“A Yeshiva Cannot Be Built on Falsehood”: The Integrity of Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz

Between Borders and Principles

After World War I, the famous Kamenitz Yeshiva, located in the city of Kamenitz, found itself under Polish rule. Its revered Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz, was in Russia at the time. To return to his yeshiva and students, he now needed to cross an international border.

Europe in those years was overflowing with refugees. Borders were tight, and the newly formed Polish government had a strict immigration policy: only Polish citizens could enter the country. Foreigners, no matter their circumstances, were denied entry.

Rabbi Baruch Ber faced a major dilemma. He was not a Polish citizen, and under the law, he had no legal right to return. Nonetheless, his students in Poland were waiting for their Rosh Yeshiva to come back and continue their Torah learning.

“The Torah Is Torah of Truth”

Despite the risk of being turned away, Rabbi Baruch Ber decided to approach the border honestly. Some advised him to claim Polish citizenship. After all, he was Jewish, and the border guards likely wouldn’t know the difference between a Polish and a Russian Jew. During this postwar period, official documents were scarce, and many had lost their papers entirely. It would have been easy to make such a claim without being caught.

But Rabbi Baruch Ber refused. When asked by the immigration officer whether he was Polish, he simply replied, “No, I am not.” Pressed again: “Did you hold Polish citizenship before the war?” He again answered truthfully: “No.”

The officer responded bluntly: “Then why are you here? Entry is allowed only to Poles.”

With calm conviction, Rabbi Baruch Ber replied: “I am not Polish, but I have a yeshiva that now lies within Poland’s borders. I have many students there, all Polish citizens, who are waiting for me to return and teach them. They need me. I must go to them.”

Those around him were baffled. Why didn't he just lie? Why not say he was Polish and avoid the whole issue?

But to Rabbi Baruch Ber, the answer was obvious. “I will not do such a thing under any circumstances! You cannot build a yeshiva on a lie. You cannot teach Torah if what made it possible was deception. The Torah is a Torah of truth and to teach Torah, one must live by truth.”

Rewarded for Truth

In the end, his commitment to honesty was rewarded. The immigration officer, deeply moved by the rabbi’s integrity and sincerity, made an exception and allowed him into Poland.

Rabbi Baruch Ber’s unwavering devotion to truth did more than open a border. It offered a powerful message that still echoes in the halls of Torah: A yeshiva must stand on the foundation of truth, for only then can it teach eternal values.