When the plague of frogs was brought on the Egyptians the Torah says VATA’AL HATZVARDE’A, “…the frog ascended…”(Shemos 8,2)
Rashi brings the Midrash that tells us it was only one frog that came up from the Nile since the singular is used. As the Egyptians beat it, it kept multiplying. Why then did the Egyptians beat it? Had they left it alone, one frog could not have done much damage!
The fact is that it is human nature to start opposing frantically that which is not to our liking. It would be more affective if we would let some of these ideas and movements die out without publicity. When we start raising objections we are actually giving them greater recognition and publicizing their propaganda. This, of course, does not mean that we should sit back and ignore when moral issues are involved. It does mean that we should use an intelligent response and not just come out shouting.
In our personal lives we could also use this advice. If someone says something to our disliking, if we ignore it, it could dissolve in thin air. If we start shouting and objecting, we are giving it greater importance.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Mazel Tov!
Baruch Hashem I got engaged!
It is old news at this point but I felt it apropos to announce it on the blog (which I have been neglecting :-)).
IYH I will resume posting announcements and good news from our OJ community.
A public apology to all the OJ Rebbeima and Staff whom I have neglected as of yet to personally call.
Have a Great Shabbos!!
Famous yahrzeits this week!
Famous Yahrzeits licensed to OJINYU.blogspot.com by manny Saltiel and Anshe.org
This Shabbos, 25 Teves(Parashas Va’Era)
RavMoshe Tzvi Gitterman of Savran (1775-1838). Known as a genius as a boy, he
was fluent in all of Seder Nezikin at the age of twelve. He learned chassidus
from Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rav Baruch of Mezhibuzh. After his
father’s petira in 1802, he succeeded him as maggid of Savran. After the petirah
of the Ohev Yisrael, he became the foremost Rebbe in all of the Ukraine.
Eventually, he became the Rav of the two kehillos of Uman and Keshinov, When Rav
Baruch of Mezhibuzh was niftar in 1811, Rav Moshe Tzvi took on the mantle of
Admorus, officially leading Chassidim. His Divrei torah are recorded in Likutei
Shoshanim.
Rav Yosef Rosen, Rav of Telshe and Slonim (1885).
Rav Eliyahu Meir Feivelsohn of Yekatrinoslav (1928)
Rav Yechiel Michel Tukatchinsky [Tikochinsky], mashgiach of Slabodka in Bnai
Brak, and founder of Yeshivas Mekor Chaim in Yerushalayim. In 1925, he published
a sefer called Tekufas Hachamoh Uvirchosoh, in preparation for the bracha made
when the sun returns to the point at which it began upon Creation. He wrote a
sefer called Bein Hashmoshos, published in 1929, which dealt with the
International Date Line. In 1941, he changed his mind altogether, as documented
in his sefer, Hayomam Bekadur Haaretz, in which he shows that the new day begins
12 hours to the east of Yerushalayim.
Rav Shlomo Mazuz, author of Sho’el U’meishiv Kerem Shlomo and Cheshek Shlomo
(1982).
Sunday, 26 Teves
Rabbeinu Avraham bar Dovid miPosquires (Ra’avad), author of Hasagos on the
Rambam and the Rif
Rav Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov, author of Orach LeChaim and P’ri Chaim
(1816).[Note: Rav Chaim Leib Epsztein was Rav and Av Beis Din at Czyzewo from
1729, then at Czyzewo, and finally at Kolszyn. He was mechaber of a sefer called
Pri Chaim. There was also a Rav in Sokolow named Rav Chaim Leib from Kaluszyn
author of Pri Chaim.]
Rav Mattisyahu (ben Aharon Tzvi) Weitzner (1952-2010). Av Beis Din of
Pshemisheler, he succeeded his father as Rav of the kehilla in 2007, after the
latter was niftar at the age of 102.
Monday, 27 Teves
Rav Shimshon Raphael (ben Raphael Aryeh) Hirsch, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
(1808-1888). His father (1777-1857), who changed the family name to Hirsch, was
the son of Rav Menachem Mendel Frankfurter of Altuna (1742-1823). Rav Menachem
Mendel was a talmid of Rav Yonasan Eibeshitz and was the Rav of three
communities of Altuna, Hamburg, and Wandsbeck (“AHU”). At the age of 18, Rav
Shamshon Raphael went to Mannheim to learn at the yeshiva of Rav Yaakov
Ettlinger, author of Aruch La’ner. Rav Hirsch received smicha from Rav Ettlinger
after learning there for a year. Thereafter, he attended the University of Bonn.
That education would serve him well later in life as he combated the forces of
Reform with eloquence. When he was 21, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of the Grand
Duchy of Oldenburg. There, he married Chana Judel. He also authored Iggros
Hatzafon (The 19th Letters), under the pen name Ben Uziel. One year later, he
published Chorev. In 1847, he became Chief Rabbi of Moravia, a region of 50,000
Jews in 52 communities, and which is now the Czech Republic. In 1851, he became
the Rav of Frankfurt am Main, which he transformed into a Torah bastion. His
best known works are the classic six-volume Commentary on Chumash.
Rav Avrohom Shlomo (ben Eliyahu Eliash), the Rebbe of Szamosujvar (1874-1930).
The town of Szamosujvar was near Dej in Transylvania and modern day Romania (at
times it was part of Hungary). Rav Avrohom Shlomo was a talmid and gabbai of
the Arugos Habosim and a chasid of the Belzer Rebbe and he was very close
friends with the Dejer Rav. He was appointed Dayan of Szamosujvar in 1895, and
was one of the three member Beis Din that appointed Rav Yoel Teitelbaum as Rebbe
in Satmar. He became Rebbe in 1920. He was a well-known expert in the halachos
of choshen mishpat and wrote many seforim, most of which were destroyed in the
Shoah.
Rav Shmuel Hillel (ben Avraham) Shenker (1956). His father was one of Rav
Yisrael's Salanter’s greatest disciples. Reb Shmuel spent his early years in
Slobodka, but he was orphaned of his father at an early age. He thus traveled to
the Talmud Torah in Kelm and learned under the Alter, Reb Simcha Zissel. After a
number of years, he traveled to Eretz Yisrael with his relative, Reb Tzvi Pesach
Frank, who later became chief rabbi of Yerushalaim. In 1895, Reb Shmuel Hillel
married the oldest daughter of Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. On 9 Iyar 1944, his
beloved son Reb Mendel Shenker passed away when he was only forty-six. A year
later, another son - Yisrael - passed away on 27 Teves 1945.
Rav Kalman Avraham Goldberg (1895-1968). A devoted disciple of the Alter of
Novardok, he became Rav in Vasilkov. He moved to America in 1926. In 1928, he
was hired to head the beis din for Adas Yisrael, under Rav Velvel Margulies.
After Rav Velvel’s petira, he became Rav.
Rav Menashe Yitzchak Meir (ben Asher Yeshaya) Eichenstein of Ziditchov -Petach
Tikvah (1971). He was named Rebbe of Ziditchov after the petira of his father.
After World War II, he moved to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Petach Tikvah.
Rav Avraham Simcha HaKohen Kaplan (1990). Chief Rabbi of Tzefas.
Rav Pinchas Hirschprung, Chief Rabbi of Montreal (1915-1998). At the age 15, he
published a Torah journal, Ohel Torah, along with his friend, Rav Yeshaya Yosef
Margolin, in Galicia. He then joined Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, learning under
Rav Meir Shapiro. At the outbreak of War World II, Rav Pinchas fled to Vilna,
which was still neutral territory. In 1942, he acquired a visa to travel to
Canada with a group of students from Mir and Lubavitch. When he arrived in
Montreal, he was offered the position of Rav Kehillas Adas Yisrael. When Yeshiva
Merkaz Hatorah was established, Rav Pinchas was made its Rosh Yeshiva.
Eventually, he was Rav Ha’Ir of Montreal.
Tuesday, 28 Teves
Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir in Brooklyn (1921-2008). Born in the
small Polish-Lithuanian town of Kinishen, Reb Shmuel began his formal learning
at Yeshiva Ohel Torah of Baranovitch in 1935 under the leadership of Rav
Elchonon Wasserma. During his years in the Mirrer Yeshiva, he became very close
with the famed Mashgiach of the Mir, Rav Yechezkel Levenstein. Rav Shmuel
escaped from Europe together with the Mirrer Yeshiva and spent six years with
the yeshiva in exile in Shanghai. He arrived in the United States with the
yeshiva led by the mashgiach, Rav Chatzkel, in 1947, and continued to learn in
the yeshiva. In the early 1950s, Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz zt”l, who had sustained
and saved the yeshiva in Shanghai and rebuilt it in America , took Rav Shmuel as
a son-in-law. After his marriage, Rav Shmuel joined the kollel of the Mirrer
Yeshiva. In 1964, with the passing of Rav Kalmanowitz, Rav Shraga Moshe
Kalmanowitz, oldest son of Rav Avrohom, together with Rav Shmuel, became roshei
yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva.
Wednesday, 29 Teves
Rav Yehoshua YehudahLeib (ben Binyamin) Diskin (1818-1898), the Maharil Diskin,
Rav of Brisk. He was born in Horodno. Reb Yehoshua Leib was engaged before his
bar mitzva and at the age of fourteen he married the daughter of Rav Brode and
lived with his father-in-law in Wolkowitz. He became Rav in various cities such
as Lomza, Mezritch, Kovno, Shklov, and finally in Brisk. He moved to Eretz
Yisrael after Yom Kippur in 1878. Rav Diskin's second wife, Sarah, was known as
the "Brisker Rebbetzin." She descended from the Nodah bi-Yehudah and brought
40,000 rubles into their marriage, with which the couple established the Diskin
Orphanage in Yerushalyim in 1880. She died in 1907. Rav Diskin also established
the Ohel Moshe Yeshiva and held the line against attempts by maskilim to
introduce secular institutions to Yerushalyim.
Rav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchak (ben Yechiel) of Alexander, the Yismach Yisrael
(1853-1910). At an early age, his father took him to Rav Menachem Mendel of
Vorka, then Rav Beirush of Biala. After the latter’s passing, he became of a
chasid of his father. After his father’s passing in 1894, he became the
Alexander Rebbe.
Rav Marcus (Nosson) Adler, author of Nesina L'ger (1803-1890). He was Rav of
Oldenburg, 1829-1830, and Hanover, 1830-1844, and Chief Rabbi of the British
Empire, 1844-1890.
Rav Meir Chodosh, mashgiach of Yeshivas Chevron, Ateres Yisrael, and Ohr
Elchanan (1898-1989). Born in Patrich, Lithuania, he was a talmid muvhak of the
Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel. In the summer of 1925, he accompanied
the Alter on the journey to Eretz Yisrael, to join the yeshiva which had been
founded a year earlier in Chevron. After his marriage in 1928, Rev Meir was
appointed as a maggid shiur in the yeshiva and served as one of the spiritual
overseers, alongside Rav Yehuda Leib Chasman. After Rav Chasman's petirah, he
was appointed mashgiach. He lived through the Arab massacre of Chevron's Jews on
Shabbos morning, 16 Av, 1929, as he and his young Rebbetzin hid under the
blood-stained bodies of two of the karbonos. Several years after the yeshiva
moved to Yerushalayim, Rav Meir was offered a position as Rosh Yeshiva of a new
yeshiva in Warsaw. Rebbetzin Chodosh was firmly opposed to this plan; the
churban of Europe proved her advice correct.
Rav Daniel Levy (1935-2004). Born the youngest of nine children in Petersfield,
England, he learned at Gateshead Yeshiva and Kollel before and for 12 years
after his marriage. Following a trip to America, where he learned from Rav Moshe
Feinstein and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, he was chosen as Rav of the Khal Adas
Yeshurun of Zurich.
Rav Chaim Shamshon Swiatycki (1914-2004), nephew of the Chazon Ish and scion of
the Karelitz dynasty, whose patriarch and matriarch – Rav Shemaryahu Yosef and
Rasha Leah, had 15 children. Her third child, Henya Chaya, married Rav Abba
Swiatycki, who became Rav of Kosova, after the petira of Rav Shemaryahu Yosef
during WW I. Their only child was Rav Chaim. Rav Chaim’s mentor was his uncle,
Rav Yitzchak Zundel Karelitz, brother of the Chazon Ish. At the age of 14, he
left for Mir, then learned with Rav Baruch Ber Lebovitz in Kaminetz, where he
stayed for six years. In 1934, he followed his uncle to Eretz Yisrael to escape
conscription. He learned at Yeshiva Chevron in Yerushalayim and Yeshivas
Volozhin in Tel Aviv. He then moved to America in 1938 where he joined the
faculty at Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim.
Rav Yitzchak Kaduri(1901-2006). Born to to Rab Zeev Diva in Baghdad. Upon his
second visit to Eretz Yisrael in 1923, he changed his last name from Diva to
Kadouri and fixed his place of study at Yeshivat Porat Yosef in the Old City. He
studied Kabbalah under the tutelage of Rabbi Ephraim Cohen and Rabbi Salman
Eliyahu (father of former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu). After
marrying his first wife, Sarah, HaRav Kadouri lived in Shechunat Habucharim, one
of Jerusalem's first neighborhoods built outside the Old City walls. He would
stay at the yeshiva all week, coming home shortly before Shabbos. Following the
petira of Rav Ephraim Hakohen, head of Jerusalem's mekubalim, toward the end of
1949, Rav Kadouri was selected to head the group. He found a new institution
called Yeshivat Nachalat Yitzchak. Graced with a phenomenal memory, he was said
to have known the entire Babylonian Talmud by heart. His closer students say
that the blessing of the Ben Ish Chai and that of the Lubavitcher Rebbe - both
of whom blessed him that he might live to see the Final Redeemer - came true.
The students say that Rabbi Kaduri told them he met the Messiah on Cheshvan 9,
5764 (Nov. 4, 2003). He reportedly said that the Messiah is not promoting
himself, and that a study of his [Rabbi Kaduri's] words in recent months would
provide hints of his identity.
Thursday, 1 Shvat
Rav Nota of Chelm, the Neta Shaahuim (1812)
Rav Moshe Schick, the Maharam Shick (1807-1879). His “last name” was created by
his family in response to a demand by government agencies; it is an acrostic for
“Shem Yehudi Kodesh.” Born in Brezheva, a small town in Hungary, he was sent at
the age of 11 to learn with his uncle, Rav Yitzchak Frankel, av beis din in
Regendorf. When he was 14, he was sent to learn under the Chasam Sofer in
Pressburg, where he stayed for six years. When he was 20, he married his cousin,
Gittel Frankel. He was appointed Rav in Yargen in 1838, the year of the Chasam
Sofer’s petira, then became Rav in Chust.
Rav Moshe Yechiel Halevi Epstein from Ozerov (1890-1971), great-grandson of Rav
Leibish, the first Ozerover Rebbe. In 1912, he became Rav of Ozerov and in 1918,
he replaced his father as Rebbe. During World War I, Ozerov burned down, with
only 22 houses left standing (only 11 of Jewish inhabitants). In 1920, he
traveled to America to publicize the importance of Agudas Israel, and in 1927,
he moved his family to the Bronx. He moved to Eretz Yisrael in 1949 and settled
in Tel Aviv. Rav Moshe Yechiel wrote two monumental works, Aish Daas, comprised
of 11 volumes, and Be’er Moshe, 12 volumes on Chumasah and Tanach. Each volume
contained at least 500 pages, over 10,000 pages in all. Two biographies have
been written about him, “Balabas Aish” and “The Aish Daas of Ozerov.” Rav Moshe
Yechiel was succeeded by his son-in-law, Rav Tanchum Binyamin Becker.
