Pinchas Menachem Justman

Pinchas Menachem Justman
Portrait of Rabbi Pinkas Menakem Justman, The Piltzer Rebbe.
Personal details
Born	1848 Góra Kalwaria, Poland
Died	1920 Częstochowa, Poland

Pinchas Menachem (Elazar) Justman or Yustman or Yostman (1848–1920) The Piltzer Rebbe or Pilcer Rebbe, also known by the title of his main work, the Siftei Tzadik or Sefsei Tzadik. In his early years was known as Reb Mendel of Ger. was a Hasidic Rabbi who after the passing of his brother-in-law Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, became a Rebbe for some Gerrer Hasidim, in Pilica, Poland.

Early years

He was born in Góra Kalwaria in 1848 to his father Rabbi Binyamin Leizer Justman and mother Tzina Pesa Justman née Alter, daughter of the Chiddushei Harim the first Gererr Rebbe, and named Pinchas Menachem. He was known to family and friends as Reb Mendele of Ger. His mother, Mrs. Tzina Pesa, died when Pinchas Menachem was young, Orphaned of his mother, he was brought up by his grandparents, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter (known as the Chiddushei Harim) and his wife. When he was about nine years old, his grandfather took him to visit the Kotzker Rebbe, an event which left a lifelong impression on him. He married Hendel Lea, daughter of his uncle Abraham Mordechai Alter, in 1864.^[1]

Justman published the fifth printed Edition of the Jerusalem Talmud, at Piotrkow, 1899–1903, with commentary of Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky (Ridbaz).

Leadership

In 1905 when his brother-in-law, the second Gerrer rebbe—Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, died, some of the Hasidim sought to bestow the mantle of leadership upon him. He moved out of Gora Kalwaria to Pilica, or Piltz as known by Hasidim, and become their Rebbe. He added the name Eleazar to his name Pinchas Menachem, when he was very ill, on 23 of Tamoz 1912,^[2] Eventually he recovered from his illness. In 1915 he moved to Wieruszów, four years later he moved to Częstochowa.

Death and burial

He died on Shabbat 10th of Kislev 1910, in Częstochowa. Funeral was held on Monday because of a disagreement between the Community of Pilz and the Community of Częstochowa regarding the burial place. Eventually was he buried in the Jewish cemetery of Częstochowa, next to his son Yitzchak Meir who died a year earlier. The sixth Rebbe of Ger, was named Pinchas Menachem—by his father Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter—after his beloved uncle Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Justman.

He wrote commentary on Torah, called Sifsei Tadik, it was published after his death by his son Rabbi Enoch Gad Justman and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Alter of Pabianice son of the Sfas Emes. His commentary on the Talmud and Psalms disappeared at some point during the Holocaust.

Family

Justman’s first wife Hendel Leah (Alter), gave birth to six daughters and three sons.^[3]

Esther - married to Rabbi Avraham Abba Bomatz

Chaya Sarah - married to Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Mintz

Bracha - married to Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Eibeszic

Rabbi Isaac Mayer Justman - married Rachel Araten. Served as Rabbi in Częstochowa. D. 1920.

Feige - married to Rabbi Hanoch Henich Rotblat

Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Justman - married Rachel. D. 1928

Freida-Ratzh - married to Rabbi Meir Yoskovitz

Rachel - first marriage married to Rabbi Dov Berish Einhorn of Amstov. Second marriage to Rabbi Yehezkel Biderman

The Youngst son and most famous, Rabbi Chanoch Gad Justman - married Devora Matill Halperin. Succeeded his father as Rabbi of Piltz. He later became the Rabbi of Wieluń. Perished in Treblinka. D.1942.

His second wife Chaya Yuta (Rothenberg), had no children from him.

References