INTRODUCION:
R. Baruch haLevi Epstein
(1860-1942) is best known for his Torah commentary Torah Temima. His
father was R. Yechiel Michel Epstein of Novarodok, author of the Aruch
haShulchan. R. Baruch Epstein moved to Pinsk where he remained all his life,
besides for a short time he spent in America trying unsuccessfully to get a job
as a rabbi. He worked as a bookkeeper. R. Epstein had studied at Volozhin Yeshivah
under his uncle Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin,
known as the Netziv (who later became his brother-in-law after
being widowed and remarrying R. Epstein's sister[1]).
He died in Pinsk during the Nazi occupation of that city, while he was a
patient in the Jewish hospital which the Nazis had burned down.
Besides his Torah and other
commentaries, he also wrote an autobiography entitled Mekor Baruch. Some
of this work was translated into English under the title, My Uncle the
Netziv. Surprisingly, this book was later banned, see Kotzk
Blog: 053) Hey, Teacher Leave the Text Alone!.
This article, based extensively
on the research by Don Seaman and Rebecca Kobrin[2],
will examine one aspect of that autobiography, concerning R. Epstein’s aunt,
Rayna Batya – the first wife of the Netziv - who was denied the Torah
education she so longed for.