Rav Avraham Yehuda Farbstein (1917-1997), Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Chevron. Rav
Farbstein's father was one of the founders of Bnei Brak and was head of its
first city council. As a youth, Reb Avraham Yehuda studied in the Chevron
Yeshiva and the Mir Yeshiva in Europe. Rav Farbstein's wife was a daughter of
Rav Yechezkel Sarna, He taught in the Chevron Yeshiva for 50 years.
Rav Binyamin Rabinowitz, chaver beis din of Eida Chareidis (2002)
Rebbetzin Menucha Ettel (bas Avraham) Nekritz (1914-2006), granddaughter of the
Alter of Novardok, and the daughter of Rav Yaffen, the rosh yeshiva of Novardok
in Poland. Born in 1914 in Bialystock, Poland. She was named after Rav Chaim
Shmuelevitz's mother Ettel — the sister of her mother — with the name Menucha
added because her aunt had died young. The Alter was niftar when she was six
years old, and her father, Rav Yaffen, ran the large network of Novardok
yeshivas that were spread out all over Poland. Its nerve center was in
Bialystock. She married Rav Yehuda Leib Nekritz in 1935.
Friday, 2 Shvat
Asher ben Yaakov Avinu
Rav Menachem Mendel Krochmahl of Nikolsburg, the Tzemach Tzedek (~1600-1661). He
learned in Krakowat the yeshiva of the Bach, his rebbi muvhak and had a close
relationship with the Taz. In 1631, he fled Krakow because of the uprisings of
the Cossacks and settled in Moravia, becoming Rav in Krezmir. He later became
Rav in Prosnitz, then in 1648 of Nikolsburg. There is a sefer called Pi Tzadik
which has been attributed to him, but research has determined that the author is
his son, Rav Aryeh Yehuda Leib.
Rav Meshulam Zusha (Rebbe Reb Zusha) from Anapoli (Hanipol) (1718-1800).
Disciple of Magid of Mezritch; younger brother of the Noam Elimelech.
Rav Simcha Bunim (ben Menachem Mendel) Kalish of Otvotzk and Teveria, son of the
Vorker Rebbe. (1907)
Rav Tzvi Hersh Rabinowitz (1910)
Rav Yisrael Chaim Kaplan, talmid at Mir, son-in-law of Rav Yerucham Levovitz,
mashgiach at Beth Medrash Elyon in Monsey from mid-1940s until his petira
(1970).
Rav Mansour Ben Shimon, author of Shemen HaMaor (1998)
Next Shabbos, 3 Shvat(Parashas Bo)
Rav Yosef Katz, brother-in-law of the Rema and author of She’eris Yosef (1591).
Rav Yosef Rakover, Rav of Eibeshetz, author of Mirkeves Hamishna (1703)
Rav Pinchas of Plotzk, talmid of the Vilna Gaon, and author of Maggid Tzedek
(1823)
Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1767-1828). After learning at Mattersdorf and
Nikolsburg, Rav Simcha Bunim was introduced to chasidus by his father-in-law,
and became a chasid of the Magid of Kozhnitz and then the Chozeh of Lublin. He
followed Rav Yaakov Yitzchak (the Yid Hakadosh) as leader of Pshischa,
emphasizing Torah study. Among the followers of his methods were the Kotzker
Rebbe, the Vorker Rebbe, the Chadushei Harim of Ger and Rav Chanoch of
Alexander.
Rav Moshe Yehuda Leib Zilberberg, Rav of Kutna and Yerushalayim, author of Zayis
Raanan and Tiferes Yerushalayim (1865)
Rav Yechezkel Shraga (ben Yehoshua Heshel) Frankel-Teumim (1885). The grandson
of Rav Baruch (the Baruch Taam), Rav Yechezkel Shraga was a close of chassid of
his uncle, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He was appointed Rav of Klasna-Vielitshke,
two towns which were located close to each other. His thoughts on Chumash and
halacha are written in the sefer Divrei Yechezkel. He was succeeded by his
son-in-law, Rav Shmuel Shmelke Azriel Frankel-Teumim.
Rav Yosef (ben Menachem) Kalish, Rebbe of Amshinov (1878-1935). A grandson of
Rav Yaakov Dovid of Amshinov, and great-grandson of Rav Yitzchak of Vorka. Rav
Yosef was appointed Rav of Ostrova at the age of 27. He then succeeded his
father in 1918. His son, Rav Yaakov Dovid (1906-1942), became Rebbe of Amshinov,
upon Rav Yosef’s petrira.
Rav Yerachmiel (ben Meir Mordechai Dovid) Unger (1916-1999). In 1909, Rav
Yerachmiel’s father moved his family from Melitz, Galicia, to New York. Rav
Yerachmiel married a daughter of the Kamarna Rav in 1934, and he served as magid
shiur at Yeshivas Chasam Sofer for many years. He moved to Boro Park in 1962,
and became a mispallel at the Amshinover shul, where he became to be the
official posek.
RavMoshe Tzvi Gitterman of Savran (1775-1838). Known as a genius as a boy, he
was fluent in all of Seder Nezikin at the age of twelve. He learned chassidus
from Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rav Baruch of Mezhibuzh. After his
father’s petira in 1802, he succeeded him as maggid of Savran. After the petirah
of the Ohev Yisrael, he became the foremost Rebbe in all of the Ukraine.
Eventually, he became the Rav of the two kehillos of Uman and Keshinov, When Rav
Baruch of Mezhibuzh was niftar in 1811, Rav Moshe Tzvi took on the mantle of
Admorus, officially leading Chassidim. His Divrei torah are recorded in Likutei
Shoshanim.
Rav Yosef Rosen, Rav of Telshe and Slonim (1885).
Rav Eliyahu Meir Feivelsohn of Yekatrinoslav (1928)
Rav Yechiel Michel Tukatchinsky [Tikochinsky], mashgiach of Slabodka in Bnai
Brak, and founder of Yeshivas Mekor Chaim in Yerushalayim. In 1925, he published
a sefer called Tekufas Hachamoh Uvirchosoh, in preparation for the bracha made
when the sun returns to the point at which it began upon Creation. He wrote a
sefer called Bein Hashmoshos, published in 1929, which dealt with the
International Date Line. In 1941, he changed his mind altogether, as documented
in his sefer, Hayomam Bekadur Haaretz, in which he shows that the new day begins
12 hours to the east of Yerushalayim.
Rav Shlomo Mazuz, author of Sho’el U’meishiv Kerem Shlomo and Cheshek Shlomo
(1982).
Sunday, 26 Teves
Rabbeinu Avraham bar Dovid miPosquires (Ra’avad), author of Hasagos on the
Rambam and the Rif
Rav Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov, author of Orach LeChaim and P’ri Chaim
(1816).[Note: Rav Chaim Leib Epsztein was Rav and Av Beis Din at Czyzewo from
1729, then at Czyzewo, and finally at Kolszyn. He was mechaber of a sefer called
Pri Chaim. There was also a Rav in Sokolow named Rav Chaim Leib from Kaluszyn
author of Pri Chaim.]
Rav Mattisyahu (ben Aharon Tzvi) Weitzner (1952-2010). Av Beis Din of
Pshemisheler, he succeeded his father as Rav of the kehilla in 2007, after the
latter was niftar at the age of 102.
Monday, 27 Teves
Rav Shimshon Raphael (ben Raphael Aryeh) Hirsch, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
(1808-1888). His father (1777-1857), who changed the family name to Hirsch, was
the son of Rav Menachem Mendel Frankfurter of Altuna (1742-1823). Rav Menachem
Mendel was a talmid of Rav Yonasan Eibeshitz and was the Rav of three
communities of Altuna, Hamburg, and Wandsbeck (“AHU”). At the age of 18, Rav
Shamshon Raphael went to Mannheim to learn at the yeshiva of Rav Yaakov
Ettlinger, author of Aruch La’ner. Rav Hirsch received smicha from Rav Ettlinger
after learning there for a year. Thereafter, he attended the University of Bonn.
That education would serve him well later in life as he combated the forces of
Reform with eloquence. When he was 21, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of the Grand
Duchy of Oldenburg. There, he married Chana Judel. He also authored Iggros
Hatzafon (The 19th Letters), under the pen name Ben Uziel. One year later, he
published Chorev. In 1847, he became Chief Rabbi of Moravia, a region of 50,000
Jews in 52 communities, and which is now the Czech Republic. In 1851, he became
the Rav of Frankfurt am Main, which he transformed into a Torah bastion. His
best known works are the classic six-volume Commentary on Chumash.
Rav Avrohom Shlomo (ben Eliyahu Eliash), the Rebbe of Szamosujvar (1874-1930).
The town of Szamosujvar was near Dej in Transylvania and modern day Romania (at
times it was part of Hungary). Rav Avrohom Shlomo was a talmid and gabbai of
the Arugos Habosim and a chasid of the Belzer Rebbe and he was very close
friends with the Dejer Rav. He was appointed Dayan of Szamosujvar in 1895, and
was one of the three member Beis Din that appointed Rav Yoel Teitelbaum as Rebbe
in Satmar. He became Rebbe in 1920. He was a well-known expert in the halachos
of choshen mishpat and wrote many seforim, most of which were destroyed in the
Shoah.
Rav Shmuel Hillel (ben Avraham) Shenker (1956). His father was one of Rav
Yisrael's Salanter’s greatest disciples. Reb Shmuel spent his early years in
Slobodka, but he was orphaned of his father at an early age. He thus traveled to
the Talmud Torah in Kelm and learned under the Alter, Reb Simcha Zissel. After a
number of years, he traveled to Eretz Yisrael with his relative, Reb Tzvi Pesach
Frank, who later became chief rabbi of Yerushalaim. In 1895, Reb Shmuel Hillel
married the oldest daughter of Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. On 9 Iyar 1944, his
beloved son Reb Mendel Shenker passed away when he was only forty-six. A year
later, another son - Yisrael - passed away on 27 Teves 1945.
Rav Kalman Avraham Goldberg (1895-1968). A devoted disciple of the Alter of
Novardok, he became Rav in Vasilkov. He moved to America in 1926. In 1928, he
was hired to head the beis din for Adas Yisrael, under Rav Velvel Margulies.
After Rav Velvel’s petira, he became Rav.
Rav Menashe Yitzchak Meir (ben Asher Yeshaya) Eichenstein of Ziditchov -Petach
Tikvah (1971). He was named Rebbe of Ziditchov after the petira of his father.
After World War II, he moved to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Petach Tikvah.
Rav Avraham Simcha HaKohen Kaplan (1990). Chief Rabbi of Tzefas.
Rav Pinchas Hirschprung, Chief Rabbi of Montreal (1915-1998). At the age 15, he
published a Torah journal, Ohel Torah, along with his friend, Rav Yeshaya Yosef
Margolin, in Galicia. He then joined Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, learning under
Rav Meir Shapiro. At the outbreak of War World II, Rav Pinchas fled to Vilna,
which was still neutral territory. In 1942, he acquired a visa to travel to
Canada with a group of students from Mir and Lubavitch. When he arrived in
Montreal, he was offered the position of Rav Kehillas Adas Yisrael. When Yeshiva
Merkaz Hatorah was established, Rav Pinchas was made its Rosh Yeshiva.
Eventually, he was Rav Ha’Ir of Montreal.
Tuesday, 28 Teves
Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir in Brooklyn (1921-2008). Born in the
small Polish-Lithuanian town of Kinishen, Reb Shmuel began his formal learning
at Yeshiva Ohel Torah of Baranovitch in 1935 under the leadership of Rav
Elchonon Wasserma. During his years in the Mirrer Yeshiva, he became very close
with the famed Mashgiach of the Mir, Rav Yechezkel Levenstein. Rav Shmuel
escaped from Europe together with the Mirrer Yeshiva and spent six years with
the yeshiva in exile in Shanghai. He arrived in the United States with the
yeshiva led by the mashgiach, Rav Chatzkel, in 1947, and continued to learn in
the yeshiva. In the early 1950s, Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz zt”l, who had sustained
and saved the yeshiva in Shanghai and rebuilt it in America , took Rav Shmuel as
a son-in-law. After his marriage, Rav Shmuel joined the kollel of the Mirrer
Yeshiva. In 1964, with the passing of Rav Kalmanowitz, Rav Shraga Moshe
Kalmanowitz, oldest son of Rav Avrohom, together with Rav Shmuel, became roshei
yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva.
Wednesday, 29 Teves
Rav Yehoshua YehudahLeib (ben Binyamin) Diskin (1818-1898), the Maharil Diskin,
Rav of Brisk. He was born in Horodno. Reb Yehoshua Leib was engaged before his
bar mitzva and at the age of fourteen he married the daughter of Rav Brode and
lived with his father-in-law in Wolkowitz. He became Rav in various cities such
as Lomza, Mezritch, Kovno, Shklov, and finally in Brisk. He moved to Eretz
Yisrael after Yom Kippur in 1878. Rav Diskin's second wife, Sarah, was known as
the "Brisker Rebbetzin." She descended from the Nodah bi-Yehudah and brought
40,000 rubles into their marriage, with which the couple established the Diskin
Orphanage in Yerushalyim in 1880. She died in 1907. Rav Diskin also established
the Ohel Moshe Yeshiva and held the line against attempts by maskilim to
introduce secular institutions to Yerushalyim.
Rav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchak (ben Yechiel) of Alexander, the Yismach Yisrael
(1853-1910). At an early age, his father took him to Rav Menachem Mendel of
Vorka, then Rav Beirush of Biala. After the latter’s passing, he became of a
chasid of his father. After his father’s passing in 1894, he became the
Alexander Rebbe.
Rav Marcus (Nosson) Adler, author of Nesina L'ger (1803-1890). He was Rav of
Oldenburg, 1829-1830, and Hanover, 1830-1844, and Chief Rabbi of the British
Empire, 1844-1890.
Rav Meir Chodosh, mashgiach of Yeshivas Chevron, Ateres Yisrael, and Ohr
Elchanan (1898-1989). Born in Patrich, Lithuania, he was a talmid muvhak of the
Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel. In the summer of 1925, he accompanied
the Alter on the journey to Eretz Yisrael, to join the yeshiva which had been
founded a year earlier in Chevron. After his marriage in 1928, Rev Meir was
appointed as a maggid shiur in the yeshiva and served as one of the spiritual
overseers, alongside Rav Yehuda Leib Chasman. After Rav Chasman's petirah, he
was appointed mashgiach. He lived through the Arab massacre of Chevron's Jews on
Shabbos morning, 16 Av, 1929, as he and his young Rebbetzin hid under the
blood-stained bodies of two of the karbonos. Several years after the yeshiva
moved to Yerushalayim, Rav Meir was offered a position as Rosh Yeshiva of a new
yeshiva in Warsaw. Rebbetzin Chodosh was firmly opposed to this plan; the
churban of Europe proved her advice correct.
Rav Daniel Levy (1935-2004). Born the youngest of nine children in Petersfield,
England, he learned at Gateshead Yeshiva and Kollel before and for 12 years
after his marriage. Following a trip to America, where he learned from Rav Moshe
Feinstein and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, he was chosen as Rav of the Khal Adas
Yeshurun of Zurich.
Rav Chaim Shamshon Swiatycki (1914-2004), nephew of the Chazon Ish and scion of
the Karelitz dynasty, whose patriarch and matriarch – Rav Shemaryahu Yosef and
Rasha Leah, had 15 children. Her third child, Henya Chaya, married Rav Abba
Swiatycki, who became Rav of Kosova, after the petira of Rav Shemaryahu Yosef
during WW I. Their only child was Rav Chaim. Rav Chaim’s mentor was his uncle,
Rav Yitzchak Zundel Karelitz, brother of the Chazon Ish. At the age of 14, he
left for Mir, then learned with Rav Baruch Ber Lebovitz in Kaminetz, where he
stayed for six years. In 1934, he followed his uncle to Eretz Yisrael to escape
conscription. He learned at Yeshiva Chevron in Yerushalayim and Yeshivas
Volozhin in Tel Aviv. He then moved to America in 1938 where he joined the
faculty at Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim.
