On Rosh Hodesh Sivan, Rabbi Yehuda Rubinstein, the veteran Hebrew bibliographer, died in New York. He was in his eightieth year.
Death came to him suddenly. Only a week before he had received , fresh from the bindery, a copy of the index to the New York rabbinical journal “HaMesila” which he had prepared and which was printed by the “Research Institute for Religious Jewry,” and he was looking forward to the printing of the indices to the many, many other rabbinical periodicals which he had compiled for the “institute.”
Only a short time before his death he had promised to contribute an article to a new bibliographical journal which was being planned by the “Central Torah Library” of the Agudath Israel of Boro Park. In the midst of all these plans his life came to an end.
His remains were taken to Israel and interred in Jerusalem, where he had grown up and where he had sat at the feet of famous rabbis.
I had known him for many years. Not long after I arrived in this country, I phoned him. Back in Israel I had read some of his bibliographical notes and I wanted to meet him in person. That evening we talked on the phone for a long time. It turned out that we were living not far from each other and arranged to meet in the afternoon the following Sabbath
After that we remained in constant touch. Hardly a few days passed without us phoning each other.
Before writing about Rubinstein the bibliographer, I would like to say a few words about Rubinstein the man. He was an “Ish Hesed” in the fullest sense of the word, He had a heart of gold. He was not a rich man, but he was always ready to help those who were less fortunate than he. He was deeply respected by all who knew him and whenever he pleaded for a cause people would respond generously to his appeals. Before the holidays, in particular, he would be busy raising funds for needy scholars in Israel. Whenever I phoned him during those days, the first thing he would tell me would be: “Thank G-d I was successful in may appeal,” or “I have already sent a check to Jerusalem”
He woud go out of his way to patronize a shop if he knew that the storekeeper was in straitened circumstances.
He was acquaiited with many communal leaders and he never hesitated to call upon them to assist those he considered deserving.
He was a relative of Helena Rubinstein, the cosmetics queen and occasionally he appealed to her in behalf of people who were in need.
His heart was in Zion. He felt personally hurt by every piece of news of a political or military setback of an economic difficulty or moral failure of Israel. He rejoiced at every success.
In his youth in Jerusalem he had known well the leading rabbis of the Holy Land. During his long sojourn in the U.S. he became very close to most of the important rabbis of Eastern Europe who settled here or came here for short visits. Some of them published letters or notes of his in their books. They told him of their lives and experiences. His excellent memory retained everything he ever heard and thus he became a living repository of tales, anecdotes and bits of history not yet committed to writing.
He was a great “Baki” in rabbinical literature. His knowledge in the history and genealogy of rabbis and Hasidic dynasties was phenomenal.
Direct access to great literary treasures and constant information about new publications are indispensable to bibliographers. For this reason most of today’s bibliographers are librarians by profession. Rabbi Yehuda Rubinstein never had the opportunity of serving in a library. He was a teacher, later he worked in an office. It was only after work that he could visit libraries, call on private collectors or browse around in bookshops. In his spare time he built up his extraordinary knowledge of rabbinical literature. He did not have a large income but he constantly bought books and assembled a rich private collection.
He loved books and every free minute of his was given to that love. He loved those who loved books and was always ready to share with them his wide knowledge
He was born in Cracow, Galicia, where his father Rabbi Mordechai Rubinstein was communal preacher for more than thirty years. In 1907 his father settled in Jerusalem.
The boy studied in Jerusalem’s Yeshivas. The late Rabbi Ya’akov Moshe Charlap and the late Rabbi Zvi Pesach Frank were his principal teachers. While still very young he corresponded with famous rabbis and contributed to various journals.
In 1918 he married the former Ester Preis of Jerusalem and four years later he sailed for the United States. His first stop was in Philadelphia where he stayed at the hospitable home of his old friend Rabbi Moshe Lipschitz (the father of Rabbi Chaim Uri) He became secretary to Rabbi Dov Ary Levinthal, who was one of the leading rabbis of the US and taught at the Yeshiva “Mishkan Israel.” Later he moved to Chicago and from there to Los Angeles, teaching there at the city’s first Yeshiva which was founded and supported by the late Rabbi Moshe Sherira.
In 1928 Rabbi Rubinstein settled in New York, which was to be his home for almost fifty years. (The next article will be devoted to Rabbi Rubinstein’s literary activity..)
The Jewish Press, Friday, June 3, 1977