The memento booklet hyperlinked below was compiled from various published works and was presented at a Fabrengen held last night at Yeshivas Bais Toras Menachem of Los Angeles, in honor of the Fifth Yartzeit of Rabbi Mordechai Meir haKohen Bryski a”h.
Way back, as a young teenager, Reb Mottel had the privilege to attend the famous Yeshiva Tomchei T’mimim Lubavitch in Otvotsk, Poland. It was there he first acquired tremendous Lomdus and a proper Derech in learning, and he then developed as well, a deep appreciation for the “Avodah Shebalev” ~ Tefilah, particularly with Niggunim.
After World War II erupted, he, along with two dozen Chabad students, managed to miraculously escape the horrors of the Nazi y.sh. regime by fleeing to Vilna, and then across Asia to Kobe, Japan. There, they found themselves in the ghetto of Shanghai, China, feeling lonely, and traumatized with fear as to the welfare of their families back in Poland. Nevertheless, despite squalid living conditions and meager food rations, they managed to establish “Tomchei T’mimim of Shangchai”, and they adhered to Sidrei Hayeshiva with intense study of Nigleh and Chassidus. They even printed classical Sifrei Chassidus for themselves and the Jewish Community of Shanghai.
During those years, they also composed and sang Nigunim of longing and faith, which served as an anchor amidst the pain and confusion. This gave them expression for their strong emotions, and created a window of hope for the future.
The hiskashrus of these orphans to the Rebbe, which was a reflection of the loving deep concern the Rebbe had for his beloved disciples, continued to be the light which gave them the ability to withstand the pain and darkness of their trials. BH, they finally made it to the safe shores of United States and were reunited with the Rebbe.
In the late 1940s, the Previous Rebbe had sent Reb Mottel to Montreal for the express purpose of offering encouragement and moral support to the Yeshiva bochurim there – outside and apart from their regular day-to-day studies. Thereafter, he served as a deeply beloved and respected melamed in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim on “Bedford and Dean” for more than 25 years.
Thus, these young immigrant refugees, who knew little English and had zero financial resources, went on to not only rebuild their lives, b’Chasdei Hashem, but to become the leaders of the next generation of Chabad, establishing families of Shluchim and educators who have have built and sustained Mosdos throughout the world.
*One such Moisad is Bais Toras Menachem of Los Angeles; a post Yeshiva Program founded in 2008- 5769 by his daughter and son-in-law, Rabbi Mordechai and Rivka Katz. Its mission is to develop today’s bachurim into productive members of the Anash community, by providing an innovative Program which suits the needs of many students in today’s day and age who need a more balanced curriculum and individualized care while not compromising on Chassidish standards.
On the occasion of Rabbi Bryski’s fifth Yartzeit, how appropriate that Bais Toras Menachem plans to launch its building campaign…
With Hashem’s help and your support, BTM plans to expand its capacity to help more and more bachurim! They presently rent a beautiful duplex for the dormitory, but are running out of space, and the rent is so expensive. The Yeshiva received numerous Brochos to purchase a building and have been looking for a suitable property.
The intention is to dedicate the edifice as “HEICHAL MORDECHAI MEIR” honoring the memory of Rabbi Mordechai Meir Bryski, obm. From Poland to Shanghai, to United States…HELP KEEP the torch of Torah he carried along with him ablaze!
His spirit of caring and sensitivity to the wellbeing of the “Rebbe’s Talmidim” will surely be a suitable legacy to celebrate within the walls of our new facility.
Please partner with BTM in its vital mission while, at the same time, honoring the memory of a genuinely kind-hearted, G-d-fearing and devoted “Chassidishe Yid.” Thank you in advance for your broad vision and open heart.
For more information and donation opportunities, please visit www.Smicha.net.
Enjoy this small collection of selected parts of history of this noble person, some ma’aselach Reb Mottel loved to share, and personal impressions of some people who respected and admired this venerable yet humble Chosid.
Download PDF of the Teshura here
Here is a collection of the many Niggunim Rabbi Bryski loved to sing: family songs he grew up with, as well as some famous ones that he recorded to memory, such as “Reb Itche der Masmid” and “Reb Hillel Particher’s” otherwise known as “Hillel Kup”, and the “Amshinover NIggun”. There were many he himself composed, using Chassidishe Nigunim which he put to various parts of prayers, and the Nigunim composed and sung at the Lubavitch Yeshiva in Shanghai. Most notably, the Shir Hageulah, the Song of Redemption (#22) The lyrics of Shir Hageulah were first published in the the Lubavitch periodical Hakriah V’haKedusah in 1.941. The melody was later composed by Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Rosenberg in Shanghai. It was sung for the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe at the Yud Bais Tamus Farbrengen in 5706 (1946), and the Rebbe showed a fondness for it.
Index:
1.“Ad Mosai (composed)
2.“Amshinov Nigun” (Shnaghai)
3.“Atsabeyhem Kesef V’zohov”
4. B’ni bni
5.“Bnei Beischa” (composed)
6. Chassidic Nigun
7. Eishes Chayil
8. Eliyahu Hanavi
9. Tzu Farbrangen Mit Chassidim (to the Alef bais, composed in Shanghai)
10.”Faygeleh Nigun” (A Gutteh Voch)
11.“Hashiveinu (composed)
12. Itche Der Masmid’s Nigun
13.“K’racheim Av” (composed)
14.”Kadisheinu B’Mitzvosecha” (Shanghai)
15.“Karov Hashem” (composed)
16. Krias Yam Suf Nigun! (passed down from generation to generation)
17. Nigun Dveykus (from Alter Rebbe or Tzemach Tzedek)
18. Nigun Hisva’adus
19.”Oseh Shalom” (composed)
20. Purim Song “Boruch Mordechai”
21.“Rel Hillel’s Kupp”
22. Shir Hageulah (Shanghai)
23. “Tatte’s Nigun” (song his father a”h composed)
24. “U’vchein Tzadikim” (composed)
25. “V’taher Libeinu” (Shanghai)
26. “Yavo Eliyahu”
As the saying goes, “They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Rabbi Bryski was a memorable Mechanech, his warmth was genuine and he showed compassion to each Talmid (far beyond the call of duty). Rabbi Bryski was a very rare combination, – – a Chassid of original order, yet he so well understood and could relate to us American Talmidim (trust me other Mechanchim could not find the manner to cross this ocean). He took time to make each Talmid feel engaged and capable, and he did it without ‘bells and… Read more »
It should be with Hatzlocha!!