Rav Yitzchak Kaduri(1901-2006). Born to to Rab Zeev Diva in Baghdad. Upon his
second visit to Eretz Yisrael in 1923, he changed his last name from Diva to
Kadouri and fixed his place of study at Yeshivat Porat Yosef in the Old City. He
studied Kabbalah under the tutelage of Rabbi Ephraim Cohen and Rabbi Salman
Eliyahu (father of former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu). After
marrying his first wife, Sarah, HaRav Kadouri lived in Shechunat Habucharim, one
of Jerusalem's first neighborhoods built outside the Old City walls. He would
stay at the yeshiva all week, coming home shortly before Shabbos. Following the
petira of Rav Ephraim Hakohen, head of Jerusalem's mekubalim, toward the end of
1949, Rav Kadouri was selected to head the group. He found a new institution
called Yeshivat Nachalat Yitzchak. Graced with a phenomenal memory, he was said
to have known the entire Babylonian Talmud by heart. His closer students say
that the blessing of the Ben Ish Chai and that of the Lubavitcher Rebbe - both
of whom blessed him that he might live to see the Final Redeemer - came true.
The students say that Rabbi Kaduri told them he met the Messiah on Cheshvan 9,
5764 (Nov. 4, 2003). He reportedly said that the Messiah is not promoting
himself, and that a study of his [Rabbi Kaduri's] words in recent months would
provide hints of his identity.
Thursday, 1 Shvat
Rav Nota of Chelm, the Neta Shaahuim (1812)
Rav Moshe Schick, the Maharam Shick (1807-1879). His “last name” was created by
his family in response to a demand by government agencies; it is an acrostic for
“Shem Yehudi Kodesh.” Born in Brezheva, a small town in Hungary, he was sent at
the age of 11 to learn with his uncle, Rav Yitzchak Frankel, av beis din in
Regendorf. When he was 14, he was sent to learn under the Chasam Sofer in
Pressburg, where he stayed for six years. When he was 20, he married his cousin,
Gittel Frankel. He was appointed Rav in Yargen in 1838, the year of the Chasam
Sofer’s petira, then became Rav in Chust.
Rav Moshe Yechiel Halevi Epstein from Ozerov (1890-1971), great-grandson of Rav
Leibish, the first Ozerover Rebbe. In 1912, he became Rav of Ozerov and in 1918,
he replaced his father as Rebbe. During World War I, Ozerov burned down, with
only 22 houses left standing (only 11 of Jewish inhabitants). In 1920, he
traveled to America to publicize the importance of Agudas Israel, and in 1927,
he moved his family to the Bronx. He moved to Eretz Yisrael in 1949 and settled
in Tel Aviv. Rav Moshe Yechiel wrote two monumental works, Aish Daas, comprised
of 11 volumes, and Be’er Moshe, 12 volumes on Chumasah and Tanach. Each volume
contained at least 500 pages, over 10,000 pages in all. Two biographies have
been written about him, “Balabas Aish” and “The Aish Daas of Ozerov.” Rav Moshe
Yechiel was succeeded by his son-in-law, Rav Tanchum Binyamin Becker.
Rav Avraham Yehuda Farbstein (1917-1997), Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Chevron. Rav
Farbstein's father was one of the founders of Bnei Brak and was head of its
first city council. As a youth, Reb Avraham Yehuda studied in the Chevron
Yeshiva and the Mir Yeshiva in Europe. Rav Farbstein's wife was a daughter of
Rav Yechezkel Sarna, He taught in the Chevron Yeshiva for 50 years.
Rav Binyamin Rabinowitz, chaver beis din of Eida Chareidis (2002)
Rebbetzin Menucha Ettel (bas Avraham) Nekritz (1914-2006), granddaughter of the
Alter of Novardok, and the daughter of Rav Yaffen, the rosh yeshiva of Novardok
in Poland. Born in 1914 in Bialystock, Poland. She was named after Rav Chaim
Shmuelevitz's mother Ettel — the sister of her mother — with the name Menucha
added because her aunt had died young. The Alter was niftar when she was six
years old, and her father, Rav Yaffen, ran the large network of Novardok
yeshivas that were spread out all over Poland. Its nerve center was in
Bialystock. She married Rav Yehuda Leib Nekritz in 1935.
Friday, 2 Shvat
Asher ben Yaakov Avinu
Rav Menachem Mendel Krochmahl of Nikolsburg, the Tzemach Tzedek (~1600-1661). He
learned in Krakowat the yeshiva of the Bach, his rebbi muvhak and had a close
relationship with the Taz. In 1631, he fled Krakow because of the uprisings of
the Cossacks and settled in Moravia, becoming Rav in Krezmir. He later became
Rav in Prosnitz, then in 1648 of Nikolsburg. There is a sefer called Pi Tzadik
which has been attributed to him, but research has determined that the author is
his son, Rav Aryeh Yehuda Leib.
Rav Meshulam Zusha (Rebbe Reb Zusha) from Anapoli (Hanipol) (1718-1800).
Disciple of Magid of Mezritch; younger brother of the Noam Elimelech.
Rav Simcha Bunim (ben Menachem Mendel) Kalish of Otvotzk and Teveria, son of the
Vorker Rebbe. (1907)
Rav Tzvi Hersh Rabinowitz (1910)
Rav Yisrael Chaim Kaplan, talmid at Mir, son-in-law of Rav Yerucham Levovitz,
mashgiach at Beth Medrash Elyon in Monsey from mid-1940s until his petira
(1970).
Rav Mansour Ben Shimon, author of Shemen HaMaor (1998)
Next Shabbos, 3 Shvat(Parashas Bo)
Rav Yosef Katz, brother-in-law of the Rema and author of She’eris Yosef (1591).
Rav Yosef Rakover, Rav of Eibeshetz, author of Mirkeves Hamishna (1703)
Rav Pinchas of Plotzk, talmid of the Vilna Gaon, and author of Maggid Tzedek
(1823)
Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1767-1828). After learning at Mattersdorf and
Nikolsburg, Rav Simcha Bunim was introduced to chasidus by his father-in-law,
and became a chasid of the Magid of Kozhnitz and then the Chozeh of Lublin. He
followed Rav Yaakov Yitzchak (the Yid Hakadosh) as leader of Pshischa,
emphasizing Torah study. Among the followers of his methods were the Kotzker
Rebbe, the Vorker Rebbe, the Chadushei Harim of Ger and Rav Chanoch of
Alexander.
Rav Moshe Yehuda Leib Zilberberg, Rav of Kutna and Yerushalayim, author of Zayis
Raanan and Tiferes Yerushalayim (1865)
Rav Yechezkel Shraga (ben Yehoshua Heshel) Frankel-Teumim (1885). The grandson
of Rav Baruch (the Baruch Taam), Rav Yechezkel Shraga was a close of chassid of
his uncle, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He was appointed Rav of Klasna-Vielitshke,
two towns which were located close to each other. His thoughts on Chumash and
halacha are written in the sefer Divrei Yechezkel. He was succeeded by his
son-in-law, Rav Shmuel Shmelke Azriel Frankel-Teumim.
Rav Yosef (ben Menachem) Kalish, Rebbe of Amshinov (1878-1935). A grandson of
Rav Yaakov Dovid of Amshinov, and great-grandson of Rav Yitzchak of Vorka. Rav
Yosef was appointed Rav of Ostrova at the age of 27. He then succeeded his
father in 1918. His son, Rav Yaakov Dovid (1906-1942), became Rebbe of Amshinov,
upon Rav Yosef’s petrira.
Rav Yerachmiel (ben Meir Mordechai Dovid) Unger (1916-1999). In 1909, Rav
Yerachmiel’s father moved his family from Melitz, Galicia, to New York. Rav
Yerachmiel married a daughter of the Kamarna Rav in 1934, and he served as magid
shiur at Yeshivas Chasam Sofer for many years. He moved to Boro Park in 1962,
and became a mispallel at the Amshinover shul, where he became to be the
official posek.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Chabura this week!
Get ready for the FINALS Chabura!
No that is not a typo. It says finals and not final because we are almost in the midst of finals season and everyone, especially me can use some chizzuk.
Stay tuned for details!
Famous Yahrzeits this week!--We're Back!
Famous Yahrzeits is licensed to OJinYU.blogspot.com by Manny Saltiel and Anshe.org
his Shabbos, 4 Teves (Parashas Vayigash)
Rav Moshe Zev of Bialystock, author of Maros Hatzovos and Agudas Aizov (1729).
He was the founder of Gemilas Chassadim Beis Medrash, Bialystock’s most
prominent Torah center, where Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk learned after his
marriage.
Rav Yehoshua Eizel Charif of Slonim (1801-1872). Born in Glovanka, near Minsk.
After many years of learning under the enthusiastic support of his
father-in-law, Rav Yitzchak Fein, he became Rav Kalavaria, then Kutno, and
finally Slonim (near Grodno). He was mechaber of many sefarim, including Emek
Yehoshua, Nachlas Yehoshua, Noam Yerushalmi, Sefas Hanachal, and Atzas Yehoshua.
Rav Gershon Henoch (ben Yaakov) Leiner of Radzin (1839-1891), the Baal
Hatecheiles. His grandfather was the Rav Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Ishbitz,
founder of Ishbitz chassidus after leading a group of disciples from the Court
of Reb Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. He replaced his father as Rebbe of Ishbitz
after the former’s petira in 1878. Rav Gershon Henoch travelled from Radzin to
Italy in search of the Chilazon, the marine source from which the dye was
obtained. The Chilazon carried the dye in a special sac located in its pharynx.
In the famed aquarium at Naples he saw the Chilazon (tuttlefish) and studied the
way in which the dye was removed and prepared. He discovered that it was used by
artists in their paintings because it would never fade. Although the Maharsham
wore a tallis (in private) using Rav Gershon Henoch’s techeiles, in the end,
only Radziner Chassidim and some Berslovers wear this techeiles. In recent
years, several other species of fish have been suggested as the genuine
techeiles. Among his sefarim are Sod Yesharim on the Torah and Yamim Tovim,
Orchos Chaim and the tzavaah of the Tanna Rabi Eliezer ben Horkinus, and Tiferes
Hachanochi on the Zohar. He also compiled and published the work of his father
(Bais Yaakov) and grandfather (Mei Hashiloach).
Rav Yaakov Shaul Katzin, head of New York Aleppo community (1900-1994). Born in
Yerushalayim, he learned at Yeshiva Ohel Mo’ed and at Yeshiva Porat Yosef.
Yaakov was an orphan at 16 and married at 18. He was appointed Rosh Yeshiva in
the then-newly-erected Yeshiva Porat Yosef building. During the course of his
life, Yaakov wrote several books on the science of Kabbalah. In 1925, he
published Ohr HaLevanah, a commentary with novella from the teachings of
Rashash. He also wrote Yesod Ha’Emunah, which included arguments that dispelled
doubts about the authenticity of Kabbalah, as well as responsa. In 1931, he
published Pri Eitz Hagan, which included biographies of prominent tzadikkim and
discussions of their ethical teachings. From 1928 to the end of 1932, he served
as a Dayan in the Supreme Beit Din of the Sephardic Community of Yerushalayim.
In 1933, he accepted an offer from Magen Dovid Congregation of Brooklyn, New
York to serve as Chief Rabbi and Chief Dayan.
Rav Chaim Shaul Dveik(Dueck), Rosh Yeshiva Hamekubalim of Yerushalayim and
author of Eifo (Aifah) Shleima (1933)
Rav Shalom Rokeach, Rav of Skohl (1961)
Mr. Yitzchak Meir (Irving) Bunim (1901-1981). Born in Volozhin, Lithuania to Rav
Moshe and Esther Mina Buminowitz, Irving moved to the Lower East Side of New
York with most of his family in 1910. (His father moved in 1905.) He and his two
brothers were enrolled in Yeshiva Yaakov Yosef, and his father joined the family
of Torah Vodaas. As a youth, he joined the fledgling Young Israel movement and
made significant inroads from within. During the War, he was a highly active
member of the Vaad Hatzolah with Mike Tress, Stephen Klein, and several gedolim,
such as Rav Aaron Kotler and Rav Moshe Feinstein. In the 1940s, he accepted the
presidency of Yeshiva Yaakov Yosef, a position he held for 30 years. He threw
himself in the founding of Beis Midrash Govoha and Kollel in Lakewood. He also
devoted much time and energy to Chinuch Atzmai and Torah Umesorah.
Rebbetzin Recha Schwab (1908-2003). Married in 1931, she moved with Rav Schwab
to the United States in 1936, and settled in Washington Heights in 1958. She
left this world with 180 descendents, all Torah-observant.
Rav Mordechai Pinchas Teitz, Rav of Elizabeth, NJ. (1908-1995) Born in Latvia
and a student of the famed Rogachaver Ilui, he arrived in USA in 1934. He
founded schools, a kollel, and five shuls, and pioneered in teaching Talmud on
the radio, records and audiotapes. From the 1960s to the 1980s he made
twenty-two trips to the USSR to sustain the three million Jews imprisoned there.
He was a major force in the work of Ezras Torah and saved its construction in
Israel from bankruptcy. Stories about him can be found in the book “Learn Torah,
Love Torah, Live Torah,” by by Rivkah Teitz Blau (Ktav Publishing House)
Sunday, 5 Teves
Rav Shlomo Molcho (1500-1532). Born in Lisbon, Portugal, a descendant of
Portuguese Marranos. He published 22 essays on the topic of redemption according
to the secrets of Kabbalah in his work, Sefer Hamefoar. He met with the Pope and
asked him to stop the campaign against the Marranos. He also met Rabbi Yossef
Karo in Tzfas and the Kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Taitzik of Salonica who taught R'
Molcho Kabbalah. His speeches inspired many Marranos to publicly return to their
faith. Arrested by the officers of the Inquisition, he recited Shema with great
joy, as he was burned at the stake by Roman Emperor Charles V in Mantua, Italy.
Rav Aharon of Titiov, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov (1828)
Rav Avraham Yaakov of Sadiger (1884-1961), named for his grandfather, the first
Sadigerer Rebbe. When Reb Avraham Yaakov turned 18, he married Bluma Raizel, the
daughter of the Kapischnitzer Rebbe, Reb Yitzchak Meir Heschel. With the
outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the Rebbe fled to Vienna, Austria, and
lived there for 24 years. When the Nazis entered Vienna in 1938, the Rebbe was
seized and forced to sweep the streets clean, to the amusement of the onlooking
Germans. After WW2, he lived in Tel Aviv, where he continued the Sadigerer line.
He authored Abir Yaakov.
Rav Yerachmiel Tzvi Rabinowitz, the Biala-P’shischa Rebbe (2003). Born ~1923,
the first-born son of the previous Biala Rebbe, the Chelkas Yehoshua. He became
Rebbe after his father was niftar in 1982 and opened his beis midrash in the Har
Nof section of Yerushalayim.
Monday, 6 Teves
Rav Yaakov (ben Yosef) Reischer (1661-1733), author of Minchas Yaakov
(commentary on Toras Chatas of the Rema), Chok Yaakov on the Shulchan Aruch,
Iyun Yaakov (chidushim on Agadata), and Shevus Yaakov (Sheilos u’Teshuvos). Born
in Prague. Served as Rav in Reische, Worms, and Metz. [9 Shvat, according to
Yated 2007, 2008]. His brother-in-law was Rav Eliyahu Shapira, the Elya Rabbah.
