Three Jewish Leaders, Three Legacies of Strength and Spirit

As the tenth day of the Jewish month of Shevat approaches, it brings with it the yahrzeits (anniversary of death) of three monumental figures from vastly different worlds: Kabbalah, Chabad leadership, and Mussar tradition. Each left a legacy of courage, clarity, and deep faith that continues to influence Jewish life today.

Rabbi Shalom Sharabi: The Hidden Master of Kabbalah

This year marks 238 years since the passing of Rabbi Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi, known by the acronym Rashash. A towering figure in the world of Kabbalah, the Rashash was the author of Siddur HaRashash, which included detailed mystical elements of prayer, as well as Peirush HaShemesh, a commentary on the writings of the Arizal.

Though little is known about his personal life, his spiritual impact has been profound. His teachings continue to shape the inner dimensions of Jewish prayer for students of Kabbalah, particularly within the Sephardic tradition.

The Rayatz: A Rebbe Who Defied Soviet Oppression

Seventy years have passed since the death of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, also known by the acronym Rayatz, the sixth rebbe in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty. The son of Rabbi Shalom Dovber (the Rebbe Rashab) and father-in-law of his successor, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak became leader of Chabad in 1920, in the shadow of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Despite fierce Soviet persecution, he worked tirelessly to preserve Jewish life. He founded a secret network of Talmudei Torah (religious schools) and provided for the spiritual and material needs of Jews across the USSR, acts that were strictly forbidden by law. He was arrested and imprisoned multiple times, but he remained undeterred.

One of his most famous quotes came during an interrogation, when a Soviet officer threatened him with a pistol: “This toy has changed many minds,” the officer sneered. The Rayatz calmly replied, “This toy can frighten someone with one world and many gods, but not someone with one God and two worlds.” The story has become emblematic of his inner strength and deep emunah (faith).

Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Sher: Teaching Torah with a Heart of Mussar

Sixty-eight years ago, Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Sher, one of the great teachers of Mussar (ethical development), passed away. A son-in-law of the famed Alter of Slabodka, he succeeded him as Rosh Yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva in Lithuania and later in Bnei Brak, after escaping war-torn Europe.

During World War II, Rabbi Sher was in Switzerland for medical treatment, which ultimately saved his life. He later immigrated to Israel and helped establish the Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak together with his son-in-law, Rabbi Mordechai Shulman.

In addition to his rigorous Gemara lectures, Rabbi Sher was known for his Mussar discourses, where he emphasized the inner dimension of mitzvah observance. He taught that a person who loses the ability to love or value themselves may also lose the inner spark of their religious life, reducing mitzvot to dry ritual without heart or soul (Lekket Sichot Mussar, “Developing the Power of Love").