[Avodah] Graf Potocki [was: Mitsvat Sukkah is almost unique]

[T613K at aol.com]

From: Dov Bloom _dovb at netvision.net.il_ (mailto:dovb at netvision.net.il) 


>>R  Harari adds that true convert R. Avraham ben Avraham (the Graf Potocki) 
was  tortured by the monks, who threatened to burn him unless he re-converted 
to  Christianity, which he refused. The GRA offered to save him using Sheimot  
HaKedoshim, but the ger tzedek refused, preffering a "kiddush shem shamayim  
barabim" . 

Harari quotes R Nebenzhal saying that this mesora of the GRA  is not found in 
any written source but alluded to in the book HaGaon HaChasid  MiVilna p 18.

Does anyone know of any other sourcces about this mesorah  from the GRA not 
coming from RSZA and his  talmidim?<<



>>>>>
Not exactly a source, but the story is in a book called Avrohom ben  Avrohom, 
by Selig Schachnowitz, published by Feldheim in 1977.  According  to the dust 
jacket, in this "historical novel, Selig Schachnowitz takes the few  known 
facts about the legendary gair tzeddek of Vilna, Valentin Potocki, and  weaves 
them into the rich tapestry of Jewish life in the Ashkenazic communities  of 
mid-18th century Europe."
 
In the book, a note is smuggled to the famous ger tzedek in prison, and the  
Jew who brings it says, "If you wish, Rabbeinu Eliyahu can use his knowledge 
of  Kabalah to liberate you."  Avraham replies, "Now that the mitzva of kiddush 
 haShem has come to hand I do not wish to forgo it."
 
BTW I tried to find biographical information about Selig Schachnowitz on  
line but did not succeed.  There are a lot of German entries so I guess he  was 
(is?) a German writer -- were his books written first in German and then  
translated into English?  I get the impression he lived in Frankfurt before  the 
war?   Maybe one of you chevra know something about  him.

 


--Toby  Katz
=============



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