Iconic Williamsburg: Rav Ezriel Yehuda Lebovitz, zt”l, Viener Ruv

The first day of Rosh Hashonoh marked 33rd yohrtzeit of the Viener Rov, previously known as the Hodhazer Rov, having served as a prominent Rov and Rosh Yeshiva in Hajdúhadház, Hungary) in the prewar and postwar era. 

Rav Leibovitz served as the Rov, Rosh Yeshiva, and head of the Viener Kehillah in Williamsburg for more than three decades. For every day of his golden tenure, he was a model of a true Oberlander Rov of the old style; brilliant, firm and uncompromising, meticulous in his dress in recognition of his position, and a uniquely gifted orator who left an indelible, lifelong impression upon his thousands of talmidim, many Rabbonim and ge’onim among them. 

Early Life

On 4 Nissan of the year 1910, Ezriel Yehuda was born in the picturesque town of Paks, in southern Hungary, to his father Rav Yaakov and his mother Perl. He learned under the great Ge’onim of prewar Hungary—and gained a reputation for his brilliance and yiras Shomayim. 

He was meshameish Rav Shimon Sofer and Rav Yitzchok Kerpel, who were the Rabbonim in the town. They accorded the young man great honor in recognition of his stature, despite his youth. 

In 1929, he became engaged with Sheindel Rivka, the daughter of Rav Yitzchok Rosenberg, the Rov of Hodhaz—a ga’on and mechaber seforim. He returned to Paks for the months of his engagement, where he toiled in Torah with ever greater intensity. 

In the summer of 1929, the wedding took place in Paks, with many Rabbonim in the region making their way to the town—all of them being equally impressed with the young chosson. 

Following WWI, he became a Rosh Yeshiva, despite his young age. Among his talmidim in Hajdú-hadház was the Tosher Rebbe, who accorded him honor for all his years, and would come to visit him. 

The Viener Kehillah 

Arriving in America following WWII, he began learning with bachurim at his home, and eventually a wealthy person purchased a building on Taylor Street in Williamsburg for the yeshiva, and Rav Ezriel moved there as well. Rav Ezriel was appointed in that year with a large inauguration ceremony in the Viener Shul. 

His manner of leadership of the kehillah was perfectly suited to the Viener kehillah. He was uncompromising in the perpetuating the minhagim of the Chasam Sofer. Simultaneous to his work in being marbitz Torah to the bachurim, he did not neglect his duties of the Rov of the community for even a moment. He was a revered figure among all the Rabbonim of Williamsburg of his era, and served as the sgan nosi of Hisachdus Harabanim for decades.   

Not at the Expense of Torah

One year after his appointment to lead the kehillah, the mesivta building was completed. He named it Nachlas Yaakov, in the name of his father—which it carries to this day. Thus began his glorious tenure as Viener Rosh Yeshiva. 

His manner was characterized by firmness, but with earned love and respect from the bachurim. ‘Fartugs seder’ began at five every morning, and the Ruv was there to give an opening shiur—reminiscent of the old Oberlander ways. He would produce thousands of admiring talmidim throughout the decades. 

He was meticulous with every penny of the yeshiva’s money, and he reviled any sort of publicity. He lived for the truth. He could regularly express himself sharply—in his uniquely accented Oberlander Yiddish, making no bones, and never hesitating in espousing his beliefs. 

His lifelong partner, Rebbetzin Sheindel Rivka, would frequently visit the yeshiva to ensure that the bachurim had what they needed. Before his passing, Rav Ezriel proclaimed that at least half of his Torah accomplishments are to her credit. They were sadly not blessed with children, but his many talmidim are a lasting legacy to this incredible Rov and Rebbetzin who reestablished the glory of Chasam Sofer Jewry in Old Williamsburg.