Rav Mattisyahu Straushun of Vilna, son of the Rashash (1885)
Rav Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, the Shinover Rav (1815-1899). He was born in
Rudnick, Galicia, eldest son of Rav Chaim of Sanz. He was an ardent follower of
Rav Asher of Ropshitz, and a chassid of Rav Tzvi Hirsh of Rymanov, Rav Shalom of
Belz, and Rav Meir of Premishlan. Tragically, he was married and widowed 5
times. His first wife was the grand-daughter of the Yismach Moshe, Rav Moshe
Teitelbaum of Mujehly, Hungary. He is known as the Divrei Yechezkel.
Rav Chaim Shlomo of Koson (1919)
Rav Alter Yisrael Shimon Perlow of Novominsk (1873-1933), author of Tiferes Ish.
Scion of the dynasties of Ustila, Koidanov, Lehovitch, Karlin, Apt, Czernobyl
and Berdichev, Rabbi Alter Yisrael Shimon settled in Warsaw in 1917. He knew the
whole Mishna by heart and to the end of his life he reviewed eighteen chapters
every day.
Rav Chaim Meidanik (1954). Rav in Chicago and author of Mazkeres Chaim and
Hegyonei Chaim.
Rebbetzin Beila Morgenstern (1908-2006). First-born daughter of the Admor of
Ozerov-Chenchin, Rav Moshe Yechiel Epstein, author of Aish Das and Be’er Moshe.
She married Rav Tzvi Hershel Morgenstern, a descendent of the Kotzker Rebbe. Her
husband served as a principal of the Bronx Bais Yaakov. She always recited the
entire sefer tehillim on the yahrtzeit of every one of her noble forefathers and
asked Hasehm that their merit should protect all of klal Yisrael. Among her
grandchildren are Rav Dovid Altusky and Rav Yechiel Altusky.
Tuesday, 7 Teves
Rav Moshe Dovid Walli (Vally; Vali) (1697-1777). The foremost talmid of Ramchal
in Padua, Italy, he practiced as a physician in Padova. When the Ramchal was
forced to leave Italy, Rav Moshe Dovid was appointed head of the his academy in
Padova. Also known as the Rama"d Vali, he wrote a commentary on commentary on
Chumash (Ohr Olam on Breishis; Bris Olam on Shemos; Avodas Hakodesh on Vayikra;
Shivtei Kah on Bamidbar; Mishna Lamelech on Devarim), Na"Ch, Likkutim.
Rav Tzvi Hersh, son of the Baal Shem Tov (1779)
Rav Raphael Shlomo Laniado (1740-1793). Originating from Spain through their
progenitor, Rav Shmuel, the Laniado family was among the most famous and
well-established in the Syrian city of Chaleb. Rav Raphael Shlomo Laniado was a
prolific writer, and he is well-known for the several halachic works: HaMaalos
LeShlomo, Beis Dino Shel Shlomo, Lechem Shlomo, and Kisei Shlomo.
Rav Mordecai Yosef Leiner of Ishbitz (1800-1854 [1878, according to Yated
2007]), founder of the Chassidic Court at Ishbitz after leading a group of
disciples from the court of Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. Born in Tomashov,
Poland in 1800, he was a childhood friend of Reb Menachem Mendel Morgenstern,
later to become the Kotzker Rebbe, and they studied together in the school of
the Chasidic Master, Reb Simcha Bunim of Pshiske. His sefer. Mei HaShiloach, is
considered a fundamental work of Izhbitz and Radziner chasidus. Among his
talmidim were Rav Tzadok HaCohen miLublin and Rav Leibel Eiger.
Rav Shalom Yosef Friedman of Husyatin (1879[1851, according to Yated 2007]). Son
of the first Rebbe of Husyatin, Rav Mordechai Shraga (the youngest son of the
Rizhiner Rebbe, who had moved to Husyatin in 1865 and was niftar in 1894. He was
the father of Rav Moshe of Boyan-Cracow (“Reb Moshenu”).
Rav Yosef Elyashiyov (2007). Born in the former Soviet Union to Rav Tzion, who
was killed by the authorities for his efforts to promote Judaism, he moved from
Samarkand to Tashkent after marrying; there he and his wife raised their seven
children. While living in Tashkent he had to spend seven years away from home —
four years in custody on suspicion of underground religious activity and three
years hiding from the KGB, who had him under surveillance for his activities to
promote Judaism. In 1971, he managed to secure an exit visa and left his home
and his family, traveling to Eretz Yisrael. He opened the first Shaarei Tzion
institutions in 1980, naming them after his father. He then started a kollel
with the goal of drawing avreichim from Bukharan families as well as a school in
Kiryat Ono for Bukharan immigrants. Today, a total of 4,500 students, from
kindergartners to avreichim, study at Shaarei Tzion institutions.
Wednesday, 8 Teves – none
Thursday, 9 Teves
Ezra Hasofer (313 BCE or 320 BCE?) and Nechemya
Rav Ezra of Gerona (1227), the Ramban’s teacher in Kabalah. He himself learned
Kabbalah from Rav Yitzchak Sagi Nahor, son of the Ravad III.
Rabbeinu Yosef, son of Shmuel Hanaggid, and son-in-law of Rav Nissim Gaon of
Kirouan was murdered in an Arab pogrom with another 1500 Jews in Spain (1067).
Rav Yehoshua Basis (1860). Chacham and Chief Rabbi of Tunisia for many years.
Rav Yehuda (“Reb Yiddel”) Weber (1920-2006). Born in Vodkert, Hungary to Rav
Yissacher Weber, a descendent of the Bach, and of Rebbetzin Chana, a niece of
the Arugas Bosem. After his Bar Mitzvah, Yehuda was sent to learn in Pupa under
Rav Yaakov Yechezkel Grunwald, the Vayaged Yaakov, the Pupa Rebbe, who was his
rebbi muvhak for 7 years. Rav Yehuda then served as mashgiach of Pupa. When the
yeshiva was closed in 1944, Rav Yehuuda spent 6 months in the local work camps
before being deported to Bergen Belsen. In 1946, his sister introduced him to
his Rebbetzin, Batsheva. A year later, his sister, Miriam, married the Pupa
Rebbe. Both families settled in Antwerp, then moved to Williamsburg, in New
York, in 1950. In 1952, he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva of the newly established
Pupa Yeshiva, first located in Queens, then in Ossining, in Westchester County.
Although his family stayed in Williamsburg, Reb Yiddel made the 40-mile drive
for four decades.
Friday, 10 Teves
Zecharia ben Berachya ben Ido Hanavi (320 or 313 BCE)
Malachi Hanavi (320 or 313 BCE). His death ended the era of prophecy.
Rav Yehuda Eilenberg, author of Minchas Yehudah (1610)
Rav Nosson Sternhartz (or Sternberg) of Breslav, author of Likutei Halachos
(1844). As a young man, he lived in Nemirov, nine miles north of Breslav.
Despite family opposition, Nosson became the disciple who recorded Nachman's
thoughts, edited his writings and wrote the early history of the Breslaver
Hasidim.
Rav Meir Shalom Rabinowitz of Kalushin (1851-1901). Born to Rav Yehoshua Asher
of Zelichov, the son of the Yid Hakadosh of Peshischa, he became a son-in-law of
his older brother, Rav Yaakov Tzvi of Porisov, author of Atarah Lerosh Tzadik.
He served as Rav of the kehhillos of Porisov, Gravlin, and Kalushin. He became
Rebbe after the petira of his brither in 1889. Many of his ideas in Torah and
Chassidus were recorded by his son and successor Yehoshua Alter in the sefer
Nahar Shalom.
Rav Noach of Hordishitz (1903)
Rav Raphael Wexelbaum, Rosh Yeshiva of Itri
Rav Yechezkel Halshtuk, the Ostrovtzer Rebbe (1887-1942). Born to Rav Meir
Yechiel, founder of the court of Ostrovtze (Ostrowiec), a town which lies along
the Kamienna River, a tributary of the Vistula, and which is situated in the
Polish highlands just north of the Swietokrzyskie Mountains. At 18, Reb
Yechezkel married Rebbetziin Beila Mirel, daughter of Rav Naftali of Meilitz,
who was a grandson of Rav Naftali of Ropshitz. In 1911, he was appointed Rav of
the town of Inovlodz, and 10 years later, he was appointed Rav of Nashelsk. He
succeeded his father as Rebbe after the latter’s petira in 1928. He founded a
yeshiva named Beis Meir, in honor of his father. He and 20 of his Chasidim were
murdered by the Nazis during davening on the night of Asesers BeTeves. His
Rebbetzein, 7 sons, and one son-in-law were all murdered by the Nazis.Some of
his writings were published after the war under the name Kodshei Yechezkel. (8
Teves, according to Yated 2006 and Yated 2007)
Rav Shabsai Yogel, born in Piask, Russia (1875-1957). After studying in
Eishishock as a youngster, he learned at Volozhin until it was closed by the
Russian authorities, at which time he returned to Piask until he married Liba
Kletzkin from Slonim. He then moved to Slonim and learned in one of the Novardok
kollelim. In 1906, he was asked to head the Slonim yeshiva, founded by Rav
Shlomo Zalman Kahana in 1816. The yeshiva’s first rosh yeshiva was Rav Avraham
Weinberg, who later became the founder of the Slonimer chassidic dynastry. In
1929, Rav Shabsai visited Yisrael for the first time; two months later, his son
Shlomo perished in the Chevron massacres. During the early years of WW2, Rav
Shabsai and his family moved to Eretz Yisrael. Since the yeshiva in Slonim was
destroyed by the Nazis, he rebuilt in. He decided to do so in Ramat Gan, which
at that time was a spiritual wasteland.
Rav Avraham Abba Leifer, the Pittsburgher Rebbe, the Admor of Petersburg-Ashdod
(1989). Author of Emunas Avraham, son of Rav Yosef (Tzidkas Yosef), and
son-in-law of Rebbe Issamar of Nadvorna.
His son, Mordechai Yissacher Dov Ber Leifer of Pittsburg, is author of Pisgamei
Oraisa.
Next Shabbos, 11 Teves (Parashas Vayechi)
Rav Moshe of Ostraha, author of Arugas Habosem (1784).
Rav Shlomo Eiger, Rav of Posen, author of Gilyon Maharsha, son of Rav Akiva
Eiger. (1851)
Rav Shlomo Zalman Ullman of Makava, author of Yerios Shlomo (1865). Son of Rav
Shalom Charif, Rav Shlomo Zalman served as Rav of Rendick for two years and of
Makova, Hungary, for 39 years. He fought against any inroads of the Reform
movement for much of his life. At the end of his sefer, Rav Shlomo Zalman added
Kuntres Beis Yad, where he expounds on fourteen differences in the sugya of eid
echad neeman b’issurim. This kuntres is the basis of many of the halachos os
issur ve’heter.
Rav Yehoshua Horowitz of Dzikov, author of Ateres Yeshua. (1912)
Dovid Twersky of Zlatipoli (1914). The oldest son of Rav Tochanan of
Rachmistrivke, the son of Rav Mordechai of Chernobyl. Reb Dovid married
Rebbetzin Bas-Tzion Tzipora Feiga, daughter of Rav Aharon of Karlin. With his
father’s petira, Rav Dovid became Rebbe in Rachmistrivke, along with his
brothers, but moved his court to Zlatipoli.
Rav Moshe Bergman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Avi Ezri-Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei
Brak. (1977). He was succeeded by his son, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman.
Rav Yaakov Yosef Shlomo Halperin (1902-1984), the Vasloi Rebbe. Born in Rendken,
near Vasloi, Romania, he was the grandson of the first Vasloier Rebbe, Rav
Shalom Halperin. He moved from Romania to Eretz Yisrael in 1950, following his
father’s own aliya earlier that year. He settled in Haifa, then moved to
Nahariya one year later. He moved to Tel Aviv in 1955. His father was niftar in
1957. Rav Yaakov Yosef himself was succeeded by his son Rav Avraham Shimshon
Shalom, who lives in Bnei Brak.
Rav Shmuel Dovid Tzvi Mayer (known as Rav Dovid Hersh), menahel of Yeshiva Beis
Binyamin in Stamford, Connecticut. (2003)
Rav Moshe Zev of Bialystock, author of Maros Hatzovos and Agudas Aizov (1729).
He was the founder of Gemilas Chassadim Beis Medrash, Bialystock’s most
prominent Torah center, where Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk learned after his
marriage.
Rav Yehoshua Eizel Charif of Slonim (1801-1872). Born in Glovanka, near Minsk.
After many years of learning under the enthusiastic support of his
father-in-law, Rav Yitzchak Fein, he became Rav Kalavaria, then Kutno, and
finally Slonim (near Grodno). He was mechaber of many sefarim, including Emek
Yehoshua, Nachlas Yehoshua, Noam Yerushalmi, Sefas Hanachal, and Atzas Yehoshua.
Rav Gershon Henoch (ben Yaakov) Leiner of Radzin (1839-1891), the Baal
Hatecheiles. His grandfather was the Rav Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Ishbitz,
founder of Ishbitz chassidus after leading a group of disciples from the Court
of Reb Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. He replaced his father as Rebbe of Ishbitz
after the former’s petira in 1878. Rav Gershon Henoch travelled from Radzin to
Italy in search of the Chilazon, the marine source from which the dye was
obtained. The Chilazon carried the dye in a special sac located in its pharynx.
In the famed aquarium at Naples he saw the Chilazon (tuttlefish) and studied the
way in which the dye was removed and prepared. He discovered that it was used by
artists in their paintings because it would never fade. Although the Maharsham
wore a tallis (in private) using Rav Gershon Henoch’s techeiles, in the end,
only Radziner Chassidim and some Berslovers wear this techeiles. In recent
years, several other species of fish have been suggested as the genuine
techeiles. Among his sefarim are Sod Yesharim on the Torah and Yamim Tovim,
Orchos Chaim and the tzavaah of the Tanna Rabi Eliezer ben Horkinus, and Tiferes
Hachanochi on the Zohar. He also compiled and published the work of his father
(Bais Yaakov) and grandfather (Mei Hashiloach).
Rav Yaakov Shaul Katzin, head of New York Aleppo community (1900-1994). Born in
Yerushalayim, he learned at Yeshiva Ohel Mo’ed and at Yeshiva Porat Yosef.
Yaakov was an orphan at 16 and married at 18. He was appointed Rosh Yeshiva in
the then-newly-erected Yeshiva Porat Yosef building. During the course of his
life, Yaakov wrote several books on the science of Kabbalah. In 1925, he
published Ohr HaLevanah, a commentary with novella from the teachings of
Rashash. He also wrote Yesod Ha’Emunah, which included arguments that dispelled
doubts about the authenticity of Kabbalah, as well as responsa. In 1931, he
published Pri Eitz Hagan, which included biographies of prominent tzadikkim and
discussions of their ethical teachings. From 1928 to the end of 1932, he served
as a Dayan in the Supreme Beit Din of the Sephardic Community of Yerushalayim.
In 1933, he accepted an offer from Magen Dovid Congregation of Brooklyn, New
York to serve as Chief Rabbi and Chief Dayan.
Rav Chaim Shaul Dveik(Dueck), Rosh Yeshiva Hamekubalim of Yerushalayim and
author of Eifo (Aifah) Shleima (1933)
Rav Shalom Rokeach, Rav of Skohl (1961)
Mr. Yitzchak Meir (Irving) Bunim (1901-1981). Born in Volozhin, Lithuania to Rav
Moshe and Esther Mina Buminowitz, Irving moved to the Lower East Side of New
York with most of his family in 1910. (His father moved in 1905.) He and his two
brothers were enrolled in Yeshiva Yaakov Yosef, and his father joined the family
of Torah Vodaas. As a youth, he joined the fledgling Young Israel movement and
made significant inroads from within. During the War, he was a highly active
member of the Vaad Hatzolah with Mike Tress, Stephen Klein, and several gedolim,
such as Rav Aaron Kotler and Rav Moshe Feinstein. In the 1940s, he accepted the
presidency of Yeshiva Yaakov Yosef, a position he held for 30 years. He threw
himself in the founding of Beis Midrash Govoha and Kollel in Lakewood. He also
devoted much time and energy to Chinuch Atzmai and Torah Umesorah.
