A Heartfelt Farewell to Uncle Simcha Raz: His Legacy Lives On

"For many years, every Friday afternoon, I would call him for a warm and loving conversation," Hila Walberstein recalls, reflecting on her special bond with her uncle, the renowned author Simcha Raz. Walberstein, 59, a married mother of nine, formerly of Gush Katif and now living in Nof Ayalon, is an author and heads the "Kisufim" center for Gush Katif and southern women. She co-authored several books with Uncle Simcha and maintained a close, cherished relationship with him. "Uncle Simcha passed away on a Monday a few months ago. That Friday before, we had our weekly chat, which I later realized was our last."

"Uncle Simcha, brother of my father, may he live a long and good life, Prof. Nahum Rakover, was a very warm person and always loved having us visit. A few years ago, over a hundred family members gathered at his home, and he welcomed us with remarkable warmth and joy. They had a large balcony in their Beit Hakerem neighborhood home, with a view of much of Jerusalem, a city he adored. It was a very special gathering where he shared the Rakover and Mendelbaum family history. Although some time has passed since his departure, I deeply miss him."

I Am Not an Angel, I Am Not a Seraph

Simcha Raz was one of Israel's leading biographical writers, specializing in biographies of tzaddikim and notable Torah figures. Raz had a rare talent in this field, offering fascinating insights into the unique lives of these individuals. "A giant portrait of Rabbi Aryeh Levin hung in his living room," Walberstein recounts of the tzaddik to whom Raz was profoundly connected. His books about Rabbi Aryeh, "A Tzaddik Was Here" and "Pillar of the World", introduced his character to countless Israelis and gained widespread acclaim. "The artist who drew Rabbi Aryeh depicted him with an abundance of light, and indeed, his face shone with exceptional brightness. Uncle Simcha would sit and gaze at Rabbi Aryeh's face, drawing continuous inspiration from his luminous presence."

"Uncle Simcha welcomed guests uniquely, undoubtedly influenced by Rabbi Aryeh. People from all over the country wished to hear about the tzaddikim he wrote about and would ask to come to him. Although busy with his work, he would always graciously give visitors his full attention. Naturally, people wanted to hear tales about the figures he wrote about and their times, and Uncle Simcha was an endless well of stories. For several years, he also hosted a radio program on Fridays, sharing special stories with listeners."

What can you tell us about the home where Simcha grew up?

"Uncle Simcha grew up in Jerusalem, named after his grandfather, Rabbi Simcha Mendelbaum, who built the house later known as the famous Mendelbaum House. When the first settlers left the Old City to live in neighborhoods outside the walls, Rabbi Simcha said he wanted to live far from the Old City to expand the city's boundaries as much as possible. By the way, Rabbi Simcha Mendelbaum is also the namesake of Rabbi Simcha Kook, the former chief rabbi of Rehovot."

"My grandfather, Uncle Simcha's father, was Rabbi Chaim Rakover, a great scholar well-versed in the Talmud. Additionally, he owned a large wholesale business in Jerusalem. Grandmother managed the business so that Grandfather could study Torah, and they devotedly practiced acts of kindness. Uncle Simcha studied at a yeshiva in Jerusalem and later in Haifa. He also attended the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva and, in his youth, joined the Lehi. After marrying, Uncle Simcha continued to live in Jerusalem and eventually served as an emissary for the Jewish Agency in Africa. Back then, David Ben-Gurion's directive was that Israeli emissaries had to Hebraize their names, so Uncle Simcha, whose full name was Simcha Zalman Rakover, became Raz—short for Rakover Zalman."

How did he begin his literary career?

"Uncle Simcha had a long-standing relationship with Rabbi Aryeh Levin. Rabbi Aryeh was a frequent guest at my grandparents', who provided funds for his charitable work, and Uncle Simcha often accompanied him. After Rabbi Aryeh passed, stories about him flowed freely, and Uncle Simcha decided to write a book in his memory. Shortly before, he traveled to the United States and met with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Rebbe expressed eager interest in Rabbi Aryeh's stories, reinforcing how important and captivating they were. Uncle Simcha dedicated much effort to gathering and penning these tales. His motto was that seemingly small, everyday stories best illustrate a person's greatness. He also believed that presenting someone as a saint, angel, or seraph made it harder for people to relate and see themselves capable of such good deeds."

In Service of the Ministry

"The book about Rabbi Aryeh was widely loved and successful," Walberstein continues, "which spurred his desire to publish more. Over time, more people recognized his work and approached him to write about important rabbis and other topics. This resulted in books about Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Kotzker Rebbe, Rabbi Zusha, Rabbi Elimelech, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, and more. He also published five volumes on the weekly Torah portions, the first time anyone compiled commentaries from ancient and modern scholars in one book. He authored a book on Talmudic legends, a "Sefer Hachinuch"-style book on the 613 mitzvot, books on Jerusalem and Eretz Yisrael, a booklet for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs titled 'One-Legged Judaism' for diplomats unaware of Jewish practices, and more. Uncle Simcha poured his heart and talent into his books, adding immense blessing to the world."

"I was privileged to work with him on some of the books, for which I am grateful to Hashem. For example, when asked to write about Rabbi Kook, he was already older and found it difficult to interview people or visit libraries for archival materials, so I had the opportunity to do it."

Walberstein shares that some book ideas came through her: for instance, writing about Rabbi Getz, the Rabbi of the Western Wall. Uri Orbach, a close friend of the Rabbi's son, who was murdered near Neve Tsuf, brought this to her attention. I wrote the book and passed it to Uncle Simcha to edit. Other works include 'Brings Salvation' about Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook and 'If Someone Vows' about Rabbi Hananias, for which I conducted research and writing while Uncle Simcha edited."

"I thank Hashem for the honor of being his niece and a partner in some of the books he published. I hope and believe that more and more people from the Jewish community will read the books Uncle Simcha so passionately created and, in doing so, will live greater, happier, and more fulfilling lives."