Rabbi Berland shlit"a: "Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz was a Reincarnation of the Soul of Yonatan ben Gershom who Served Idols"

In a lesson delivered this morning by our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), the Rav said: "Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz, whose Hillula (anniversary of passing) falls today, was a gilgul (reincarnation) of the soul of Yonatan ben Gershom (the grandson of Menashe) who served avodah zarah (idolatry), and Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz descended in a reincarnation to this world in order to rectify what he had done.

The 21st of Elul is the day of the passing of Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz zt"l (of blessed memory), one of the greatest Halachic (Jewish law) decisors of his generation, who passed away 255 years ago on the 21st of Elul, 5524 (1764).

In the lesson delivered this morning by our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, the Rav said that there were those who placed a ban of excommunication upon Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz due to his involvement in the hidden Torah (Kabbalah), as he even wrote amulets. The Rav shlit"a said that Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz zt"l was a gilgul (reincarnation) of the soul of Yonatan ben Gershom (the grandson of Menashe) who served avodah zarah (idolatry), and Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz descended in a reincarnation to this world to rectify what he had done.

Aside from his vast knowledge of the Torah, he also possessed knowledge of secular wisdoms and was very well-liked by many ministers and kings. There is a tradition regarding his many debates with kings and Christian clergy, in which he excelled with clever and sharp answers. There are stories about his tendency, even from childhood, toward this type of response. For example, it is told about him:

Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz wrote many books, the most famous of which were the "Kresi U'Plesi" on the Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah (Altona, 1763) and the "Urim V'Tumim" on the Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat, in two parts (Karlsruhe, 1775-1777). This book was used extensively by the author of the "Nesivos HaMishpat" in his own work.

Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz wrote dozens of books on subjects of Halacha (Jewish law), commentary, Aggadah (homiletic teachings), and Kabbalah, but only his book "Kresi U'Plesi" was printed during his lifetime (Altona, 1763). In the years following his passing, the books he himself had prepared for print were published, and after them, during the more than 250 years that have passed since his passing, most of his writings were printed. A few of his individual writings, and especially notes of his Chiddushim (original Torah insights) written by his students, were not printed and are published from time to time in Torah journals.

Rabbi Berland shlit"a on the ban against the Ramchal and against Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz