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Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropola Born: Poland, 1600 Died: Poland, 1648 Kabbalist Rabbi Natan Neta Hanover survivor of the Decrees of Tach ve'Tat (5408-5409; 1648-1649, the Chmelnitzki Massacres) when 100,000 Jews in Poland were massacred. Writes in his book Yavan Metzulah: "During the period of the Decrees of Tach ve'Tat, There was among them a wise man, a kabbalist, a man of God, and his name was Rabbi Shimshon from Ostropalia. An angel (Maggid) came to him everyday and studied Torah secrets with him, and he wrote a commentary on the Zohar according to the Kabbalah of The Ari, but we did not merit to see this commentary in print. And this Maggid warned before the decrees, that the people need to do a great repentance, in order to cancel the great calamity which was about to befall them. And so they did, they repented in all the communities, but it was already too late, the decrees were signed. When the enemies came and surrounded the city, Rabbi Shimshon and 300 great wise people entered the Synagogue wearing talits and shrouds. they prayed until they were all killed by the enemies." Rabbi Shimshon wrote a commentary to Sefer HaKarnayim, called Dan Yadin. Sefer HaKarnayim is an abstruse kabbalistic writing by Rabbi Yitzchak (son of the RABAD). Some say Sefer HaKarnayim was written by Rabbi Aharon of Kardina. Rabbi Shimshon's commentary on the Zohar called Machaneh Dan was never printed yet. The famous Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov (Bnei Yisaschar) offered his entire library of holy books to anyone who will find him a manuscript copy of this book. Someone did find one, but he arrived shortly after R' Tzvi Elimelech's death. Rabbi Shimshon used the name Dan for his writings because he believed his soul's origin was from Dan, son of Yaacov Avinu (Jacob). Rabbi Shimshon's most famous writing, is his kabbalistic composition related to Passover, which promises its readers protection for the entire year, if read on the night of the Seder. It appears in some Pesach Hagadot. The secrets of Kabbalah were very sacred in the eyes of Rabbi Shimshon, and he was afraid to reveal them. In his writings, he often asks God for forgiveness, in case he revealed something he was not suppose to. Some of his Torah discourses and thoughts where recorded in the book > Nitzotzei Shimshon(Hebrew) May the merit of the tzaddik Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropola protect us all, Amen. |