Rebbetzin Recha Schwab (1908-2003). Married in 1931, she moved with Rav Schwab
to the United States in 1936, and settled in Washington Heights in 1958. She
left this world with 180 descendents, all Torah-observant.
Rav Mordechai Pinchas Teitz, Rav of Elizabeth, NJ. (1908-1995) Born in Latvia
and a student of the famed Rogachaver Ilui, he arrived in USA in 1934. He
founded schools, a kollel, and five shuls, and pioneered in teaching Talmud on
the radio, records and audiotapes. From the 1960s to the 1980s he made
twenty-two trips to the USSR to sustain the three million Jews imprisoned there.
He was a major force in the work of Ezras Torah and saved its construction in
Israel from bankruptcy. Stories about him can be found in the book “Learn Torah,
Love Torah, Live Torah,” by by Rivkah Teitz Blau (Ktav Publishing House)
Sunday, 5 Teves
Rav Shlomo Molcho (1500-1532). Born in Lisbon, Portugal, a descendant of
Portuguese Marranos. He published 22 essays on the topic of redemption according
to the secrets of Kabbalah in his work, Sefer Hamefoar. He met with the Pope and
asked him to stop the campaign against the Marranos. He also met Rabbi Yossef
Karo in Tzfas and the Kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Taitzik of Salonica who taught R'
Molcho Kabbalah. His speeches inspired many Marranos to publicly return to their
faith. Arrested by the officers of the Inquisition, he recited Shema with great
joy, as he was burned at the stake by Roman Emperor Charles V in Mantua, Italy.
Rav Aharon of Titiov, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov (1828)
Rav Avraham Yaakov of Sadiger (1884-1961), named for his grandfather, the first
Sadigerer Rebbe. When Reb Avraham Yaakov turned 18, he married Bluma Raizel, the
daughter of the Kapischnitzer Rebbe, Reb Yitzchak Meir Heschel. With the
outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the Rebbe fled to Vienna, Austria, and
lived there for 24 years. When the Nazis entered Vienna in 1938, the Rebbe was
seized and forced to sweep the streets clean, to the amusement of the onlooking
Germans. After WW2, he lived in Tel Aviv, where he continued the Sadigerer line.
He authored Abir Yaakov.
Rav Yerachmiel Tzvi Rabinowitz, the Biala-P’shischa Rebbe (2003). Born ~1923,
the first-born son of the previous Biala Rebbe, the Chelkas Yehoshua. He became
Rebbe after his father was niftar in 1982 and opened his beis midrash in the Har
Nof section of Yerushalayim.
Monday, 6 Teves
Rav Yaakov (ben Yosef) Reischer (1661-1733), author of Minchas Yaakov
(commentary on Toras Chatas of the Rema), Chok Yaakov on the Shulchan Aruch,
Iyun Yaakov (chidushim on Agadata), and Shevus Yaakov (Sheilos u’Teshuvos). Born
in Prague. Served as Rav in Reische, Worms, and Metz. [9 Shvat, according to
Yated 2007, 2008]. His brother-in-law was Rav Eliyahu Shapira, the Elya Rabbah.
Rav Mattisyahu Straushun of Vilna, son of the Rashash (1885)
Rav Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, the Shinover Rav (1815-1899). He was born in
Rudnick, Galicia, eldest son of Rav Chaim of Sanz. He was an ardent follower of
Rav Asher of Ropshitz, and a chassid of Rav Tzvi Hirsh of Rymanov, Rav Shalom of
Belz, and Rav Meir of Premishlan. Tragically, he was married and widowed 5
times. His first wife was the grand-daughter of the Yismach Moshe, Rav Moshe
Teitelbaum of Mujehly, Hungary. He is known as the Divrei Yechezkel.
Rav Chaim Shlomo of Koson (1919)
Rav Alter Yisrael Shimon Perlow of Novominsk (1873-1933), author of Tiferes Ish.
Scion of the dynasties of Ustila, Koidanov, Lehovitch, Karlin, Apt, Czernobyl
and Berdichev, Rabbi Alter Yisrael Shimon settled in Warsaw in 1917. He knew the
whole Mishna by heart and to the end of his life he reviewed eighteen chapters
every day.
Rav Chaim Meidanik (1954). Rav in Chicago and author of Mazkeres Chaim and
Hegyonei Chaim.
Rebbetzin Beila Morgenstern (1908-2006). First-born daughter of the Admor of
Ozerov-Chenchin, Rav Moshe Yechiel Epstein, author of Aish Das and Be’er Moshe.
She married Rav Tzvi Hershel Morgenstern, a descendent of the Kotzker Rebbe. Her
husband served as a principal of the Bronx Bais Yaakov. She always recited the
entire sefer tehillim on the yahrtzeit of every one of her noble forefathers and
asked Hasehm that their merit should protect all of klal Yisrael. Among her
grandchildren are Rav Dovid Altusky and Rav Yechiel Altusky.
Tuesday, 7 Teves
Rav Moshe Dovid Walli (Vally; Vali) (1697-1777). The foremost talmid of Ramchal
in Padua, Italy, he practiced as a physician in Padova. When the Ramchal was
forced to leave Italy, Rav Moshe Dovid was appointed head of the his academy in
Padova. Also known as the Rama"d Vali, he wrote a commentary on commentary on
Chumash (Ohr Olam on Breishis; Bris Olam on Shemos; Avodas Hakodesh on Vayikra;
Shivtei Kah on Bamidbar; Mishna Lamelech on Devarim), Na"Ch, Likkutim.
Rav Tzvi Hersh, son of the Baal Shem Tov (1779)
Rav Raphael Shlomo Laniado (1740-1793). Originating from Spain through their
progenitor, Rav Shmuel, the Laniado family was among the most famous and
well-established in the Syrian city of Chaleb. Rav Raphael Shlomo Laniado was a
prolific writer, and he is well-known for the several halachic works: HaMaalos
LeShlomo, Beis Dino Shel Shlomo, Lechem Shlomo, and Kisei Shlomo.
Rav Mordecai Yosef Leiner of Ishbitz (1800-1854 [1878, according to Yated
2007]), founder of the Chassidic Court at Ishbitz after leading a group of
disciples from the court of Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. Born in Tomashov,
Poland in 1800, he was a childhood friend of Reb Menachem Mendel Morgenstern,
later to become the Kotzker Rebbe, and they studied together in the school of
the Chasidic Master, Reb Simcha Bunim of Pshiske. His sefer. Mei HaShiloach, is
considered a fundamental work of Izhbitz and Radziner chasidus. Among his
talmidim were Rav Tzadok HaCohen miLublin and Rav Leibel Eiger.
Rav Shalom Yosef Friedman of Husyatin (1879[1851, according to Yated 2007]). Son
of the first Rebbe of Husyatin, Rav Mordechai Shraga (the youngest son of the
Rizhiner Rebbe, who had moved to Husyatin in 1865 and was niftar in 1894. He was
the father of Rav Moshe of Boyan-Cracow (“Reb Moshenu”).
Rav Yosef Elyashiyov (2007). Born in the former Soviet Union to Rav Tzion, who
was killed by the authorities for his efforts to promote Judaism, he moved from
Samarkand to Tashkent after marrying; there he and his wife raised their seven
children. While living in Tashkent he had to spend seven years away from home —
four years in custody on suspicion of underground religious activity and three
years hiding from the KGB, who had him under surveillance for his activities to
promote Judaism. In 1971, he managed to secure an exit visa and left his home
and his family, traveling to Eretz Yisrael. He opened the first Shaarei Tzion
institutions in 1980, naming them after his father. He then started a kollel
with the goal of drawing avreichim from Bukharan families as well as a school in
Kiryat Ono for Bukharan immigrants. Today, a total of 4,500 students, from
kindergartners to avreichim, study at Shaarei Tzion institutions.
Wednesday, 8 Teves – none
Thursday, 9 Teves
Ezra Hasofer (313 BCE or 320 BCE?) and Nechemya
Rav Ezra of Gerona (1227), the Ramban’s teacher in Kabalah. He himself learned
Kabbalah from Rav Yitzchak Sagi Nahor, son of the Ravad III.
Rabbeinu Yosef, son of Shmuel Hanaggid, and son-in-law of Rav Nissim Gaon of
Kirouan was murdered in an Arab pogrom with another 1500 Jews in Spain (1067).
Rav Yehoshua Basis (1860). Chacham and Chief Rabbi of Tunisia for many years.
Rav Yehuda (“Reb Yiddel”) Weber (1920-2006). Born in Vodkert, Hungary to Rav
Yissacher Weber, a descendent of the Bach, and of Rebbetzin Chana, a niece of
the Arugas Bosem. After his Bar Mitzvah, Yehuda was sent to learn in Pupa under
Rav Yaakov Yechezkel Grunwald, the Vayaged Yaakov, the Pupa Rebbe, who was his
rebbi muvhak for 7 years. Rav Yehuda then served as mashgiach of Pupa. When the
yeshiva was closed in 1944, Rav Yehuuda spent 6 months in the local work camps
before being deported to Bergen Belsen. In 1946, his sister introduced him to
his Rebbetzin, Batsheva. A year later, his sister, Miriam, married the Pupa
Rebbe. Both families settled in Antwerp, then moved to Williamsburg, in New
York, in 1950. In 1952, he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva of the newly established
Pupa Yeshiva, first located in Queens, then in Ossining, in Westchester County.
Although his family stayed in Williamsburg, Reb Yiddel made the 40-mile drive
for four decades.
Friday, 10 Teves
Zecharia ben Berachya ben Ido Hanavi (320 or 313 BCE)
Malachi Hanavi (320 or 313 BCE). His death ended the era of prophecy.
Rav Yehuda Eilenberg, author of Minchas Yehudah (1610)
Rav Nosson Sternhartz (or Sternberg) of Breslav, author of Likutei Halachos
(1844). As a young man, he lived in Nemirov, nine miles north of Breslav.
Despite family opposition, Nosson became the disciple who recorded Nachman's
thoughts, edited his writings and wrote the early history of the Breslaver
Hasidim.
Rav Meir Shalom Rabinowitz of Kalushin (1851-1901). Born to Rav Yehoshua Asher
of Zelichov, the son of the Yid Hakadosh of Peshischa, he became a son-in-law of
his older brother, Rav Yaakov Tzvi of Porisov, author of Atarah Lerosh Tzadik.
He served as Rav of the kehhillos of Porisov, Gravlin, and Kalushin. He became
Rebbe after the petira of his brither in 1889. Many of his ideas in Torah and
Chassidus were recorded by his son and successor Yehoshua Alter in the sefer
Nahar Shalom.
Rav Noach of Hordishitz (1903)
Rav Raphael Wexelbaum, Rosh Yeshiva of Itri
Rav Yechezkel Halshtuk, the Ostrovtzer Rebbe (1887-1942). Born to Rav Meir
Yechiel, founder of the court of Ostrovtze (Ostrowiec), a town which lies along
the Kamienna River, a tributary of the Vistula, and which is situated in the
Polish highlands just north of the Swietokrzyskie Mountains. At 18, Reb
Yechezkel married Rebbetziin Beila Mirel, daughter of Rav Naftali of Meilitz,
who was a grandson of Rav Naftali of Ropshitz. In 1911, he was appointed Rav of
the town of Inovlodz, and 10 years later, he was appointed Rav of Nashelsk. He
succeeded his father as Rebbe after the latter’s petira in 1928. He founded a
yeshiva named Beis Meir, in honor of his father. He and 20 of his Chasidim were
murdered by the Nazis during davening on the night of Asesers BeTeves. His
Rebbetzein, 7 sons, and one son-in-law were all murdered by the Nazis.Some of
his writings were published after the war under the name Kodshei Yechezkel. (8
Teves, according to Yated 2006 and Yated 2007)
Rav Shabsai Yogel, born in Piask, Russia (1875-1957). After studying in
Eishishock as a youngster, he learned at Volozhin until it was closed by the
Russian authorities, at which time he returned to Piask until he married Liba
Kletzkin from Slonim. He then moved to Slonim and learned in one of the Novardok
kollelim. In 1906, he was asked to head the Slonim yeshiva, founded by Rav
Shlomo Zalman Kahana in 1816. The yeshiva’s first rosh yeshiva was Rav Avraham
Weinberg, who later became the founder of the Slonimer chassidic dynastry. In
1929, Rav Shabsai visited Yisrael for the first time; two months later, his son
Shlomo perished in the Chevron massacres. During the early years of WW2, Rav
Shabsai and his family moved to Eretz Yisrael. Since the yeshiva in Slonim was
destroyed by the Nazis, he rebuilt in. He decided to do so in Ramat Gan, which
at that time was a spiritual wasteland.
Rav Avraham Abba Leifer, the Pittsburgher Rebbe, the Admor of Petersburg-Ashdod
(1989). Author of Emunas Avraham, son of Rav Yosef (Tzidkas Yosef), and
son-in-law of Rebbe Issamar of Nadvorna.
His son, Mordechai Yissacher Dov Ber Leifer of Pittsburg, is author of Pisgamei
Oraisa.
Next Shabbos, 11 Teves (Parashas Vayechi)
Rav Moshe of Ostraha, author of Arugas Habosem (1784).
Rav Shlomo Eiger, Rav of Posen, author of Gilyon Maharsha, son of Rav Akiva
Eiger. (1851)
Rav Shlomo Zalman Ullman of Makava, author of Yerios Shlomo (1865). Son of Rav
Shalom Charif, Rav Shlomo Zalman served as Rav of Rendick for two years and of
Makova, Hungary, for 39 years. He fought against any inroads of the Reform
movement for much of his life. At the end of his sefer, Rav Shlomo Zalman added
Kuntres Beis Yad, where he expounds on fourteen differences in the sugya of eid
echad neeman b’issurim. This kuntres is the basis of many of the halachos os
issur ve’heter.
Rav Yehoshua Horowitz of Dzikov, author of Ateres Yeshua. (1912)
Dovid Twersky of Zlatipoli (1914). The oldest son of Rav Tochanan of
Rachmistrivke, the son of Rav Mordechai of Chernobyl. Reb Dovid married
Rebbetzin Bas-Tzion Tzipora Feiga, daughter of Rav Aharon of Karlin. With his
father’s petira, Rav Dovid became Rebbe in Rachmistrivke, along with his
brothers, but moved his court to Zlatipoli.
Rav Moshe Bergman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Avi Ezri-Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei
Brak. (1977). He was succeeded by his son, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman.
Rav Yaakov Yosef Shlomo Halperin (1902-1984), the Vasloi Rebbe. Born in Rendken,
near Vasloi, Romania, he was the grandson of the first Vasloier Rebbe, Rav
Shalom Halperin. He moved from Romania to Eretz Yisrael in 1950, following his
father’s own aliya earlier that year. He settled in Haifa, then moved to
Nahariya one year later. He moved to Tel Aviv in 1955. His father was niftar in
1957. Rav Yaakov Yosef himself was succeeded by his son Rav Avraham Shimshon
Shalom, who lives in Bnei Brak.
Rav Shmuel Dovid Tzvi Mayer (known as Rav Dovid Hersh), menahel of Yeshiva Beis
Binyamin in Stamford, Connecticut. (2003)
Monday, November 22, 2010
Famous yahrzeits this week!
Famous Yahrzeits is licensed to OJINYU.blogspot.com by Manny Saltiel and and Anshe.org:
Ravina berei D'rav Huna (499, 475, or 421 CE). Rosh Metivta of Sura. He,
together with his teacher, Rav Ashi, collected and commented upon the Gemara of
what would henceforth be known as the Talmud Bavli.
