Rabbi Yechezkel haLevi Halstock

Rabbi Yechezkel Halstock

ztz"l, hy"d

Chief Rabbi of Ostrowiec, 1928-1942

Rabbi Yechezkel Halstock was son of Rabbi Meir Yechiel Halstock and the Rabbanit Rochel Miriam.

His sister was Yenta Chaya.

Rabbi Yechezkel married Baila Mirrel (Horowitz ) and they had the following children who all died in the Holocaust:

R' Elimelech Halsztuk (Rav in Nishelsk)

R' Avrohom Yitzchok

R' Naftali

Devora

R' Elazar

R' Yaakov (Av Bet Din in Ostrowiec)

R' Chaim

R' Menachem Mendel

After the passing of his father Rabbi Meir Yechiel Halstock ztz"l on 19 Adar 1928Rabbi Yechezkel Halstock served as the last Ostrowiec Rabbi . In 1942, he tried to escape to Sandomierz along with some of his Chassidim but was murdered by the Nazis there in 1942 on 10 of Tevet  in Sandomierz along with several of his children .

The Martyrdom of the Last Ostrovtser Rebi

Translation from the Ostrowiec Yizkor book provided by Jewish Gen.

Sign in Sandomierz Jewish Cemetery stating: Cemetery of the holy community of Sandomierz, Here lies the Holy Rabbi Yechezkel , Rabbi of Ostrowiec, Killed on "Kiddush Hashem" , May his blood be avenged.
Sign in Sandomierz Jewish Cemetery stating: Cemetery of the holy community of Sandomierz, Here lies the Holy Rabbi Yechezkel , Rabbi of Ostrowiec, Killed on "Kiddush Hashem" , May his blood be avenged.

Kodshei Yechezkel

Words of Rabbi Yechezkel Halevi Halshtock published by Yechiel Reuven Mandelboim .

Chaim Wolgelernter z’l, was a close student and a writer of the lectures of the Ostrovtzer Rebbe ( Rabbi Yechezkel Halshtock) .During the Holocaust, from his hiding spot, he wrote a famous kina, a type of eulogy poem. To your right, you can find the Hebrew version and an English translation of it (from the published diary The Unfinished Diary: A Chronicle of Tears.)

Kinot

in Hebrew

Kinot

in English