Zimmer, Rabbi Uriel

צימר (צימער), אוריאל

 

Rabbi Uriel Zimmer (20th of Kislev, 5681 – 9th of Kislev, 5722) was an Orthodox thinker and talented writer who held various activist roles among extreme Orthodox circles and later grew closer to Chabad Chassidut. He was born in Vienna in 1921 to a traditional family. In 1934, he immigrated to Eretz Yisrael. Initially out of curiosity, he explored the concept of a yeshiva and became a yeshiva student. This experience captivated him, leading him to observe Torah and mitzvot. Despite attending anti-religious schools, he insisted on wearing a kippah and peyot, which provoked the anger of school officials and teachers, but they could not suppress him due to his exceptional talents.

While studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he rented an apartment near the Meah Shearim neighborhood, where he met figures such as Reb Moshe Blau of Agudath Israel, Reb Yitzchak Breuer, Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, Rabbi David Baharan, Rabbi Zvi Pesach Frank, Rabbi Aryeh Leib HaCohen Epstein of Tchebin, and Rabbi Tuvia Bloi, who introduced him to the Rebbe of Lubavitch.

Gradually, even his family, who initially opposed his return to observance, embraced Torah and mitzvot. During this time, he visited the displaced persons' camps in Europe, warning them about the spiritual dangers awaiting new immigrants to Eretz Yisrael, where religious observance was often forcibly abandoned (sometimes under life-threatening conditions).

He married Mrs. Reizel Zeidel, one of the “Tehran Children.” After their marriage, they resided in Jerusalem. Rabbi Zimmer became one of the leaders of the Pagi movement, serving as deputy editor of its newspaper, HaKol. Despite political setbacks and disappointments within Orthodox circles, Pagi eventually disbanded. Rabbi Uriel then traveled to the United States for medical treatment, where he drew closer to Chabad Chassidut and became one of the Rebbe’s followers.

Rabbi Zimmer also became acquainted with the Satmar Rebbe and worked as a translator at the United Nations, fluent in 17 languages. Throughout his career, he regularly wrote for various Orthodox publications, often expressing strong anti-Zionist views. Additionally, he worked on translations, leveraging his multilingual expertise in his role at the UN.

While in the United States, he wrote for several newspapers in different languages, including Der Yid (Yiddish), The Jewish Press (English), Idishe Heim, and others. He published booklets in English about the mitzvah of mezuzah, a booklet in Arabic on Torah and Chassidut, and began composing a treatise on the virtues of modesty.

In 2011, his friend Rabbi Tuvia Bloi published his letters under the title Igerot Chasid. Rabbi Zimmer was privileged to translate the Tanya into Yiddish. The first translation of Tanya into another language, this edition was released in two volumes: the first in 1955, covering Likutei Amarim, and the second in 1958, covering Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah, Iggeret HaTeshuvah, and Iggeret HaKodesh with Kuntres Acharon. The publisher's introduction mentioned this as the first full translation of Tanya into another language, though Rabbi Zimmer’s name was not listed as the translator.

Rabbi Zimmer resided in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn and spent Shabbatot in Crown Heights when the Rebbe held farbrengens. He passed away in London after a prolonged illness on the 9th of Kislev, 5722 (1961), leaving no descendants. His widow later married Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss, a dayan in Antwerp and later Chief Rabbi of the Eidah HaChareidis in Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, streets, a housing complex, and a synagogue have been named in his honor. He was a prolific writer, publishing his essays and reflections in various journals and newspapers throughout the Jewish world. Rabbi Zimmer also edited the first two volumes of Likkutei Sichot and served as the translator of the “General Letter” from Yiddish to Hebrew for a period.

In one of the Simchat Torah gatherings, the Rebbe asked Rabbi Zimmer to sing the song "Hoaderet VehaEmunah L’Mi, L’Mi LeChai Olamim" with a children’s choir in multiple languages. Rabbi Zimmer later described the event in his letters, noting that he sang in Hebrew, Yiddish, English, Czech, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Arabic, Turkish, Italian, Dutch, and more!

As he became a Chabad Chassid, he was appointed by the Rebbe as an emissary to various famous and secret locations to support Torah observance and mitzvot, including missions to the White House on behalf of the Jewish community.

In 1959, under the Rebbe’s directive, Rabbi Zimmer wrote the booklet Yahadut HaTorah VeHaMedinah, which offered a thorough critique of Zionism and the "Religious Zionism" movement. The booklet was published under the pseudonym "A. Gitlin."

His gravestone reads: “Here lies Rabbi Uriel son of Avraham, z”l, of the Zimmer family. Blessed with many talents, he dedicated all of them to the pure faith. A Torah scholar and a man of kindness, he loved truth and honored parents and teachers. He was devoted to spreading the wellsprings of Chassidut outward, a Chassid of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Lubavitch. Passed away 9th of Kislev, 5722.”

On one occasion, the Rebbe told him that several public figures and Knesset members from a major Orthodox party asked him to pressure Rabbi Zimmer to stop writing against Zionism. However, the Rebbe instructed him to intensify his writing. In that private audience, Rabbi Zimmer mentioned that some Chabad activists in Israel were upset that he published things the Rebbe had shared with him earlier. The Rebbe responded: "Not only do I consent to the publication, but it is my explicit directive to publicize it."

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