RavAzariah min Ha’adumim, author of Meor Einayim (1577).
Rav Shlomo Zalman Yosef of Vyelpol (1857).
Rav Dov Ber of Levo, son on Rav Yisrael of Ruzhin (1875).
Rav Yisrael Aryeh of Premishlan (1890).
Rav Dov Ber Livshitz, Rav of Sardnik (1900)
Rav Yisrael Taub (ben Shmuel Eliyahu) of Modzhitz, author of Divrei Yisrael
(1849-1920). He was a grandson of Rav Yechezkel Taub of Kuzmir, who was one of
the students of the Chozeh of Lublin. He became the first Rebbe of Modzhitz in
1891, and was succeeded by his son, Shaul Yedidya Elazer. Legend has it that in
1913 Taub composed a 30-minute negun while having his leg amputated without
anesthesia.
Rav Yisrael Friedman, the second Tchortkover Rebbe (1934, 1933, or 1932)
Rav Yechiel Michel (ben Baruch) Hager of Horodenka (1941). One of the sons of
the Imrei Baruch, he was appointed Rebbe (as were his brothers), after his
father’s petira on 20 Kislev 1892. Rav Yechiel Michel moved to Horodenka, to
succeed his brother, Rav Shmuel Abba, who passed away childless in 1895. He
married the daughter of his older brother, Rav Chaim (Rebbe in Antiniya). During
World War I, he escaped to Chernowitz and served as Rebbe to the many Vizhnitz
Chassidim there. He had one son, Baruch, who was later appointed Dayan in
Chernowitz. After Sukkos of 1941, he was among 5000 Jews who were deported to
Transnistria, and area in southwestern Ukraine, between the Dniester River
(“Nistru” in Romanian) and the Bug River, north of the Black Sea. Also on that
transport was Rav Aharon of Boyan, who came down with typhus and was niftar on
13 or 14 Cheshvan. Both Rav Yechiel Michel and his son Baruch came down with
typhus in the work camp in Warchovka and died there.
Rav Shalom Hadayah of Aram Tzova (1864-1944). A descendent of Rav Saadyah Gaon,
Reb Shalom’s father passed away when he was only three. He married at the age of
20, and moved to Eretz Yisrael in 1888 with his faather-in-law’s family. In
1891, Rav Shalom had to return to Aram Tzova. While there, he was stricken with
an eye ailment and nearly lost his eyesight. Despite that, he wrote a sefer,
Shalom LaAm, which focuses on the issues of giving tzedakah and doing chessed,
particularly on behalf of Torah students and scholars. In 1896, Rav Shalom moved
to Eretz Yisrael permanently, first settling in the Bucharian Quarter, then
moving to the Ohel Moshe neighborhood. In 1904, Rav Shalom was appointed moreh
tzedek in the beis din of Rav Vidal Anjel and Rav Baruch Elnekavah. In 1930, he
was appointed Rosh Av Beis Din of all the Sephardic communities in Yerushalayim.
In 1927, Yerushalayim's chief kabbalist, and rosh yeshivah of Bais Keil, Rav
Mas'ud HaKohen Elchaded, passed away and Rav Shalom was appointed his successor.
Besides Shalom LaAm, the other sefarim Rav Shalom wrote were: Dover Shalom,
responsa on the Arba Turim; HaChaim v'HaShalom, a series of Torah
extrapolations; and Shalom v'Tzedek. His son, Rav Ovadyah, was a prominent Rosh
Mesivta in the Porat Yosef yeshiva. When the Jordanians conquered the Old City,
Yeshivas Bais Keil was destroyed and Rav Ovadyah reestablished it in his own
home in the new city. After the Six-Day War, he reestablished the yeshiva in the
Old City.
Sund, 14 Kislev
Reuven ben Yaakov Avinu (1567 BCE-1442 BCE)
Rav Menashe ben Yisrael of Amsterdam, author of Nishmas Odom. He was as friend
of Rembrandt van Rijn, who apart from making an etching of the Rabbi also
illustrated his books. It was Rabbi Menashe, whom together with Rabbi Jacob
Sasportas, pleaded with Oliver Cromwell to allow the Jews to settle in England
on philosophical and theological grounds.
Rav Menachem Nachum (ben Yisrael) of Shtefanesht, Romania (1823-1869), one of
the five sons of the Ruzhiner Rebbe. He was succeeded by his son, Rav Avraham
Matisyahu, when the latter was 21 years old.
Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira (1919)
Rav Mordechai Yaakov Breish of Zurich, the Chelkas Yaakov (1895-1976). Born in
Skohl, Galicia, his father was a chassid of Rav Yissachar Dov of Belz. He
married in 1920, and the couple lived in Lvov. He became Rav in Alesk, and then
in 1928 of Disbourg, Germany. In 1933, he published Tikun Eruvin, a detailed
examination of the halachos of eruvin involved in his project of making a
community eruv to help his mispalelim, who were otherwise carrying on Shabbos.
Following a life-threatening incident with the Nazis, who had just come to
power, Rav Mordechai Yaakov and his wife decided to escape Germany. After a
brief time in Lance, France, they settled in Zurich, Switzerland, where he
nurtured the Jewish community for 40 years. In 1967, he established the Kollel
Le’horaah Chelkas Yaakov in Bnai Brak.
Monday, 15 Kislev
Rabi Yehuda (ben Shimon) HaNasi, son of Rav Shimon ben Gamliel, and redactor of
the Mishna (120-192 CE) [193, according to Hamodia 2006, 219CE, according to
Yated 2007]. The Shelah HaKadosh writes, “Kabbalah BiYadi--I have a personal
Kabbalah--that a person who is a baki--well-versed--in Mishnayos will not ‘roeh
penei Gehenom’--will not see the face of Gehenom.”
Rav Avraham Ibn Ezra (the second), author of Batei Kenesiyos (1760).
Rav Ze’ev of Zhitomer, the Ohr Hamei’ir (1799)
Rav Eliezer Fishel of Brody (1811)
Rav Simcha Bunim (ben Avraham Shmuel Binyamin) Sofer of Pressburg (1842-1906),
author of Shaarei Simcha and Shevet Sofer. Born in Pressburg, Hungary (now
Bratslava, Slovakia), he was the son of the Kesav Sofer, the grandson of the
Chasam Sofer, and a great-grandson of Rav Akiva Eiger. He succeeded his father
as Rav and Rosh Yeshiva in Preessburg in 1872, at the age of 29, the yeshiva
housing over 400 talmidim at the time. He himself was succeeded by his son, Rav
Akiva Sofer, the Daas Sofer. Interestingly, three continuous generations – the
Chasam Sofer, the Kesav Sofer, and the Shevet Sofer – all served as Rav of
Pressburg for 33 years.(16 Kislev according to a biography on Akiva Sofer in
Hamodia 2007)
Rav Raphael Even Tzur, Rav of Fez, Morocco (1916)
Rav Dovid Twersky of Skver (1919). He left Skver for Kiev in 1914, following the
Bolshevik Revolution. His eldest son, Mordechai, was nifatr the same year. Rav
Mordechai was then succeeded by his own son, Rav Yitzchak.
Rav Dovid Hakohen Leibowitz (1890-1941). Born in Warsaw, he studied in the
yeshiva of Radin as a teenager, where he held private study sessions with his
great-uncle, the Chafetz Chaim for 12 hours a day. In 1908, upon the latter’s
recommendation, Rav Dovid went to learn in the Slabodka Yeshiva, under the
direction of the Alter, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel. In 1915, Rav Leibowitz succeeded
his father-in-law as Rav of Selechnik. After six years, however, he returned to
Slobodka as a founding member of the Slabodka Kollel. Rav Dovid came to America
in 1926 to collect funds for the kollel. While there, he was offered the job as
rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Torah Vodaas. Among his students were Rav Gedalya Schorr
and Rav Avraham Pam. In 1933, Rav Leibowitz founded Yeshivas Rabbenu Yisrael
Meir Hacohen (better known today as the Chafetz Chaim Yeshiva/Rabbinical
Seminary of America in Forest Hills, N.Y.) There he transplanted to the United
States his unique style of Talmud study as well as the Slabodka school of
mussar. The yeshiva has been headed for the past half-century by his son, Rav
Henach Leibowitz.
Tuesday, 16 Kislev
Rav Yaakov of Lublin (1644), father of Rav Herschel of Cracow
Rav Shaul Yedidya Elazar (ben Yisrael) Taub (the Imrei Shaul), the second
Modzitzer Rebbe. Born in Osherov. (1886-1947). He assumed the leadership of
Modzitz upon the passing of his father, the Divrei Yisrael, in 1920. In 1938, he
fled Poland due to Nazi persecution and travelled to Vilna, and from there made
his way to Japan. Eventually, with the help of some Modzitzer Chassidim, he and
some family members reached the shores of San Francisco and then moved to
Brooklyn in 1940. Reb Shaul was probably the most prolific chassidic composer of
all time with the total output numbering close to 1000 compositions. His
teachings have been collected in the volumes of Imrei Shaul and Yisa Bracha.He
was succeeded by his oldest son, Rebbe Shmuel Eliyahu Taub.
Rav Dovid Leib Schwartz of Bnei Brak, “Der Heiliger Tzadik” (1999)
Rav Menachem (ben Yaakov Dovid) Kalish of Amshinov (1860-1917). Succeeded his
father in 1878, at the young age of 18. One of his sons, Rav Yosef, became Rebbe
in Amshinov, while his second son, Rav Shimon Shalom, became a Rebbe in Otvotsk.
When Rav Yosef passed away, in 1935, his son, Rabbi Yaakov Dovid (1906-1942),
was immediately appointed as his successor. His uncle, Rav Shimon Shalom, had
fled to Shanghai where he helped the Mir yeshiva escape and, after the war, he
went to America. Upon his passing in 1954, he was succeeded by his son, Rav
Yerachmiel Yehuda Meir, who set up court in the Yerushalayim neighborhood of
Bayit Vegan. Rav Yerachmiel Yehuda Meir's grandson, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh
Milikowski, succeeded him in 1976. Rav Yitzchak Kalish, the son of Rav Yosef,
became the Rebbe of Amshinover chassidim in America. Of Amshinov itself, nothing
remained.
Wednesday, 17 Kislev
Rav Yosef Yoizel (ben Shlomo Zalman) Horowitz, Alter from Novardok
(1849[1858]-1919). Born in the Lithuanian town of Plongian to the Rav and Dayan
of the town, Rav Yosef Yoizel joined Kovno's Kollel Perushim where he studied
under Rav Itzele Blazer, Rav Naftali Amsterdam and Rav Avraham Shenker, spending
at least 18 hours a day - most of the time standing- studying. He also spent two
lengthy periods learning in solitude – first, he secluded himself in a small
room for a year and a half after tragically losing his first wife during
childbirth; later, learning in a room in a forest for 12 years, leaving only to
visit his family for Shabbosos. In 1894, Rav Yosef Yoizel began to visit the
Alter of Kelm, Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv. Later, he established a large yeshiva in
Novorodok and was responsible for creating a whole network of yeshivas. During
the War, in 1914, he moved the yeshiva – with its bachurim – to Hommel in the
Ukraine, as the Germans advanced on Novardok. In 1918, he moved it to Kiev.
Rav Shlomo Heiman, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Elyon, Tora Vodaas (1893-1944).
Born in Parenz, near Minsk, Reb Shlomo entered the yeshiva in Halusk at age 12,
where he learned under Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz. He remained there until 1917,
when he married Chaya Feiga Rudensky of Volozhin. That year, he was appointed by
Rav Baruch Ber to serve as Rosh Yeshiva in Knesses Bais Yitzchak. When
anti-Semitic harassment forced him to leave the area, the Chafetz Chaim asked
Rav Shlomo to teach in his yeshiva. When WWI ended, Rav Elchonon Wasserman asked
Rav Shlomo to be a Rosh Yeshiva in Baranovitch. In 1927 Rav Chaim Ozer
Grodzenski invited Rav Shlomo to be Rosh Yeshiva of the Ramailles Yeshiva in
Vilna, a position he held for almost eight years. In 1935, with Rav Chaim Ozer's
approval, Rav Shlomo accepted an invitation to head Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. Thus
he was spared, through hashgacha pratis, the horrors of WWII. Since he arrived
in America a few years before the onset of the Holocaust, he was able to aid in
the rescue of Bnei Torah and Rebbeim.
Rav Avraham Yochanan Blumenthal (1877-1966). Born to his parents one year after
they made aliyah from Hungary, he married in 1895, and - despite the death of
three of his children and his wife's becoming hard of hearing - he began an
orphanage for the destitute of Yerushalayim during World War I. Beis Zion
Blumenthal has been continued by his grandson, Rav Eliezer Rakovsky (d. 1996)
and his great grandson, Rav Baruch Rakovsky.
Thursday, 18 Kislev
Rabbeinu Avraham ben HaRambam, the only son of the Rambam, born to him by his
second wife. Born in Fostat, Egypt (1186-1238). Author of Hamaspik L'avdei
Hashem.
Rav Aryeh Leib Darshan of Posen (1736)
Rav Baruch (ben Yechiel) of Mezhbizh (1756 [or 1753] -1811), son of Adel
(Hudel), the only daughter of the Baal Shem Tov. Educated by Rav Pinchas of
Koritz and the Maggid of Mezritch, he began serving as Rebbe in Tulchin. After
the passing of his older brother, the Degel Machane Ephraim in 1798, Rav Baruch
settled in Mezhibizh.
Rav Yekusiel Shmelke of Sassov (1857)
Rav Yosef Yitzchak (ben Menachem Mendel) of Ovritch, son of the Tzemach Tzedek
of Lubavitch, and father of Rebbitzen Shterna Sarah who was the wife of the
Rebbe RaShaB (1877).
RavMordechai Alishberg of Boisk (1889)
Rav Chaim Tzvi Ehrenreich, author of ShU”T Kav Chaim (1875-1936). Born in
Savrantz, his grandfather was Rav Avraham Yehuda Scwartz, the Kol Aryeh. His
primary teacher was brother, Rav Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich, Rav of Shamlau and
author of Lechem Shlomo. Rav Chaim Tzvi became Rav of the Mahd community when he
was 57, succeeding his father-in-law. He was also Av Beis Din of Mahd for over
thirty years. In 1923, he published Ketzeit Hamteh on the mateh Ephraim (by Rav
Ephraim Zalman Margulies of Brodt) on the halachos of Chodesh Elul and Chodesh
Tishrei. In 1932, he published Shaarei Chaim on Shaarei Epharim, dealing with
halachos of krias Hatorah. His magnus opus, Kav Chaim, comprised 102 (gematria
of Kav) Teshuvos in practical halacha.
Rav Eliezer Zev Rosenbaum of Rackov (1998)
Rav Tzvi Menachem Teller, Rosh Yeshiva at the Bais Medrash L’Torah (Skokie
Yeshiva) (1951-2007). His parents were Gerrer Chasidim from distinguished
lineage, descended from Rav Yitzchok of Vorki. Upon advice of the Gerrer Rebbe,
the Bais Yisrael, young Tzvi Teller went to a Lithuanian style Yeshiva. He
learned at the Ponovezh Yeshiva for seven years as a talmid of Rav Dovid
Povarsky and Rav Shmuel Rozovsky. After marrying, the couple moved to Seattle
where Rav Tzvi became a principal for 3 years. In 1975, they then moved to
Skokie.
