Early Photograph of the Gaon Rabbi Naftali Hertz Krechmer

Early Photograph of the Gaon Rabbi Naftali Hertz Krechmer

Early photograph [about 1900] of the gaon Rabbi Naftali Hertz Krechmer, Rabbi Shach's rabbi in his youth.

The righteous and genius Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Krechmer [1893-1913] head of the HaGaon R' Hertzel yeshiva in Ponovezh, author of Noam HaMitzvot, served as a ritual slaughterer under the supervision of R' Itzele of Ponovezh. His Noam HaMitzvot won Rabbi Simchah HaKohen of Dvinsk's enthusiastic approbation, they were acquainted from his youth in Bialystock. Following the passing of his only son as a child, he accepted upon himself to dedicate his life to educating Jewish children. Eleven year old Elazar Menachem Shach studied in the junior yeshiva he had opened. Rabbi Shach would listen to his lectures on טעמי המצוות [the "reasons" of the mitzvahs] between minchah and maariv on a daily basis and declared that 'his words, which burn with awe of Hash-m, pierced the hearts of the youths.' Rabbi Shach considered Rabbi Naftali Hertz one of his rabbis due to that daily hour between minchah and maariv.

Literature: Maran HaRav Shach, Sefer Toldot Chayav by Rabbi Asher Bergman, Bnei Brak 2006 43-44. The picture before us is also brought there.

Size: 18x20 cm. The picture was developed in New York in the early 20th century, and is placed in a magnificent cardboard frame with decoration of two images of windows for closing [one of the windows is detached]. Publisher's details in the bottom margins of the frame. Very fine condition.