Baruch Meir was born in Brisk D’Lita in 1857, the youngest son of Rabbi Shalom Menashe of Brisk and Libe Sarah. He records the date of his birth: the 2nd day of Succoth 5618 – October 4th, 1857.
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Left page: A brief biography until the age of 16
Right page: a retrospective introduction, 50 years later |
Baruch Meir started his diary as a young man, before his marriage at age 19. He kept it on a day-to-day basis, in real time, except for the introductory page --shown just above-- that he composed and inserted in 1908, when he was about 50 years old.
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Rabbi Baruch Meir tells of his birthdate and parents
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His father taught him how to view God and mankind, and paid his tuition until his Bar-Mitzvah.
On a diary page, Baruch Meir formally documents his identity:
I certify I am the youngest of my father Baruch Meir Rozenblum, son of Rabbi Shalom Menashe, son of Moshe-Aharon, son of Tzvi, son of Menashe.
To Ilya
When he was 15 years old Baruch Meir was sent to Ilya --a town near Minsk, about 350km (215mi) northeast of Brisk-- to study with his relative, Rabbi Moshe Shlomo, the Av-Beit-Din of the town. From Rabbi Moshe Shlomo, Baruch Meir learned the meaning and importance of writing a diary:
I traveled to my relative [שאר בשרי= ש"ב] Rabbi Moshe Shlomo, AB”D in Ilya and I was there for a whole year from 1st of Nissan 5633 [March, 1873] to 1st of Nissan 5634 [March,1874].
He stayed one year.
Marriages and Livelihood
In 1876, two years later, Rabbi Baruch Meir married Feiga Eizenberg from Mezritch, Polish: Miedzyrzec Podlaski , --about 60km (40 mi) west and slightly south of Brisk (see on OpenStreet map)-- and settled there. Rabbi Baruch Meir records the date of his wedding: the 14th day of Shvat 5636 – September 2nd, 1876.
My marriage, Wednesday, 14th of Shvat 5636 [9 February 1876] Here in Mezritch, with my spouse that God bestowed on me – modest and with good qualities, Feiga, daughter of a distinguished scholar, honest and of distinguished character, my in-law R’ Zeev Dov. My wife was born in Mezritch on 13th of Adar 5619 [17/2/1859]
Until he passed away, his father-in-law supported Baruch Meir's studies:
I lived in my in-law’s house until 5638 [1877] and I devoted all my time to the Torah. My father in law took me [for a groom] so that he would provide for me and I had only to study. However, he passed away... Monday 28th of Tishrei 5637 [16/10/1876] my father in law died and was buried here in Mezritch…... Therefore I had to look for a way of making a living. I opened a store.
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Rabbi Baruch Meir was supported by his father-in-law
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R’ Baruch Meir Rozenblum was certified as Mohel and Shokhet. He recorded in his diary the date of getting the certificates:
I have learned for myself, with God’s help, the skill of circumcision. I was helped by the Rabbi here [Mezritch] and by Moshe Ha’Cohen, shamash [synagogue caretaker] here, and on Monday, first of the month of Tevet, 5650 [24/12/1889] I was a Mohel [circumciser] for the first time.
In another place, Baruch Meir mentions:
I started being a circumciser… I hope to succeed in this holy task without ever failing.
Periodically, he summarized how many children he had circumcised, but recorded no names.
About his Shokhet training:
On Monday, first of the month of Kislev 5644 [30/12/1883] I received the certificate for Kosher slaughtering from the Rabbi here in Mezritch and from the Shokhets.
His wife presented him with his firstborn:
Sunday, on the eve of Sabbath, 22th … 5637 [1876] my wife gave birth to a girl and we named her Lea Mikhliye, God will help me to raise her to mitzvot and good deeds.
Baruch Meir recorded the birth of all his children and their offspring and also the unfortunate death of 4 of his children.
In 1883, he was sent by Khovevey Zion on a multi-year mission to buy land for settling in the Holy Land.
This matter was from Kislev 5644 [11.1883] to Adar 5645 [2/1885] when I arrived safely in my home.
He returned to face accusations about his use of Khovevey Zion funds:
After my return I encountered great sorrow because of people who told lies about me – fabrications - to say that I robbed the money of the society and God knows it is a lie. Most of my money is what I had from the inheritance from my father-in-law.
Baruch Meir is careful to note that some people gossiped with no intention of malice and some did it with malice.
In 5664 [1902] his father died. His obituary was printed in the monthly Hapeles.
His wife died after 35 years of marriage:
My wife Feiga died on Thursday 3rd of Tishrey [October 6th 1910] after a grave disease and much suffering
His thoughts of her:
... she was the one attending to our livelihood… and raised up the children … passed away after I have been with her about 35 years. And we raised children of whom we married off 3 daughters and had grandchildren from them. May she be a good endorser for her children …. and I will ‘have the privilege’ of raising up the remaining children to good ‘purposes’ as befits my honor and hers.
Two years later he married a widow named Khaya-Sarah, daughter of Shraga Feivil and widow of Shmuel Guttman (View diary page -- this information is on the middle of the left page.)
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I married Sarah daughter of R’ Shraga Faivel...
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Baruch Meir made Aliya in 1923. He details his voyage to Eretz Israel: from Warsaw to Lemberg, to Grigora in Rumania, then to Kostantz, boarding a ship to Konstantinopol and finally arriving at Jaffa port on the 8th of November (view diary page).
His name is among those listed as founders of the village Yisud Ha’ma’ala in the Galilee.
| Notes: Av Beit Din, abbreviated AB"D: the presiding judge of a rabbinical court. See here. Mezritch is the Jewish name given to Międzyrzec Podlaski, the literal meaning of which is Between Rivers. The town lies between the Piszczek and the Krzna rivers. Shokhet: a Kosher slaughterer, i.e., one who kills the animal according to Jewish law. |
