Shaarei Eliyahu Takes Pilgrimage To The Buffalo Rebbe

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With beautiful warm weather and preparation for Shavuot on people’s minds, congregants of Congregation Shaarei Eliyahu of Forest Hills took in the sunny rays during a visit to Buffalo, New York this past week. Rabbi Yosef Akilov, mara d’atra, and his wife, Rebbetzin Natalie Akilov joined with their family and took the roughly 75 shul members on a tour of the local Jewish cemetery, Ahavas Sholem Cemetery on Pine Ridge Road in Cheektowaga, highlighted by “The Buffalo Rebbe,” the Linitzer-Sokolivker Rebbe, Rav Eliyahu Yosef Rabinowitz, zt”l, 54, the first Admor buried in New York. “Many who have visited Rav Rabinowitz’ kever have seen tremendous yeshuos and lots of miracles,” explained Rabbi Akilov. Rav Rabinowitz was a humble sage and shied away from having the title Admor used during his lifetime. Notably, Rav Rabinowitz immigrated from Kishinev, Ukraine in 1899 to the Lower East Side. During the mass exodus of Russian Jewry at the turn of the twentieth century. Nine years later, he moved to Buffalo to strengthen Jewish life at the Jefferson Street Shul. Rav Rabinowitz is a descendant of the Linitz-Slavita dynasty, a great-grandson of Rav Pinchas of Koritz, and a 1-1 student with Rav Mordechai Dov Ber Twerski, “The Hornosteipler Rebbe,” and his brother-in-law.

Details on Rav Rabinowitz’ kever remained murky until 1999 when word spread of miracles for those who visited the little brick enclosure marking the gravesite.

Rav Rabinowitz is most remembered for his work with agunot displaced by the mass immigration. The rav, in consultation with Torah luminaries, created a set of conditions for a halachic termination of marriages for extreme situations

Following the visit to kivrei tzaddikim, the group took a twenty-minute ride to Niagara Falls to experience the absolute awesomeness of our Creator. The trip included delectable treats grilled outdoors and a beautiful experience for all.

By Shabsie Saphirstein