Rabbi Aryeh Leib Schochet was a Russian rabbi who emigrated to the United States in 1906. He published one of the first books on Chassidus in America titled Lekutim Yekarim.
Biography
R. Aryeh Leib was born in Balta, now in Ukraine in 1845. His father was Yaacov Nisson, a student of Rabbi Refoel of Bershad. His mother, Tziporah, was the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Zev Wolf Segal. He grew up in a town mostly occupied by Chasidim of Rabbi Refoel of Bershad, although he was a student of Rabbi Dovid Twersky of Tolna and Rabbi Yitzchok Yoel Rabinowitz of Kantikaziva. In his book, he related how his uncle Reuven took care ofRabbi Shmuel Avraham Abba Shapiro of Slavita, while he recuperated from being lashed 1,500 times by the Russian government. Avraham and his brother Pinchas Shapiro, both grandchildren of Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz, were the owners of the Slavita printing house, which had been founded by their father, Rabbi Moshe Shapiro. As was common, the text of published books had to be edited so that they had nothing negative about the government. When the brothers were accused of not having the proper censorship license, their printing house was shut down and the brothers were sent to Siberia. In Aryeh Leib's book, he related several stories involving Rabbi Avraham and himself at the age of twelve. Aryeh Leib died in his Brooklyn home on December 19, 1928 and was buried in Old Montefiore Cemetery in Springfield Gardens, Queens.
Rabbinate
Aryeh Leib became rabbi of the Ukrainian town of Vradiivka in Mykolaiv Oblast, near the southern border of modern Ukraine. He served in several capacities in addition to his general rabbinic duties, including shechita and being a mohel. He was the catalyst for the founding of a Bikur Cholim organization and various charitable institutions. The founding of these organizations is detailed in his book.
Emigration
In August 1906, he emigrated to the United States with his son Abraham, after Abraham was drafted into the Russian army. While in Amsterdam awaiting his ship's embarkment, he was the guest of the Chief Rabbi there. After arriving at Ellis Island, he settled in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York, which was the largest Jewish neighborhood outside of the Lower East Side at that time. He had a close relationship with many of his American rabbinic colleagues. Upon arrival, he was reunited with his childhood friendRabbi Yehoshua Heschel Rabinowits, the Rebbe of Monostritz, and with Rabbi Dovid Mordechai Twersky of Tolna-New York and Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Twersky of Tolna-Philadelphia.
Lekutim Yekarim
He published his book Lekutim Yekarim in 1926. It was one of the first books on the topic of chassidus published in America. It was printed with several approbation from leading rabbinic figures, including Rabbi Yehoushua Heschel Rabinowitz, the Rebbe of Monostritz, Rabbi Dovid Mordechai Twersky, Rebbe of Tolna and Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Twersky, Rebbe of Tolna - Philadelphia. The sefer contains many essays of recorded sermons used in Radifke, and stories and teachings from tens of rabbis of earlier generations. Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, the Vilna Gaon, and Rabbi Dovid'l Tolner are quoted several times.
