1148 (s5780-11/ 11 Kislev, 5780)

The Russian Chasidic Rabbi Who Wore an Earring and a Top Hat!

An immigrant from Russia, the scholarly rabbi was a foreigner Manchester, English. Wearing a Russian kasket cap on his head and sporting a long black beard, he was an anomaly to the typical Englishman.

Connection: Weekly Reading of Vayishlach - Jewish men with earrings (see Gen. 35:4)

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The Russian Chasidic Rabbi Who Wore an Earring and a Top Hat!

A. The Top Hat

In England, Rabbi Menachem-Tzvi Rivkin, known as "the Ramatz", represented Chabad and raised funds for the impoverished schools in Europe that were forced underground due to Soviet oppression. He was a respected rabbinic figure and served on the local rabbinic court in Manchester.

In 1924, Rabbi Rivkin accepted a rabbinic position at the Chabad synagogue in Manchester at the recommendation of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (the "Rebbe Rayatz").

"You should inspire the community, to come to daily prayer services, and to make time for the study of Chassidic philosophy," the Rayatz wrote him.

"Your spirit should not deflate when you see the vast amount of work…in strengthening the spirituality of the Jews in the city," the Rayatz added, "for as the founder of Chassidism, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, states, 'The natural way of the world is that first there is pain and then success.'"

As an immigrant from Russia, Rabbi Rivkin looked like and felt like a foreigner in the British city of Manchester. Wearing a Russian kasket beaked cap on his head and sporting a long black beard, the scholarly rabbi was an anomaly to the typical Englishman.

The synagogue, named "Khal Chassidim Nusach Ari," had been established in 1897. When his congregation requested that he exchange his Russian hat for the more contemporary top hat, the perplexed Rabbi Rivkin wrote to his Rebbe.

The Rebbe Rayatz responded that he should follow the custom of the community. He fulfilled the rebbe's request, and a top hat remained on his head always.

During World War II, the Germans bombed England as part of a Blitzkrieg ("lightning war"), a military tactic of mobile forces and locally concentrated firepower.

Rabbi Rivkin's home was one of the buildings that were hit.

Much of the house collapsed while Rabbi Rivkin was sitting in his study; shrapnel came flying toward him, and the door crashed upon him. His only protection was the top hat, which likely saved him from a fatal injury.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from an article by Dovid Zaklikowski for //COLlive.com.

Biographical notes:
Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak Schneersohn [of blessed memory: 12 Tammuz 5640 - 10 Shvat 5710 (Jan. 1880-June 1950 C.E.)], known as the Rebbe Rayatz, was the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, from 5680 to 5710 (1920-1950 C.E.). He established a network of Jewish educational institutions and Chasidim that was the single most significant factor for the preservation of Judaism during the dread reign of the communist Soviets. In 5700 (1940 C.E.) he moved to the USA, established Chabad world-wide headquarters in Brooklyn and launched a global campaign to renew and spread Judaism in all languages and in every corner of the world, the campaign that was continued and expanded so remarkably successfully by his son-in-law and successor.

Rabbi Menachem-Tzvi Rivkin [5629 - Erev Yom Kippur 5749 (1869 - Sept. 1948)], known as "the Ramatz", served on the rabbinic court in Manchester. Russian born, he represented Chabad in England, and raised funds for the impoverished schools in Europe that were forced underground due to Soviet oppression. In 1924, he became the rabbi of the Chabad synagogue in Manchester at the recommendation of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak Schneersohn. His entire life he wore a silver earring in his right earlobe, at the instruction of the fourth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn.

* * *

B. The Earring!

Prior to his birth in 5629 (1869), the mother of Rabbi Menachem-Tzvi Rivkin had given birth to two boys, both of whom had died at a very young age. When she was pregnant with him, she was sorely afraid that the same thing would happen again.

She sent her husband to the fourth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn (the "Rebbe Maharash"), for help and guidance, for she was extremely worried.

The Rebbe gave him an atarah (a silver "crown" that some affix to the collar of the tallit/prayer shawl) and instructed that his wife should have an earring made from it that from the day of birth the baby should wear it and never remove it. This would be a segulah (propitious) for a long and healthy life.

The instructions were followed and Rabbi Rivkin wore this earring for many decades and enjoyed good health.

Just once, in the course of his sojourn in this world, did he remove the earring-and he became so ill that he replaced it immediately.

[Now let's take another look at the top hat photo. Look closely at Rabbi Rivkin's right earlobe (on your left) and you can see the earring.]

One year. 1948, on the eve of Yom Kippur 5709, I [Mr. Zalman Jaffe of Manchester], together with a good friend of mine, Mottel Jaffe (no relation), went to visit Rabbi Rivkin in order to extend our wishes for a good new year to him.

After we left, Rabbi Rivkin made his way to immerse in the mikvah (purification pool). As he was about to exit the building, he suddenly noticed the earring was not in his ear! He was profoundly disturbed and upset. The earring he had worn all his life at the instruction of the Rebbe!

All those that were present helped him search. They even drained the mikveh of all its water in a final, but vain, attempt to find it.

Having no alternative, Rabbi Rivkin continued to the synagogue for Yom Kippur services. He was halfway up the steps when he collapsed - and died. He was 77 years of age.

The earring was never seen again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Complied and adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from a blend of a 1980 diary entry by Mr. Zalman Jaffe, for Tishrei (the month of holidays) 5741 (1980) published on //Chabad.org; and (in curly brackets {} part of) a report by Rabbi David Dubow, the emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Princeton NJ, published on //col.org.il in the name of his father, R. Yehuda-Leib Dubow, who heard it from his father, R. Yitzchak Dubow.

Biographical notes:
Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn [of blessed memory: 2 Iyar 5594 - 13 Tishrei 5643 (1834-Sept. 1882 C.E.)], the fourth Lubavitch Rebbe, known as the Rebbe Maharash, was the seventh and youngest son of his predecessor, Rabbi Menachem-Mendel Schneersohn, the Tsemach Tsedek.

Rabbi Menachem-Tzvi Rivkin [5629 - Erev Yom Kippur 5749 (1869 - Sept. 1948 [1])], known as "the Ramatz", served on the rabbinic court in Manchester. Russian born, he represented Chabad in England, and raised funds for the impoverished schools in Europe that were forced underground due to Soviet oppression. In 1924, he became the rabbi of the Chabad synagogue in Manchester at the recommendation of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak Schneersohn. His entire life he wore a silver earring in his right earlobe, at the instruction of the fourth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn.

Connection: Weekly Reading of Vayishlach - Jewish men with earrings (see Gen. 35:4)

[1]But for him to have passed in 1948, he would have had to be born in 5631/1871, not as listed above from my published source.

Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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