Haifa’s Rebbe of Unity and Peace

On Motzaei Yom Kippur 1924 in Grosswardein Transylvania the Ahavas Yisrael of Vizhnitz couldn’t contain his joy. A new grandson had just been born to his son Rav Baruch Hager and Rebbetzin Tzirel — and named Eliezer after Rav Baruch’s uncle Rav Eliezer of Dzikov. Later looking at the newborn the Ahavas Yisrael exclaimed “When my grandfather Rav Naftali of Ropschitz beheld his newborn son Rav Eliezer of Dzikov he said ‘Eliezer my son you are shining like the sun!’ ” Years later it was obvious that the Ahavas Yisrael was referring to this newborn Eliezer as well. He was to become the Seret-Vizhnitz Rebbe of Eretz Yisrael and in the 51 years of his influence until his passing last week at age 90 helped turn notoriously “red” Haifa from a staunchly secular town to a city that was open to the embrace of Torah and chassidus. The Ahavas Yisrael passed away in 1936 when Eliezer was just 12 but even as a young child he was unusually attached to his grandfather. One time he accompanied the Ahavas Yisrael to the “kvittlach tzimmer ” the Rebbe’s private domain where he received visitors in confidence. The Rebbe’s attendants tried to stop the child at the door. “Leave the boy ” the Rebbe ordered them. “Let him watch. The day will come when many people will gather at his door.”