This is a special page dedicated to the Famous Rabbis of
METZ - FRANCE
( pour histoire du metz en francais ici )
During the past 900 years , the town of Metz has been a special town , in terms of being the home of many Famous Jewish Rabbis . SInce , 1100 AD famous rabbis like Rabbeinu Gershom and Rashi lived in Metz . More recently in the period between 17th and 19th centuries , all of the famous European rabbis either lived or served as Rabbi in the community in METZ , these include Reb Yehonosson Eibeshitz , the "Sha'ages Arye" , the "Pnei Yehoshua" , Rabbi Yaakov Reischer known as "the Shvus Yaakov " , Rabbi Yaakov Emden and others .....
The town of Metz is situated in the North eastern part of France on the Border with Germany . And in 1870 when the germans won the Franco-Prussian war the whole area known as Alsace became part of germany , only returning to france after German defeat of the First world war in 1918 . But again , the town of Metz fell into german hands during the Nazi occupation of france in 1939 until 1945 , when it was unsafe for jews to be found anywhere in Nazi occupied Europe . The jewish leaders in metz , in fear that the nazis would desecrate the ancient jewish cemetary in "Avenue de Blida , Metz " , they mixed up the famous rabbis headstones . Thankfully the Nazis left the jewish cemetary almost in tact , and after the second world war , the Gravestone below was erected , in the place where the famous 6 Rabbis where known to be burried . This was done by Rabbi Bamberger of Metz who is currently the Rabbi of Metz, with advice taken from Rabbi Padwa of London Beth Din .
The Catholic church in Metz and the Jewish community held a close and friendly relationship especially in the time of Reb Yehonosson Eibeshitz , it is well known that the closeness and understanding they had , helped develope a mutual and harmonious beneficial lifestyle to the jewish communities in central Europe , during the 17th 18th and 19th centuries . Making communities such as Metz and Altuna most popular to live in . The rabbis were also able to develope and grow in their mystical teachings , and it was in METZ where Reb Yehonosson Eibeshitz wrote the famous Kemiya 's ( specially written hebrew verses to help heal sick people and bring success and protection ) . see here for pictures and history of The Rebbe Reb Yehonossan Eibeshitz and also feature on Reb Yehonosson Eibeschitz .
Please also see www.heavensregister.com - " Heavensregister " is one of our latest spiritual teachings website taken from all the jewish books especially Reb Chaim Vital and Reb Yehonossan Eibeshitz of Metz and Sefer Shinuyim - The "book of change" .
Other famous Rabbis lived in Metz where :-
Reb Yaakov Yehoshua Falk Katz, author of Pnei Yehoshua (1680-1755); Rov of Lemberg (Lvov) in 1718, succeeding the Chacham Tzvi; among his talmidim was Reb Dov Ber of Lokatch, later to be the Magid of Mezritch; Rov of Berlin in 1730 and Metz in 1734, succeeding Rav Yaakov Reischer (the Shevus Yaakov)as Rabbi of Metz and then later Rabbi of Frankfurt .
The " Pnei Yehoshua " was buried in Frankfort-on-maine ..
here is a photo of his gravestone ....in Frankfort Germany
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The 6 Famous Rabbis Gravestone
at the Jewish Cemetary in METZ
In the famous cemetary cimitiere - Avenue de Blida ( see at the bottom of this page )
Rabbi Moshe Narol , author of the book " el moley rachamim ", yarzheit 33rd day of Omer 18th Iyar , 5419 (1659).
Rabbi Yonah Teomim Frenkel author of book "Kikayon deYona" , yarzheit 1st day Pesach 15th Nissan 5429 (1669). Please see article on Reb Yona and the ספר קיקיון דיונה
Rabbi Gershon Ashkanazi , author of "avodaas haGershuni" , yarzheit 11th adar 2 , 5453 (1693).
Rabbi Yaakov Reischer , author of "Shvus Yaakov" , yarzheit 9th Shevat 5493 (1733) .
Rabbi Shmuel Hellmann , yarzheit 8th Teves 5525 (1765).
Rabbi Arye Leib , known famously as the " Sha'ages Arye" , yarzheit 15th Tammuz 5545 (1785) .
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The Shaages Arye - Reb Arye Leib Ginzburg
Rabbi Leyb, son of R' Asher Gintsburg, was born in Minsk in 1695. He was known as “Shaagass Arye”, (”The Lion Roar”), from the name of the book written by him. He became head of the Minsk Yeshiva at the age of 38. Due to his hard character, he was obliged to leave Minsk.
R' Itskhak, the Volozhin congregation leader, invited the famous “Shaagass Arye” to serve as the Volozhin town Rabbi He came to Volozhin in 1750. He performed his services from 1750 until 1755 (5510 – 5515). The “Shaagass Arye” opened there a Great Yeshiva. He was called by the inhabitants “Reb Leyb the Yeshiva Head”.
He introduced his method of simple Torah study, and developed and spread it through his students.
