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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>From: Dov Bloom <A
href="mailto:dovb@netvision.net.il">dovb@netvision.net.il</A><BR><BR><BR>>>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" . <BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>Does anyone know of any other sourcces about this mesorah
from the GRA not coming from RSZA and his
talmidim?<<<BR><BR></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>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."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><B><BR></B><BR><B>--Toby
Katz<BR>=============</B></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's new at <A title="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" href="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" target="_blank">AOL.com</A> and <A title="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" href="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" target="_blank">Make AOL Your Homepage</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>