Aish Da’at: Vaeira

Rosh Chodesh Shevat is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Moshe Yechiel Halevi Epstein from Ozerov (1890-1971), great-grandson of Rav Leibish, the first Ozerover Rebbe. In 1912, he became Rav of Ozerov and in 1918, he replaced his father as Rebbe.

During World War I, Ozerov burned down, with only 22 houses left standing (only 11 of Jewish inhabitants). In 1920, he traveled to America to publicize the importance of Agudas Israel, and in 1927, he moved his family to the Bronx. He moved to Eretz Yisrael in 1949 and settled in Tel Aviv.

Rav Moshe Yechiel wrote two monumental works, Aish Daas, comprised of 11 volumes, and Be’er Moshe, 12 volumes on Chumash and Tanach. Each volume contained at least 500 pages, over 10,000 pages in all.

Two biographies have been written about him, “Balabas Aish” and “The Aish Daas of Ozerov.” Rav Moshe Yechiel was succeeded by his son-in-law, Rav Tanchum Binyamin Becker.

The four terms of redemption correspond to the four types of cries that were mentioned during the servitude.