Rabbi Pinchas Shapiro of Koretz
One of the pillars of the Chassidic movement, Rabbi Pinchas was the son of Rabbi Avraham Abba, and a descendant of Rabbi Natan Shapira, the author of Megale Amukot.
Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz
(1728 – 1790) One of the pillars of the Chassidic movement, Rabbi Pinchas was the son of Rabbi Avraham Abba, and a descendant of Rabbi Natan Shapira, the author of Megale Amukot. He received a thorough Lithanian-style Torah education, becoming proficient in Tanach and Talmud, as well as in the halachic codes and responsa. He also gained great expertise in Hebrew grammer and the writings of the great medieval philosophers. While still in his youth he wrote Talmudic dissertations and halachic novellae.
His father, Rabbi Avraham Abba, a firm opponent of Chassidism, was forced to leave Shklov in the wake of a blood libel. He moved his family to Mirpol in Volhynia where he met the Baal Shem Tov and became a dedicated follower of Chassidut. His son Pinchas also fell under the spell of the Baal Shem Tov, becoming one of the closest disciples of the charismatic leader of the new movement.
The Baal Shem Tov is reported to have said about R' Pinchas, "A soul such as that of R' Pinchas comes down to this world only once in 500 years." At the Baal Shem Tov behest Rabbi Pinhas settled in Koretz where he studied the mysteries of the Torah and labored at perfecting his way of life, striving for uncompromising truthfulness and conquering all traces of arrogance. Recognizing the purity of his soul, many people from all walks of life, among them outstanding rabbis, joined the circle of his disciples.
For unknown reasons Rabbi Pinchas moved to Ostroh in Volhynia, after having stayed in Koretz for 20 years. In 1790 he decided to settle in Tzfat, Eretz Yisrael. En route, he sojourned in Shipitovka. It was there that he fell ill and died.
Rabbi Pinchas devoted many hours for the study of the Zohar, and instructed his disciples to learn Zohar every day. He said that the study of Zohar is a good remedy for sustenance and conquering all traces of arrogance.
Rabbi Pinchas did not compose any books. His thoughts are mentioned in the writings of many other rebbes. The comments and insights of R' Pinchas have been anthologized by his students under various titles: Pe'er LaYesharim, Nufet Tzufim, and others. A comprehensive compendium was published, entitled Imrei Pinchas , from a manuscript that survived the Holocaust and was discovered in Poland.
About anger, he wrote:
"For many years I wrestled with my Anger, until finally I conquered him and placed him in my pocket. Now I take him out only when I need him. But I am so angry with him, that I do not ever want to take him out again!"
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