic Expectations from the Bible to Waco By Peter Schäfer, Mark R. Cohen. 1998. pg. 404, footnote 56. http://books.google.com/books?id=AT8GF9EciLEC. See also Michtavim U'maamarim .
9. Summer of the Messiah (Jerusalem Report) February 14, 2001.
10. The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference by David Berger, 2001, published by the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization of Portland. Page 7.
11. The Messiah of Brooklyn: Understanding Lubavitch Hasidim Past and Present, M. Avrum Ehrlich, Chapter 10, notes, KTAV Publishing, ISBN 0881258369
12. ^ Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight - OPINION & COMMENT
13. Defenders of the Faith: Inside Ultra-Orthodox Jewry. Poster on pg. 304. By Samuel C. Heilman Published by University of California Press, 2000 ISBN 0520221125, 9780520221123
14. Hesped for Rav Shach by Rav Elya Svei Shlit”a at Beis Medrash Govoah, Lakewood
15. Faith and Fate: The Story of the Jewish People in the 20th century, Berel Wein, 2001 by Shaar Press. pg. 340
16. Michtavim U'Maamaromim 5:533 (pg. 137)
17. Michtavim U'Maamorim 2:23 (pg. 31) 1986 edition.
18. Michtavim U'Maamaromim 5:534 (pg. 138)
19. Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight - IN-DEPTH FEATURES
20. ^ http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5766/BHL66features2.htm
21. .http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5763/TZR63features2.htm
22. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5764/VYR64features2.htm
23. Can be seen here: http://israel613.com/books/SHACH_DEFEND184.pdf
24. Sunset: Stories of Our Contemporary Torah Luminaries, Zt"l, and Their Spiritual Heroism. Page 175. By Hanoch Teller, Marsi Tabak Published by Feldheim Publishers, 1987
25. http://www.tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/ravshach3.html
26. http://www.tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/ravshach3.html. See also: http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5767/SCS67features3.htm
27. Shmuley Boteach doesn't get it; JONATHAN ROSENBLUM and HERSHEL BRAND. Jerusalem Post. Jerusalem: Jan 24, 2007. pg. 15
28. http://www.5tjt.com/news/read.asp?Id=1972
29. http://www.aish.com/print/?contentID=48956676&section=/rebNoach/s
30. ^ http://www.shemayisrael.com/jewishobserver/archives/feb/biography.htm. See also here: http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5762/T62features.htm
31. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5762/T62features.htm
32. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5762/chayesara/CS62aravshachbio.htm
33. Reb Shlomo - The life and legacy of Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld by Rabbi Yisroel Besser . pg. 126. Judaica Press. Publish Date: 2008-06-12.
34. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/EKV66features.htm
35. ^ http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/jewishobserver/archives/feb/biography.htm
36. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5766/lech/LCH66features2.htm
37. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5763/LL63features4.htm
38. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5766/eikev/olubvlornczekv66.htm
39. http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=26246
40. You Can Make the Difference pg. 378 By C R Wagschal Published by Feldheim Publishers, 2007. See also here: http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5762/T62features.htm
41. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5762/T62features.htm
42. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5762/T62features.htm
43. Avi Ezri, Volume 3, page 380
44. Yeshurun, Vol. 11, 2002, by Machon Yeshurun, pgs 195-207
45. Yeshurun, Vol. 11, 2002, by Machon Yeshurun, pgs 208-216
46. Yeshurun, Vol. 11, 2002, by Machon Yeshurun, pgs 237-242
47. Yeshurun, Vol. 10, by Machon Yeshurun, pg. 384. Vol. 11, pgs. 267-263
48. Yeshurun, Vol. 12, by Machon Yeshurun, pg. 290.
49. Yeshurun, Vol. 12, by Machon Yeshurun, pg. 290-291. See also Igros Moshe, Choshen Mishpat vol. 1, teshuva 24
50. Book preview can be seen at Google Books here http://books.google.com/books?id=PLBoDfvBQ24C&printsec=frontcover

• 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 David Landau, Jewish Telegraphic Agency
• Obituary by Joel Greenberg, The New York Times
• Obituary in Telegraph
• Obituary in the Jewish Press

Eulogies and Articles about Rabbi Shach:

• Eulogy 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
• Anecdote about Rabbi Shach during World War I
• 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
• Article about Rabbi Shach by Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky
• (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
• Memories of HaRav Shach, zt"l - Chapter 27 - 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
• The Luchos and the Broken Luchos are in The Oron -- Part 1: We Must Live Alone - A hesped on Rav Shach ztvk"l given on the sheloshim by Rav Zvi Friedman
• The Luchos and the Broken Luchos are in The Oron -- Part 2: You Need Daas Torah to Start a War - A hesped on Rav Shach ztvk"l given on the sheloshim by Rav Zvi Friedman
• The Luchos and the Broken Luchos are in The Oron -- Part 3: You Need Daas Torah to Start a War - A hesped on Rav Shach ztv"l given on the shloshim by Rav Zvi Friedman
• South African Jews Mourn Passing Of HaRav Shach by D. Saks
• Rabbeinu Hagodol Ztvk'l By Nosson Zeev Grossma
• From the Pages of Yated Ne'eman about Maran HaRav Shach ztvk"l by Yated Ne'eman Staff
• 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
• 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:

• Speeches of Rav Shach in Hebrew
• 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

• Eulogies on Rav Shach
• 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. Also can be seen here
• Video of Rabbi Shach speaking at Degel HaTorah convention (Starts at 17 minutes into video) at Yad Eliyahu Arena on March 26, 1990.
• Video of Rabbi Shach's levaya See also here
• Video of Kever of Harav Shach on his Yarzheit
• Video of Rabbi Shach at the Bar Miztvah of the Belzer Rebbe's son Can also be seen here
• Rav Chaim Kanievsky visiting kever of Rav Shach and the Chazon Ish
• Rav Shach Giving Candy To Children
• Television Report On Occasion Of The Fifth Yahrtzeit Of R' Eliezer Shach, Rosh Yeshiva Ponovezh

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
• Hesped Delivered by Maran HaRav Shach Zt"l On Rav Aharon Kotler Zt"l
• 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

• Jewish anti-Zionism
• Haredi rabbis in Israel
• Rosh yeshivas
• Ponevezh yeshiva
• Israeli centenarians
• Lithuanian Jews
• Israelis of Lithuanian descent
• 1898 births
• 2001 deaths