Friday, 19 Kislev
Rav Dov Ber (ben Avraham), the Maggid of Mezritch (1704-1772). Born in Lukatch,
he was descended from Rav Hai Gaon and Rav Yochanan Hasandler, a descendent of
Dovid Hamelech. Rav Dov Ber learned with the Pnei Yehoshua in Lemberg early in
his life. In 1752, he became the Baal Shem Tov’s closest disciple. Among his
students were the Rebbe Reb Shmuel Shmelke HaLevi Horowitz and his brother, Reb
Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz, the Baal HaFloh, the Rebbe Reb Zushia and his brother,
Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk, Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchiv, Rav Nachum of
Chernobyl, Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi. His son was Rav Avraham HaMalach
(1740-1776). The classic anthologies of his teachings are Likutei Amarim, Torah
Ohr, and Ohr HaEmmes.
Rav Yitzchak Chai Taib of Tunisia, author of Cheilev Chitim (1835)
Rav Moshe Tzvi Neriyeh, Beis Midrash Lamed Daas (1995)
Rav Menachem Nachum of Tolna (1869-1915), the son of Rav Mordechai Twersky, the
only child of Rav Dovid Twersky to survive childhood. His father died when he
was eight years old, and Rav Menachem Nachum became Rebbe of Tolna upon his
grandfather's death.
Rav Shaul Mekiketz Shelai, born in Djerba, one of the two main cities in
Tunisia, son of Rav Matuk Sali, and grandson of Emmanuel Shelai. At an early
age, he leaned under rav Dovid HaKohen, and at age 20, he began to teach in the
yeshiva of Rav Yosef Bereibi, the Ben Porat Yosef. With the latter’s passing,
Rav Shaul became the Rosh Yeshiva. Rav Shaul edited and annotated many sefarim
by previous gedolim of Djerba, including Kisei Rachamim by Rav Rachamim Mazuz
and Ben Porta Yosef by Rav Yosef Bereibi. Later in life, he and his wife moved
to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Shlomi, near Nahariya. In Yisrael, he wrote
Midrasho shel Shlomo in 1948 and Karmi Sheli (on Kiddushin) and Medrash Avos (on
Avos) in 1963, as well as other writings. His final work, Bayit Va’Shem was
published posthumously in 1975. Appended to it is Va’Yatek Mi’Sham, offering
guidelines and insightsd on raising children.
Next Shabbos, 20 Kislev (Parashas Vayeshev)
Rav Baruch Hager of Seret-Viznitz, the Imrei Baruch (1892). The son of Rav
Menachem Mendel Hager, Rav Baruch was Rebbe for only eight years, and was niftar
at a young age. His son, Rav Yisrael Hager (the Ahavas Yisrael), was born when
Rav Baruch was only 15 years old. (2 Kislev according to Yated 2005)
Rav Yitzchak Hutner, Rosh Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, author of Pachad
Yitzchak (1907-1981). His uncle, R’ Benzion Ostrover, had been a disciple of Rav
Mendel of Kotzk, and was instrumental in providing his young nephew with a
direct link to the world of Chasidus. At the age of 15, he went to Slobodka and
was directed by the Alter, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel. In 1925, he entered the new
Slabodka branch in Chevron, where he also met and learned from Rav A. I. Kook.
He remained until 1929, after which he returned to his parents in Warsaw. He
became a personal tutor for Rav Moshe Solevetchik’s son, Aharon. In 1932, he
published his Toras HaNazir, a commentary on the Rambam’s Hilchos Nazir. In
1933, he married Masha Lipshitz and moved to Eretz Yisrael. Despite his great
attachment to the Land, they left for America one year later, not to return for
30 years. He built Yeshiva Chaim Berlin to his specifications with his famous
blend of Torah philosophies. Among his talmidim are Rav Yitzchak Shurin,
grandson of Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky. Among his colleagues at Slobodka were R'
Yitzchak HaLevi Ruderman, R' Reuven Grozovsky; R' Yaakov Kamenetsky; and R'
Aharon Kotler. In 1949 he began publishing his discourses on morals and ethics
which he subtitled, Divrei Torah B’inyanei Hilchot Deos V’Chovos Halevovos. As a
young man he wrote Toras Hanazir on the Rambam’s Hilchos Nezirus. He wrote a
profound commentary (Kovetz Heaaros) on Rabbeinu Hillel on the Safra. His
discourses on Yomim Tovim and Shabbos (Pachad Yitzchok) are collected in seven
volumes.
Rav Yochanan Twersky, the Rachmastrika Rebbe. He was also the cousin of the
Belzer Rebbe. He was shot by the Nazis during Friday night prayers. His
daughter, Malka married the first Boyaner Rebbe, Reb Yitzchak Friedman, the
Pachad Yitzchak. (1981)
Rav Meshulam Feivish HaLevi of Zbarazh, author of Yosher Divrei Emes, a basic
work on chasidic thought (1794). He studied under R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov
and R. Dov Ber of Mezritch. His teachings appear in Likutim Yekarim. His
disciples included Rav Menachem Mendel of Kosov.
Rav Feivish of Kremenitz, the Mishnas Chachamim (1774)
Rav Hirsh Paley (1911-2006). Born in Shklov, Lithuania, to Rav Avraham Noach
Paley, a close talmid of Rav Baruch Ber Leibovitz. The family immigrated to
Eretz Yisrael when Rav Hirsh was fourteen. His father became the mashgiach in
Yeshivas Chevron. Rav Hirsh would travel with his lifelong friend Rav Shalom
Schwadron to hear Rav Elya Lopian in Yerushalayim, whom he considered his rebbi
muvhak and and moreh derech. Rav Hirsh was the last surviving member of the
Chevron community following the 1929 riots. In 1965, he married Menuchah, the
daughter of Rav Shlomo Zalman Pines. She had been one of the first talmidos of
Sara Schenirer and served as a mechaneches in Bais Yaakov Schools for over six
decades, both in Tel Aviv and in Yerushalayim. They moved to Tel Aviv, where Rav
Hirsh studied in Kollel Heichal HaTalmud, founded by his father. He later became
mashgiach at Chevron Yeshiva.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
וישלח Thanks again Meir!
In this week’s portion we read of an unsung heroine whose name only appears here and not much is said about her. Yet she was so influential that her death created such a great mourning that the place was called ALON BACHUS, “the Plain of Mourning”. (Bereishis 35:9).
Who was this person and why was she so important that her death caused such a great grief? We are told that she was Devorah, Rebecca’s nurse who raised her in Lavan’s house. Why was that so important?
We know the kind of person Lavan was and Rebecca grew up in this household and yet she turned out to be an exceptional person. Even in early age she already had that attributes that made her suitable to become Yitzchak’s wife. This we learned when Eliezer went to look for a spouse for Yitzchak and Rebecca met him at the well.This highlights the truth that a person can have a great influence even under difficult conditions. It certainly was not easy for Devorah living under the watchful eye of Lavan to teach Rebecca moral and ethical values that went contrary to his beliefs. Yet she did and she succeeded. Her demise caused a great mourning in Yaakov’s family because they all recognized the role she played in influencing his mother and hence Yaakov and the Jewish people.
If anyone needs me, I'll be with my friends Rafi and Zevi at the Blumenfruchts in the Upper West Side.
Have a Great Shabbos!
Meir R. Y. Graff
Who was this person and why was she so important that her death caused such a great grief? We are told that she was Devorah, Rebecca’s nurse who raised her in Lavan’s house. Why was that so important?
We know the kind of person Lavan was and Rebecca grew up in this household and yet she turned out to be an exceptional person. Even in early age she already had that attributes that made her suitable to become Yitzchak’s wife. This we learned when Eliezer went to look for a spouse for Yitzchak and Rebecca met him at the well.This highlights the truth that a person can have a great influence even under difficult conditions. It certainly was not easy for Devorah living under the watchful eye of Lavan to teach Rebecca moral and ethical values that went contrary to his beliefs. Yet she did and she succeeded. Her demise caused a great mourning in Yaakov’s family because they all recognized the role she played in influencing his mother and hence Yaakov and the Jewish people.
If anyone needs me, I'll be with my friends Rafi and Zevi at the Blumenfruchts in the Upper West Side.
Have a Great Shabbos!
Meir R. Y. Graff
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Chabura # 6
New Time!
Trying to keep things fresh can be a challenge. To combat this challenge I have decided to change the time again. the new time will be @:
11:30
I will be sharing a really amazing Dvar Torah that I heard Shana Aleph from Rabbi Seltzer who was giving a trial shiur during Rabbi Saffer's Shiur.
I know that wasn't very cogent but this is my blog and not Comp 1 or 2 or Lit or my Psych class where the professor takes off for spelling and grammar.
See you there.
A new Series
I think there is much wisdom tobe gained from t-shirts. Therefore I encourage everyone reading the blog (granted its only 1 or 2 people) to start paying attention to t-shirts and attempt to glean some mussar or life lessons. I will begin the series with something I saw in the Gym.
I think we all know what we are supposed to stand for.
As R' Feldman was fond of saying it is all about Consistency and Constancy.
There are tremendous resources here at YU that are ready and willing to help you keep your life on track. Are we reaching out? Sticking to convictions is very difficult but if we dont have our foundations firmly in place in YU then what will keep us strong when we enter the real world? Now is the time to make sure that you have NO doubts as to what you, a religious Yeshiva student, represent. If you have doubts reach out to one of the sganei mashgichim or Rebbeim for guidance in strengthening yourself.
I remember being embarrassed in Shana Bet to ask about certain feelings I had because I felt that a Shana Bet guy shouldn't still be dealing with those issues but that is a very very immature way of thinking and going about life.
לא הבישן לומד
Monday, November 15, 2010
Something I saw..
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son -- Rudyard Kipling
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Thursday, November 11, 2010
פרשת ויצא- Thanks again Meir!
When Yaakov leaves his father’s home fleeing from his brother Esav who was determined to kill him, the Torah tells us he slept and he had a dream. In his dream he saw a SULAM, a ladder, the foot of which was on the ground but the top was reaching into the heavens.
One of the famous commentaries on the Torah, the Baal Haturim (given out at Artscroll Shabbos Retreat), points out that the Gematria or numerical value of the word SULAM is the same as the Hebrew and Aramaic word MAMON which means money. The numerical value of both words is 136 (both written with a Vav).
The Baal Haturim explains that money can elevate a person or bring him down. The Baal Shem Tov elaborates on the same theme and says that money is similar to a ladder. People can go up with it or can come down with it.
Money is a very essential aspect in life but what we do with it is what matters. If we spend it wisely, if we use it for necessities, if it helps us do charity, then it elevates our existence and meaning in life. If, however, we use it for pleasures only, if we squander it, if we fail to share it with the less fortunate, then it only helps to demean us and lower the meaning of our life.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Meira/Elie in Queens this Shabbos.
Have a Great Shabbos!
Meir R. Y. Graff
Famous Yahrzeits this coming week!
This Shabbos, 6 Kislev (Parashas Vayetzei)
Yahrzeits are licensed to the OJ blog by Manny Saltiel and Anshe.org
Yahrzeits are licensed to the OJ blog by Manny Saltiel and Anshe.org
Rav Yaakov Schick of Karlin, author of Mishkenos Yaakov (1844), one of the
greatest talmidim of Rav Chaim of Volozhin. He became Av Beis Din of Karlin
Rav Menachem (ben Meir) Ash, Rav of Ungvar (now known as Uzhgorod), Ukraine
(1869). He succeeded his father, known as the Maharam Ash (1780-1852), one of
the early talmidim of the Chasam Sofer, and his greatest talmid in Mattersdorf.
RavMordechai Dovid Teitelbaum of Drohbitch (1919).
Rav Eliezer Horowitz of Grodzisk (1881-1942). Appointed Rav of Grodisk, in
western Galicia (near Tarnow) in 1909, he moved to Tarnow with his family during
World War I, serving as Rav and Dayan. He was murdered by the Nazis, along with
3500 other Jews, in Tarnow.
Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap (1883-1951). Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Merkaz Harav and
Rav of Yerushalayim's Sha'arei Chessed neighborhood. He was a close disciple of
Rav Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook. Author of Mei Marom and Michtavei
Marom.
Rav Chaim Michoel Dov (ben Yosef) Weissmandel, Rosh Yeshiva Nitro (Mt. Kisco,
NY) yeshiva, Holocaust rescue activist. Author of Min Ha Metzar (1903-1957).
Born in Debrecen, Hungary, when he was still a child his family moved to Tyrnau
(Trnava), where his father served as a shochet. He learned in a yeshiva in the
town of Sered. As a 17-year-old bachur, Rav Weissmandl published three short
volumes of chidushim he had heard from his teacher, Rav Shmuel Dovid Ungar, of
Tyrnau and later Nitra. In 1931 he published a volume of his research called
Hilchos Ha-chodesh. He married the daughter of his rebbi, Rav Ungar, in 1937.
Rav Weissmandl’s activities during the war constitute one of the most striking
examples in Jewish history of total dedication and sacrifice in order to save
Jews. His activities began in 1938, shorty after the Nazis’ anschluss of
Austria. The Jews Burgenland were immediately sent to Vienna without any of
their properties or resources. Rav Weissmandl risked his life to travel to
Vienna to support them. When the Nazis then placed 60 rabbanim on a ship and
sent them to Czechoslovakia, Rav Weissmandl traveled to Oxford and convinced the
Archbishop of Canterbury to grant all 60 entry-visas to England. Over the next
few years, Rav Weissmandl was instrumental in savings tens of thousands of
Jews.
Rav Shlomo Abu Maaravi -founder of Otzer HaTorah network
Rav Yechezkel Shraga (ben Yissacher Dov) Lipshitz-Halberstam, the Stropkover
Rebbe (1908-1994). Born in Stropkov, Czechoslovakia. His paternal grandfather
was Rav Rav Aryeh Leibush from Apta, the Yismach Tzadik, and his maternal
grandfather was the Rebbe of Stropov, the Divrei Shalom, who was the son of the
Divrei Yechezkel of Shinava, the eldest son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. Rav
Yechezkel Shraga’s first public post was as Rav of Yablonka. After a few years
there, he became dayan of Bergsas. During WW2, he was sent to Auschwitz, where
his wife and five children perished. After the war, he moved to Eretz Yisrael.
In 1954, upon the death of his uncle, Rav Menachem of Stropkov, and Rav
Yechezkel was appointed Admor by the Sanz elders of Shinava and Stropkov. He
authored Divrei Yechezkel Shraga.
RavYechezkel Shraga Landau (1996). Rav of Veretzky in pre-War Europe, he founded
Khal Veretzky in Flatbush.
Rav Chaim Shmuel (ben Eliyahu) Lopian (1998). He was amongst the first students
in the Gateshead Kollel under Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, in 1942.He was the
author of Ravcha Shmaatsa.
Sunday, 7 Kislev
Rav Dovid Sinzheim of Strasbourg, France (1745-1812). He served as President of
the “Sanhedrin” established by Napolean, the first meeting of which occurred on
February 9th, 1807. He was author of Yad Dovid.
Rav Shlomo Binyamin Halevi Ashlag, author of the Peirush Hasulam
(1983).[According to others, 10th of Tishrei]
Monday, 8 Kislev
Rav Moshe, author of Mahadura Basra, printed at the back of Gemara (1668)
Rav Eliyahu (ben Yehuda) Kovo (1630-1688). The son-in-law of Rav Moshe Chaim,
who was the son of Rav Chaim Shabsai and the Chief Rabbi of Salonica. After the
death of his father-in-law in 1685, he was appointed to be Chief rabbi. He died
at a young age due to a plague, which also took the lives of his two sons. He
compiled Tana D’bei Eliyahu, a collection of 451 responsa, but most of it was
lost. His grandsons managed to collect 26 of them and printed them as Sheilos
Uteshuvos Aderes Eliyahu.
Rav Yitzchak (ben Yehudah) Navon (1733-1786). Born in Contantinople, he was the
son the author of Kiriyas Melech Rav on the Rambam’s Mishna Torah, and the
grandson of Rav Ephraim Navon, author of Machaneh Ephraim. Rav Yitzchak himself
wrote Din Emes on the Tur and the Beis Yosef; the sefer was published in
Salonika in 1803.
