The Holy Czchówer Rebbe, the Son Born to the “Divrei Chaim” of Sanz at an Older Age, May G-d Avenge His Blood

80 Years Since His Murder in Bochnia on Elul 3, 5703 (Sept. 3, 1943)

The holy Rabbi Yitzchak Yeshaya was born in 5624 (1864), the son born to Rabbi Chaim Halberstam, the “Divrei Chaim” of Sanz, at an older age.

Since the dawn of his childhood, Rabbi Yeshayaleh was known as a great and holy man, and already at the age of 19 he was crowned to serve as the rabbi of the city of Czchow. In 5653 (1893) he lived in Satmar and from there he moved to Krakow.

He was considered one of the greatest and most righteous of the generation, a model man, a supreme holy figure, who was great in Torah and a wonderful servant of G-d, and many flocked to his door.

In Marienbad

Upon the outbreak of the war, he escaped to Lvov and from there to Bochnia, where he hid in a bunker until he was discovered on Elul 3, 5703 (Sept. 3, 1943). On that same bitter day, he was cruelling burned to death while wrapped in his father z”l’s prayer shawl.

According to testimonies, he ordered the Jews who asked for his advice to flee to the woods and hide. (Already at the beginning of the Nazi occupation, he resolutely refused to obey the instructions of the Germans and forbade his listeners to surrender to the wicked and fulfill their will).

His family:

From his first wife, Freida – daughter of Rabbi Yechiel Heschel of Krolewicz (son-in-law of Rabbi Yehoshua of Belz), son of Rabbi Meshulam Zushia Heschel of Zinkov, son of Rabbi Yitzhak Meir Heschel, son of Rabbi of Apta, the “Ohev Yisrael” (lover of Israel), Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel – he had the following children:

Reichel Devorah, wife of Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak Twersky of Loyev (5646/1886- Nisan 24, 5703/April 29, 1943)

Rabbi Chaim Halberstam (5642/1882-5716/1956), rabbi of the Czchower chassidim in New York.

Henna, wife of the holy Rabbi Menachem Mendel Halberstam, may G-d avenge his blood, son of the holy Rabbi Aryeh Leibish Halberstam of Mashina.

The grave of Rebbetzin Esther Miriam in the cemetery in Krakow

His descendants from his second wife, Rebbetzin Esther Miriam, daughter of Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi of Porisov:

Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Halberstam, rabbi in the city of Socha, who was murdered in the Holocaust.

The holy Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi, may G-d avenge his blood

On “Yiddishe Velt Forums” (Jewish World Forums), the testimony of the daughter of Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi, Rebbetzin Freizer, appears (On Saturday night, the week of the Shemini Torah portion, Iyar 3, 5700/May 11, 1940, the forum community heard these rare words, which were originally said a few hours earlier):

(…) She told me many memories from her childhood days in Krakow in the shadow of the old Rebbe of Czchow, and from the bad days, in the hiding place in Bochnia with her grandfather.

Grandpa once told me to come with him to the window. We looked and saw that it was raining.

My grandfather told me: “My child, you will survive the hardships”

I asked him: “What about the rest of the family?” And he answered me: “Your parents will not (survive) and of your cousins, some yes and some no.”

I began to cry and then my grandfather began to cry and told me “you see, my daughter, the falling rain? We are crying here and the Heavens are crying from above.”

From then, with all that I went through, I was never scared. I was sure of my grandfather’s words.

Rabbi Yechezkel David Halberstam of Krakow, the son-in-law of Rabbi Bentzion of Bobov, was killed in Lvov together with his father-in-law on Av 4 5704 (July 24, 1944), may G-d avenge their blood.

The holy Rabbi Yechezkel David with his father-in-law

A tombstone in the cemetery in Krakow for his son, the child Bentzion, who died prewar in his youth.

And his third wife, Rebbetzin Hinda, daughter of the righteous genius Rabbi Menachem Mendel, did not leave him any descendants.

His signature