The Volozhin congregation did not have enough resources to provide Talmud learning books. Those books were extremely expensive. Only the very rich who also loved Torah study were able to acquire them. Rabbi Itskhak, the Kehila head, at his wife Rivka's request, bought on one of his business journeys a complete edition of the Mishna. The demand to read them was great. R' Itskhak asked his spouse to manage the guarding and lending of the holy books. The first Hebrew library in Lita-Yiddish-Land was created. Rivka welcomed everyone who would come in her house to learn the books. Among them was also Shaagass Arye, who was not rich enough to own them himself. Rivka could not bear to see the honorable Rabbi crush his feet making the way to her home. She offered to send him the desired books every time he needed for his study or for teaching his students. Hashaagass Arye was thankful for it,and blessed Rivka to raise her sons to be great scholars. His benediction was fulfilled. Rivka's sons R' Hayim and R' Zakmele were his best students, and became prominent scholars. ( Sadly, how different it is today when we have the chance of learning so many jewish books, do we really appreciate how lucky we are ? Thank GOD , we live in this generation where knowledge is readily and easily available, most Seforim / books are even online see index for references )
Shaagass Arye gathered all his innovations in Torah and Talmud studies. He intended to print a book of it. But there were not any printing presses in Lita in those days. He left Volozhin after five years of service and went to Frankfurt on Oder to fulfill his intentions. In Frankfurt he and his wife spent their nights in a hostel for poor Jews. As accustomed, he studied loudly a chapter from Rambam by candlelight. The surrounding sleeping paupers woke up and cursed the sleep interrupter. Shaagass Arye extinguished the candle, got out from the dormitory and continued his study by the moonlight. With daybreak, when the hostel manager woke up, he saw an elderly Jew dancing joyfully outside and with him his wife. “What is the cause of your happiness?” he asked. The Shaagass Arye responded: “A great miracle happened this night, and I'm thanking the Almighty for it. For many days I could not resolve a big problem in the Rambam book, and this night, God, bless his name, opened my eyes and I found the right answer, and this is the reason of our happiness”.
After printing the book, he returned to Russia. He passed a year in Volozhin, left to Vilna, and then he went to Metz. Here he found rest and richness. At the age of 90 he passed away and was buried in Metz on July 3, 1785- 15th Tammuz . Of all the places he lived, he wrote in his Seforim that he really felt most at home in METZ . Anyone whom has spent time in Metz can understand and sense some feeling of what the Shaages Arye was referring to, it really is a spiritual orientated town, and of better class of people with kind, helpful, generous and spiritual character .
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METZ - a welcoming place for Klal Yisroel
From the times of Rabbeinu Gershom in the 11th Century , and especially after the second world war , the Marie ( Mayor ) of Metz and the people of Metz have always been exceedingly kind and hospitable towards the jewish community . After the second world war , the Town council - Marie , renamed a street where the synagague is today , to "Rue du Rabbin E Bloch" , named after the Rabbi of Metz who was deported to the death camps and murdered by the nazis in Germany . please see here for the complete history of Rabbi Eli Bloch of Metz (in french) .
And in the cemetary their is a holocaust memorial , which contains ashes from the auschwitz death-camp (in a metal vault in the middle of the photo below ) in memory of the jewish community that was completely wiped out during the second world war from METZ . Please see here for the official tourist website of Metz Town with photos .
This is the memorial tomb to the holocaust victims from METZ .
In the ancient and World Famous Jewish cemetary in METZ , there is a well of water and attached a large stone ( see picture below ) , where the Chevra Kadisha ( jewish men who are chosen to clean and prepare the body according to customs in Shulchan aruch - code of jewish law - before burial ) use to place the body and prepare the burial of the dead in shrouds .
Picture of the Gravestones that were removed during nazi occupation of METZ , and also the remains of the old jewish cemetry from Pontifory, France , which were brought to Metz .
Please see the french jewish website of metz
or HERE to go back to Famous Rabbis Graves & Tombs in the Yarzheit website
or HERE to go back to Heavensregister website
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I shall be updating this page with more photos of METZ cemetary בית עוֹלם.
Rabbi Bamberger, the rabbi of Metz , has told me many stories of Jews from all over France , Europe and the world who have come to the cemetary & prayed , and have had their prayers answered . Whether it be a childless couple from Paris whom the doctors gave up hope , they came to pray at the rabbis grave a year later they had a son and named him Arye . They know and feel it was thanks to Shaages Arye helping their prayers being answered . I have spoken to many people who have come to Metz , and everyone agrees that there is a very special feeling as you stand and pray at the gravesite . Come to Metz and see for yourself !! if you need help or directions send me email CLICK HERE
Photo of the road that leads to the main entrance, the jewish cemetary entrance is along this road and on the left, with the large green iron gates ( or over the wall on the left hand side!! ) .
The old main entrance, normally open during daylight hours everyday . If you have any problems getting in or need a contact and help in Metz then email me, i shall help you as best as possible .
DIRECTIONS & MAPS OF METZ, FRANCE
By courtesy of Marie du Metz, the map of METZ, the Jewish Cemetary is in the top right hand corner, and the best entrance is the one on Rue des Cimetieres, just off Avenue de blida .
The Jewish Synagogue and community centre is on Avenue du Rabbin E Bloch ...where there is a Kosher restaurant for hot lunchtime meals .
The street was renamed to Rabbin E Bloch , named after Rabbi Elie Bloch who was the Rabbi of Metz until 1943 when he was deported to Auschwitz by the nazis . The Marie - Town Council - of Metz renamed the street in his honour and memory .
please see here for the complete history of Rabbi Eli Bloch of Metz (in french)
We hope to upload more to this website with respect to METZ in Spring 2006
Meanwhile please see PHOTOS OF METZ for photos of Metz town Square and the river Moselle .
Please see www.famousrabbis.com and www.yarzheit.com
for full listings of Famous Rabbis with history and photos
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