Translation From Hebrew by Daphna Brofman
Coordinated by Tilford Bartman

While reviewing the old records of Zabludow, and hearing about it's old Shas Association and it's Geonim (geniuses), then it is understood how great is the importance of the local history for the knowledge of the history of Jewish communities in central Lita (part of old greater Lithuania), and their ties with Jews of western Europe.

The founder of the Shas association is the Gaon and great light, R. Elazar, author of the book " Or Khadash" (New Light), who served as a Rabbi in Zabludow158 years ago, in the year of Tav Kof Khaf Vav.)

Great Rabbis sat on the rabbinical bench of Zabludow. Like the Gaon of the book "Or Khadash", who had moved from here to Berlin and settled there. This is written in his book "Kitnot or Al Hatorah". Later he was appointed Rabbi in the big Jewish community Rakhnitz in Hungary, and sometime later he was awarded Rabbi of the big city of Koln. Also the great Gaon R. Yehoshua Shapira author of book "Arba Shitot" served as Rabbi in Meklenburg Shwern (not sure of spelling) Germany. This fact demonstates a great appreceation of the spiritual level of Jews of Lita amongst the Jewish communities of Western Europe. The biggest Jewish communities of Western Europe highly respected the Rabbis of Lita and crowned them in the rabbinical crown. This is also a witness to the high religious and cultural levels of the communities in central Lita, where Geonim lived and created.

In Zabludow there was a big Yeshivah headed by the Gaon R. Elazar of blessed memory, author of "Or Khadash". Teaching about what is the "Ktav Haaskama" (writing of agreement) of the famous Gaon who was one of the proudest Gaonim "who knew not fear from men"; he was the Rabbi of Volozhin. Later he was Rabbi of Minsk and of Metz in Alzace, he is the author of "Shaagat Arie" (Lion's Roar), with agreement writing to the book "Kitnot Or", Minsk: …and it's many years that I know the famous and to be praised Rabbi Elazar. His hands were in many things; in Gemara and Sevara as one of the famous Rabbis of our State. And he had been teaching in Zabludow for several years, passing the Torah to many students I don't usually grant agreement with authors of our generation because they spoil the paper with the ink and make mockery of the torah. Such an agreement with a book, given by a Gaon, who has never given an agreement on any essay, is a testimony of how great was the Gaon New Light, author of the Lion's Roar It also tells that in Zabludow exists an important community with a great Yeshivah.

In a much later time, the head of the Yeshivah was the Gaon of "Arba Hashitot" (Four Systems). After him the head of the Yeshivah was the Gaon R. Bendet of blessed memory, who instituted customs and important rules: these were written in the old Pinkas (notebook). Every year he used to visit the Gaon of Vilnus R. Eliahu of blessed memory. His essay on the Shas "Ner Tamid" (Eternal Candle) was very deep. There were other Gaonim like the Gaon, the humble man R. Yoseph of blessed memory and the Gaonim R. Elkhanan Tzvi Laff and his son R. Ephraim Laff.

It is our duty to mention the great teachers, R. Shmuel Maziritsik of blessed memory, great man of the book and a sharp learner, and also R. Yaacov Rosentzweig of blessed memory, who was an expert in Shas and Poskim and was known to be a great kabbalist.

Great were the Gaonim who sat on the rabbinical bench of the little town of Zabludow.

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