Rabbi Scheinberg’s Tallit Katan

Rabbi Scheinberg’s Tallit Katan
Woolen tallit katan, with fringes (tzitzit), worn by R. Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, dean of the Torah Or yeshiva. R. Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg (1910-2012), a leading Torah scholar of recent times, was a holy and remarkable figure. An exceptional Torah scholar, he would spend almost all his days and nights diligently studying Torah, even beyond the age of 100. He was the dean of the Torah Or yeshiva and a renowned halachic authority, recognized at the end of his life as one of the elder yeshiva deans and a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah. Born in Poland, he immigrated with his parents to the US at a young age, where he became close to R. Yaakov Yosef Herman ("All for the Boss"), who convinced the young boy to study in yeshivot in the US. Known for his genius, R. Chaim Pinchas completed the entire Talmud at age 16. After his marriage to R. Herman's daughter, the young couple travelled to Poland where R. Scheinberg studied at the Mir Yeshiva and became close to European Torah giants (such as R. Yerucham of Mir, the Chafetz Chaim and R. Baruch Ber Leibowitz who granted him rabbinic ordination). In 1935, they returned to the US, and R. Scheinberg served in the rabbinate and taught in various yeshivot. In 1960, he founded the Torah Or Yeshiva in the US, and a year later relocated to Eretz Israel with his disciples, establishing the yeshiva in Jerusalem. Within a few years, the yeshiva became a large Torah center, attracting over 1000 students. He wrote dozens of books on Halacha and Aggadah: his series on Ketzot HaChoshen, Avnei Milu'im, Shev Shemat'ta; and more. He was an outstanding righteous man, and became known for his wonders and Segulot, attracting many to come request his blessings for salvation. He adopted many holy practices, such as not interrupting his study of Torah for small talk, not speaking on Shabbat about mundane matters, only eating from a Se'udat Mitzvah and donning tefillin the entire day, wrapped in a tallit on top of his suit. He wore dozens of tzitziot under his frock coat, an extraordinary practice which until this day remains a mystery. Even when walking in the street, he would don dozens of tzitziot, and upon returning home, he would add more bundles of tzitziot until he could almost not be seen under the mountain of cloth. He never revealed his reason for this practice and would deny all explanations others gave for this custom, but reputedly, he did so to fulfill a vow he pledged at a time of trouble, possibly out of love of this mitzvah or perhaps for ascetic reasons. Tallit katan, thin wool fabric, white with black stripes. Approx. 140X66 cm. Thin, strong fringes. Good condition. Stains. Enclosed is a letter of authorization by his son R. Simcha Scheinberg, who presented this tallit to his friend, attesting "that the tzitzit I gave to [---] was worn by my father R. Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg".