Aryeh Leib Schochet
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Rabbi Aryeh Leib Schochet (אריה לייב שוחט) was a Russian rabbi who emigrated to the United States in 1906. He published one of the first books on Chassidus in America titled Lekutim Yekarim.
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[edit] Biography
R. Aryeh Leib was born in Russia in 1845[1] to his father Yaacov Nisson a student of Rabbi Refoel of Bershad. His mother Shaindel was the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Zev Wolf Segal[2]. He grew up in a town mostly occupied by Hasidic Judaism of Rabbi Refoel of Bershad[3], however he himself was a student of Rabbi Dovid of Tolna[4]. In his booke he relates how his uncle Reuven took care of Rabbi Avraham of Slovotia, while he recuperated from being lashed 1500 times by the Russian Government. Avraham and his brother where the owners a printing house. As was common, the text of published books would have to be edited to not have any negative remarks about the government, or other nations and religions other than Judaism. In Aryeh Leib's book he relates several stories involving Rabbi Avroham and himself at the age of twelve.
[edit] Rabbinate
Aryeh Leib became rabbi of the Russian town of Radifke (Vradiyivka, Mykolaiv) which is near the southern border of modern Ukraine[5]. He served in several capacities in addition to his general rabbinic duties, including shechita or kosher animal slaughtering and as being a mohel or ritual circumciser. He was the catalyst for the founding of a Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick) organization and various charitable institutions. The founding of these organizations is detailed in a later chapter in his book.
[edit] Emigration
In August 1906 he emigrated to the United States with his son Abraham, after he was drafted into the Russian army. While in Amsterdam awaiting his ships embarkment he was the guest of the Chief Rabbi. Arriving in Ellis Island he settled in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York which was the largest Jewish neighborhood outside of the Lower East Side.
He had a close relationship with many of his American Rabbic colleagues. Upon arrival he was reunited with his childhood friend Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Rabinowits the Rebbe of Monostritz.
[edit] Lekutim Yekarim
He published his book Lekutim Yekarim in 1926. It was one of if not the first books on the topic of chassidus published in America at that time. It was printed with several approbation from leading rabbinic figures. Including Rabbi Yehoushua Heschel Rabinowitz, the Rebbe of Monostritz, Rabbi Dovid Moredechai Twersky, Rebbe of Tolna and Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Twersky, Rebbe of Tolna - Philadelphia. The sefer contains many essays of recorded sermons used in Radifke. It includes stories and teachings from tens of Rabbis of earlier generations. Quoted several times is Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Eliyahu of Villna, the Villan Goan. Rabbi Dovid'l Tolner,
