Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam - Early Life

Early Life

Halberstam was born in 1905 in the town of Rudnik, Poland. He was a great-grandson (through the direct male line) of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz (the Divrei Chaim), one of the great Hasidic leaders of Polish Jewry, and a grandson of the Gorlitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Baruch Halberstam (1829–1906). His father, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Halberstam, the Rav of Rudnik, instilled in the young Yekusiel Yehudah a love of Hasidut and Torah scholarship, sharing with him stories of how the Divrei Chaim learned, prayed and conducted his tish (Shabbat and Jewish holiday celebratory table).

When Yekusiel Yehudah was 13, his father died. Afterwards he studied with other leading Hasidic rebbes, including Rabbi Myer Yechiel of Ostrovtza, Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro (the Munkatcher Rebbe), and his great-uncle, Rabbi Shalom Eliezer Halberstam of Ratzfert. During this period, Yekusiel Yehudah became known as the "ilui ("genius") of Rudnik,". In later years he would periodically return to Rudnik to visit with his followers, who remained loyal to him even after the appointment of his first cousin Rabbi Benyumin Teitelbaum-Halberstam as Rabbi in 1924.

In 1921, Halberstam married his second cousin, Chana Teitelbaum, the daughter of Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, the Rabbi of Sighet, Romania. She was also a descendant of the Divrei Chaim: her grandfather, Rabbi Sholom Eliezer Halberstam, was one of the seven sons of the Sanzer Rav. The young couple lived in her father's house for the next five years.

In 1927, at the age of 22, Halberstam accepted the post of Rabbi of Klausenburg, the capital city of Transylvania (western Romania). Although he was relatively young, he impressed the largely non-religious community with his charismatic personality, wisdom, and warmth toward Jews of all backgrounds. During the 16 years that Halberstam led the Klausenberg community, he exhibited many of the qualities that would set him apart during his imprisonment by the Nazis. He slept only three hours a night, often on a synagogue bench, and he often ate only one meal a day, reserving bread for the Sabbath. He spent much of his day in prayer and study. His love for and faith in God was legendary. He also paid special attention to children, founding a yeshivah in which 100 students learned in Klausenberg.

The Rebbe's reputation spread throughout Romania and Hungary, and even reached Israel. In 1937 Halberstam was offered a seat on the Jerusalem rabbinical court. Uncertain as to whether he should accept the seat or stay with his community, Halberstam wrote to his mother in Rudnik for advice. She advised him to stay where he was, saying he was too young to accept such a position.