For the Yahrzeit Day — The holy Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Bazshlansky, known as Rabbi Alter Tepliker, hy”d zt”l

On the occasion of the 103rd yahrzeit of the master of heartfelt outpouring and soul-restoration, the holy Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Bazshlansky, known as Rabbi Alter Tepliker, hy”d zt”l—lines to his portrait ■ the story of his life ■ the sefarim he authored ■ among the holy ones—murdered Al Kiddush Hashem 103 years ago, and ascended to Heaven in a storm

Rabbi Alter was born in the years 5615–5616 (1855–1856) to his father, the gaon Rabbi Asher Zelig Bazshlansky of Teplik, one of the תלמידים of Admor Moharnat—known as “der Rebbe Reb Zelig” [meaning: “the Rebbe, Reb Zelig”], as the people of Teplik called him because of his great stature. In his first marriage, Rabbi Alter married Mrs. Dishel, and they had a son, Rabbi Shmuel Shmelka, and several daughters. In his second marriage, he married Mrs. Malka, daughter of Rabbi Nachman HaLevi Chazan of Tulchin (Rabbi Nachman Tulchiner). From this marriage they had no children. For his livelihood, Rabbi Alter taught young boys. At the Rosh Hashanah kibbutz in Uman, in the old kloiz of the Breslov Chassidim, Rabbi Alter served as chazzan, leading from “Adon Olam” (the beginning of the prayers) until “HaMelech” (in the prayer Nishmas Kol Chai). Rabbi Alter prayed with such fiery enthusiasm that even his silent Amidah could be heard from him. The chazzan would not begin Chazaras HaShatz until Rabbi Alter finished his prayer and stepped back. The Rav of Teplik, Rabbi Shimshon Aharon Polansky, recognized Rabbi Alter’s greatness. Whenever he needed to leave the city, he would ask Rabbi Alter to fill his place until he returned, and to rule for the townspeople on their halachic questions. Rabbi Avraham Sternhartz instructed those who heard his teachings to look at Rabbi Alter’s avodah and learn a lesson from him. In the year 5642 (1882), Rabbi Alter visited Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Alter authored many sefarim on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, such as Hishtapchus HaNefesh, Meshivas Nefesh, Machnia Zedim, the Pesach Haggadah Or Zore’ach, and many more. In addition, Rabbi Alter also copied manuscripts for the great אנשי שלומנו of his generation. His sefarim gained tremendous renown, and thousands (!!!) of souls drew close to the light of our holy and awesome Rebbe Nachman of Breslov through his books. Among those who were brought close in this way was Rabbi Yisrael Ber Odesser, who found a page from the sefer Hishtapchus HaNefesh rolling about in the trash heaps. Around the year 5680 (1920), there was great turmoil in Ukraine because of the Bolshevik Revolution. In that vacuum, hundreds (!) of murderous Ukrainian gangs arose. As in other years, they found satisfaction for their urges by abusing the Jews of their land, under the pretext that the Jews supported communism. These murderers, thirsty for Jewish blood, went from village to village, slaughtering, torturing, and burning every Jew who crossed their path.

[caption id="attachment_50027" align="aligncenter" width="618"] The gravesite of the holy Rabbi Alter Tepliker and Rabbi Aharon Kiblitsher, in the town of Teplik, Ukraine.[/caption]

One of these gangs was ruled by the Ukrainian arch-murderer Petliura, yimach shemo [and of course the Ukrainian people take pride in him, like all the master-murderers who came from their nation, such as Chmielnicki, yimach shemo, who was recently declared by them a national hero]. His gang did not pass over Teplik either. On the 12th of Adar II, 5679 (1919), they raided the town of Teplik, and one of their victims was none other than the holy Rabbi Alter Tepliker, hy”d zt”l. A Ukrainian murderer broke into his home and fired at Rabbi Alter… The bullet pierced his throat, and his soul returned to Hashem, with a smile still upon his face.