SmallTalk: Rav Lazer Portnoy (1908 - 1975) (with Rabbi Moshe Baruch Kaufman)
June 23, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readThe Man Behind the Mir Yeshiva's Escape
In 1940, as the Mir Yeshiva faced annihilation, one man was dispatched to the front lines of diplomacy—not with a gun, but with a mission to secure visas, passports, and exit permits. Rav Lazer Portnoy (1908–1975) was already in his mid-30s, a seasoned talmid chacham from the Brisker tradition who had spent over a decade in the Mir. When the yeshiva needed someone to navigate the chaos of wartime Europe, he became the point person on the ground in Kovna, meeting diplomats, making connections, and ultimately helping secure the transit that saved hundreds of lives. Yet fifty years after his passing, his own family knew almost nothing about him. Rabbi Moshe Baruch Kaufman, Portnoy's grandson-in-law, set out to change that, compiling a sefer that weaves together Torah novellae, historical documents, photographs, and family memories into a portrait of a man who was both a lamdan and a quiet hero.
The Date Line and the Shanghai Question
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:02) **Episode Introduction and Guest** - Host Naki Weinstein introduces Rabbi Moshe Baruch Kaufman and the subject of the episode: the newly published sefer "Afikei Lezer" about Rav Lazer Portnoy (1908-1975).
- 2 (00:45) **Why This Sefer Was Created** - Rabbi Kaufman explains the personal and family-driven motivation behind the project.
- 3 (02:19) **The Life and Role of Rav Lazer Portnoy** - A brief biography of Rav Portnoy, emphasizing his critical, hands-on role in the Mir Yeshiva's escape.
- 4 (05:18) **Structure of the Sefer "Afikei Lezer"** - A guided tour through the sefer's diverse sections, from Torah novellae to historical documents.
- 5 (08:57) **The Date Line Article and the Mir in Kobe** - The host discusses the unique halachic challenge of the International Date Line faced by the Mir Yeshiva in Kobe, Japan.
- 6 (12:19) **Compiling the History of the Mir's Escape** - Rabbi Kaufman details the research process and the key historical insights he uncovered.
- 7 (21:29) **Visuals and Key Figures** - The host highlights the extensive visual documentation and the roles of various diplomats in the story.
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Show Notes
#491
> To purchase the Sefer: https://alehzayis.com/product/%d7%90%d7%95%d7%a8-%d7%90%d7%9c%d7%99%d7%a2%d7%96%d7%a8%d7%9c%d7%96%d7%9b%d7%a8%d7%95-%d7%a9%d7%9c-%d7%94%d7%92%d7%90%d7%95%d7%9f-%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%90%d7%9c%d7%99%d7%a2%d7%96%d7%a8-%d7%a4%d7%95/
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