Rav Moshe Shapira of Slavita, son of Rav Pinchas of Koretz (1838).
Rav Avraham Yitzchak of Tunis, author of Mishmeros Kehunah (1864).
Rav Aharon (ben Mordechai) Twersky, the 3rd Rebbe of Chernobyl (1786-1871).
Rabbi Aharon was a grandson of Rav Menachum Nachum, the Meor Einayim of
Chernobyl, his childhood teacher. Rav Aharon succeeded his father after the
latter’s petira in 1837. He also served as the nasi of the Rabi Meir Baal Haness
maos of Eretz Yisrael fund in the Ukraine.
Rav Nachum Dov Schneerson of Ovritch (Ovruch)(1895). Uncle of Rav Yosef
Yitzchak, son of the Rebbe Rashab. Ovruch is an historic town in the Zhytomyr
province of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Ovrutsky
district. {note: Rav Avraham Dov of Ovritch is author of Bas Ayim}
Rav Avraham Mordechai of Kamarna (1941). {RavYitzchak IsaakYehudah Yechiel of
Kamarna (1806- 1874). His uncle was Rav Zvi of Zhiditchov. He authored many
important Chassidic works such as Heichel Habracha, Derech Emunah, Otzar
Mitzvosecha, Zohar Chai, and Megillas Setarim among others.
Rav Pinchas Dovid (ben Shmuel) Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe (1876-1941). Born in
Yerushalayim, he became a devoted talmid of his uncle, Rav Dovid Tzvi Shlomo of
Lelov. After his marriage, he lived in Tzfas with his wife’s parents. When his
father died tragically at age 36, he was forced to move to Yerushalayim to care
for his mother and younger siblings. His wife died in 1904. Her father, eager to
keep his son-in-law in the family, suggested that he marry his granddaughter,
who was still a child. In 1909, at the age of 16, she gave birth to a son,
Moshe. During World War I, he escaped to the United States as a refugee in 1915,
with the help of Rav Yaakov Meir of Salonika, the Rav of Greece. In gratitude to
the Jews of Boston, who helped him procure residential rights in America, he
settled in Boston. See also
Rav Dovid (ben Shmuel) Borenstein of Sochotchov, the Chasdei Dovid (1876-1942).
Born to the Shem MiShmuel, who was the son of the Avnei Nezer, his primary
teacher was his grandfather. In 1906, he became the Rav of Vishogrod, Poland. He
moved to Loz in the late 1920s. He was very active with Agudas Yisrael and
encouraged many to settle in Eretz Yisrael. He died of heart failure in the
Warsaw Ghetto. The Sochatchov heritage continued under his brother, Rav Chanoch
Henoch, who had established a beis medrash in Bayit Vegan.
Rav Eliezer (ben Eliyahu Yehoshua) Geldzahler (1958-2004). Rav Eliezer’s mother,
Henna Freidel, was the daughter of Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler. As a child, he
learned in his father’s yeshiva, where he made a siyum for Gemara Bava Basra
before his Bar Mitzvah. As a bachur, he learned at Yeshiva Zichron Yaakov in
South Fallsburg under Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel. From there, he went to
Yerushalayim to learn in the yeshiva of Rav Dovid Soleveitchik. He spent several
years in the Lakewood Kollel. In 1980, he married Baila, the daughter of Rav
Michel and Rebbetzin Feige Twersky of Milwaukee. He opened Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael
in Brooklyn and served as its Rosh yeshiva, developing a mesivta and a yeshiva
gedola. In January of 2004, the bus he was on in Israel was involved in a crash,
and he was critically injured. He never recovered from his injuries and passed
away 10 months later.
Tuesday, 9 Kislev
Rav Dov Ber (ben Shneur Zalman) Schneerson of Lubavitch (1773-1827), the 2nd
Lubavitcher Rebbe, known as the Mitteler Rebbe. He was the son and successor of
his father Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Baal HaTanya (the Alter Rebbe), and
uncle and father-in-law of the Tzemach Tzedek. Rav Dov Ber assumed the
leadership of Chabad upon his father's passing in 1812. In 1813 he settled in
the town of Lubavitch, which was to serve as the movement's headquarters for the
next 102 years. In 1826, Rabbi Dov Ber was arrested by the Czarist government on
slanderous charges. His day of release, Kislev 10 is celebrated to this day as a
"festival of liberation" among Lubavitch chassidim.
Rav Moshe Shapiro, Rav of Slavita (1837). He established the Slavita Printing
Press, which printed exclusively sifrei Kodesh. In 1823, he handed over the work
to his two sons, Rav Shmuel Abba and Rav Pinchas.
Wednesday, 10 Kislev
Rav Moshe Mordechai Margulios, Rav and Av Beis Din Cracow, author of Chasdei
Hashem (1616)
Rav Pinchas Menachem Elazar Justman (Yustman) of Piltz, the Sifsei Tzadik
(1920). He was a grandson of the Chidushei HaRim.
Rav Refael (ben Frija) Dabosh of Libya (1926), son of the famous mekkubal from
Lybia, he himself was Av Beis Din in Tripoli.
Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein (1866-1934), rosh yeshiva of Slabodka and Chevron
yeshivos. Born in the town of Bakst in the Vilna district, he learned at
Volozhin while still quite young. After his marriage in 1889, he moved to Kovno.
Three years later, one of his sisters married Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer. In 1894,
Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel offered both of them positions at Yeshiva Kenesses
Yisrael of Slobodka. He authored Levush Mordechai. Both Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer
and Rav Moshe Mordechai married daughters of Reb Shraga Frank, one of the
wealthiest men in Kovno, and in whose attic Rav Yisrael Salanter began teaching
mussar to Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel and Rav Yitzchak Blazer.
Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer (1870-1954), author of Even HaEzel, rosh yeshiva of
Slutsk and Eitz Chaim-Yerushalayim, disciple of Netziv, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik,
and the Chafetz Chaim. Father-in-law of Rav Aharon Kotler, and uncle of Rav
Shach.His wife was descended from Rav Meir Eisenstadt, author of Ponim Meiros.
Both Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer and Rav Moshe Mordechai married daughters of Reb
Shraga Frank, one of the wealthiest men in Kovno, and in whose attic Rav Yisrael
Salanter began teaching mussar to Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel and Rav Yitzchak
Blazer.
Thursday, 11 Kislev
Rav Yehoshua Katz, Rav in Krakow (1734)
Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Halevi of Pressburg, author of Imrei Ravrevei (1762).
Rav Simcha Ashkenazi of Dessau [Dasseau] (1785)
Rav Yechiel Heller, Rav of Sovalk [Suvalk]. Among his sefarim are Shailos
U'Teshuvos Amudei Ohr, Ohr Yesharim on the Haggadah, Oteh Ohr on Shir HaShirim,
and Kinah L'Dovid which was a hesped on Rav Dovid Luria. He was niftar at the
age of 47. (1861; according to some, 1867)
Rav Yitzchak Friedman (1924). Born in Sadigura, both of his parents were
grandchildren of the Ruzhiner Rebbe. In 1903, he married, and with the passing
of his father, he set up his court in Rimanov. He was niftar during a
fund-raising expedition in the United States. A close friend and relative
collected hespedim for the Rebbe in a sefer called Akeidas Yitzchak.
Friday, 12 Kislev
Rav Shlomo Luria Ashkenazi, the Maharshal (1510-1574) of Lublin; author of the
Yam Shel Shlomo, a halachic commentary on 16 tractates of the Talmud (only 7 of
which are still extant). His Chochmas Shlomo, glosses on the text of the Talmud
and comments, is printed in the standard editions of the Talmud.
Rav Yitzchak Lampronti (1679-1756), author of Pachad Yitzchak, the first major
Talmudic encyclopedia ever assembled. He was also moreh tzedek in Ferera, Italy,
and the teacher of the Ramchal
Rav Avraham Dov Auerbach of Avritch and Tzefas (1765-1840). He was a disciple of
Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev and the first two Rebbes of Chernobyl. He served
as Rebbe of Avritch from 1785, and then moved to Tzefas in 1830 at the age of
65. He is the author of Bas Ayin, a commentary on Chumash. In the deadly
earthquake of 24 Tevet 5597 (January 1, 1837), 5,000 people lost their lives, of
whom 4,000 were Jews. Although most of the shul of the Avritcher Rebbe
collapsed, the part where the men were clustered remained upright and everyone
was saved. He is buried in the old cemetery of Tzefas.
Rav Yehoshua Moshe Aharonson of Petach Tikva (1910-1993). Born in Warsaw, he was
was named rabbi of Sanok in 1937. In the winter of early 1940, he was appointed
to the Beis Din of Warsaw. In March 1942, he was deported to the Konin labor
camp, near Chelmno. The Konin camp was liquidated in the summer of 1943. Rabbi
Aharonson was taken to Hohensalza, and afterwards to Auschwitz 3 (Buna). In 1945
he was transferred from Auschwitz to Buchenwald and then taken on a death march
to Theresienstadt, where he was liberated. He subsequently moved to Eretz
Israel, where he served as a rabbi in Petach Tikva and Emmanuel. His writings
were collected in the book Alei Merorot.
Next Shabbos, 13 Kislev (Parashas Vayishlach)
Ravina berei D'rav Huna (499, 475, or 421 CE). Rosh Metivta of Sura. He,
together with his teacher, Rav Ashi, collected and commented upon the Gemara of
what would henceforth be known as the Talmud Bavli.
RavAzariah min Ha’adumim, author of Meor Einayim (1577).
Rav Shlomo Zalman Yosef of Vyelpol (1857).
Rav Dov Ber of Levo, son on Rav Yisrael of Ruzhin (1875).
Rav Yisrael Aryeh of Premishlan (1890).
Rav Dov Ber Livshitz, Rav of Sardnik (1900)
Rav Yisrael Taub (ben Shmuel Eliyahu) of Modzhitz, author of Divrei Yisrael
(1849-1920). He was a grandson of Rav Yechezkel Taub of Kuzmir, who was one of
the students of the Chozeh of Lublin. He became the first Rebbe of Modzhitz in
1891, and was succeeded by his son, Shaul Yedidya Elazer. Legend has it that in
1913 Taub composed a 30-minute negun while having his leg amputated without
anesthesia.
Rav Yisrael Friedman, the second Tchortkover Rebbe (1934, 1933, or 1932)
Rav Yechiel Michel (ben Baruch) Hager of Horodenka (1941). One of the sons of
the Imrei Baruch, he was appointed Rebbe (as were his brothers), after his
father’s petira on 20 Kislev 1892. Rav Yechiel Michel moved to Horodenka, to
succeed his brother, Rav Shmuel Abba, who passed away childless in 1895. He
married the daughter of his older brother, Rav Chaim (Rebbe in Antiniya). During
World War I, he escaped to Chernowitz and served as Rebbe to the many Vizhnitz
Chassidim there. He had one son, Baruch, who was later appointed Dayan in
Chernowitz. After Sukkos of 1941, he was among 5000 Jews who were deported to
Transnistria, and area in southwestern Ukraine, between the Dniester River
(“Nistru” in Romanian) and the Bug River, north of the Black Sea. Also on that
transport was Rav Aharon of Boyan, who came down with typhus and was niftar on
13 or 14 Cheshvan. Both Rav Yechiel Michel and his son Baruch came down with
typhus in the work camp in Warchovka and died there.
Rav Shalom Hadayah of Aram Tzova (1864-1944). A descendent of Rav Saadyah Gaon,
Reb Shalom’s father passed away when he was only three. He married at the age of
20, and moved to Eretz Yisrael in 1888 with his fgather-in-law’s family. In
1891, Rav Shalom had to return to Aram Tzova. While there, he was stricken with
an eye ailment and nearly lost his eyesight. Despite that, he wrote a sefer,
Shalom LaAm, which focuses on the issues of doing tzedakah and chessed,
particularly on behalf of Torah students and scholars. In 1896, Rav Shalom moved
to Eretz Yisrael permanently, first settling in the Bucharian Quarter, then
moving to the Ohel Moshe neighborhood. In 1904, Rav Shalom was appointed moreh
tzedek in the beis din of Rav Vidal Anjel and Rav Baruch Elnekavah. In 1930, he
was appointed Rosh Av Beis Din of all the Sephardic communities in Yerushalayim.
In 1927, Yerushalayim's chief kabbalist, and rosh yeshivah of Bais Keil, Rav
Mas'ud HaKohen Elchaded, passed away and Rav Shalom was appointed his successor.
Besides Shalom LaAm, the other sefarim Rav Shalom wrote were: Dover Shalom,
responsa on the Arba Turim; HaChaim v'HaShalom, a series of Torah
extrapolations; and Shalom v'Tzedek. His son, Rav Ovadyah, was a prominent Rosh
Mesivta in the Porat Yosef yeshiva. When the Jordanians conquered the Old City,
Yeshivas Bais Keil was destroyed and Rav Ovadyah reestablished it in his own
home in the new city. After the Six-Day War, he reestablished the yeshiva in the
Old City.
greatest talmidim of Rav Chaim of Volozhin. He became Av Beis Din of Karlin
Rav Menachem (ben Meir) Ash, Rav of Ungvar (now known as Uzhgorod), Ukraine
(1869). He succeeded his father, known as the Maharam Ash (1780-1852), one of
the early talmidim of the Chasam Sofer, and his greatest talmid in Mattersdorf.
RavMordechai Dovid Teitelbaum of Drohbitch (1919).
Rav Eliezer Horowitz of Grodzisk (1881-1942). Appointed Rav of Grodisk, in
western Galicia (near Tarnow) in 1909, he moved to Tarnow with his family during
World War I, serving as Rav and Dayan. He was murdered by the Nazis, along with
3500 other Jews, in Tarnow.
Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap (1883-1951). Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Merkaz Harav and
Rav of Yerushalayim's Sha'arei Chessed neighborhood. He was a close disciple of
Rav Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook. Author of Mei Marom and Michtavei
Marom.
Rav Chaim Michoel Dov (ben Yosef) Weissmandel, Rosh Yeshiva Nitro (Mt. Kisco,
NY) yeshiva, Holocaust rescue activist. Author of Min Ha Metzar (1903-1957).
Born in Debrecen, Hungary, when he was still a child his family moved to Tyrnau
(Trnava), where his father served as a shochet. He learned in a yeshiva in the
town of Sered. As a 17-year-old bachur, Rav Weissmandl published three short
volumes of chidushim he had heard from his teacher, Rav Shmuel Dovid Ungar, of
Tyrnau and later Nitra. In 1931 he published a volume of his research called
Hilchos Ha-chodesh. He married the daughter of his rebbi, Rav Ungar, in 1937.
Rav Weissmandl’s activities during the war constitute one of the most striking
examples in Jewish history of total dedication and sacrifice in order to save
Jews. His activities began in 1938, shorty after the Nazis’ anschluss of
Austria. The Jews Burgenland were immediately sent to Vienna without any of
their properties or resources. Rav Weissmandl risked his life to travel to
Vienna to support them. When the Nazis then placed 60 rabbanim on a ship and
sent them to Czechoslovakia, Rav Weissmandl traveled to Oxford and convinced the
Archbishop of Canterbury to grant all 60 entry-visas to England. Over the next
few years, Rav Weissmandl was instrumental in savings tens of thousands of
Jews.
Rav Shlomo Abu Maaravi -founder of Otzer HaTorah network
Rav Yechezkel Shraga (ben Yissacher Dov) Lipshitz-Halberstam, the Stropkover
Rebbe (1908-1994). Born in Stropkov, Czechoslovakia. His paternal grandfather
was Rav Rav Aryeh Leibush from Apta, the Yismach Tzadik, and his maternal
grandfather was the Rebbe of Stropov, the Divrei Shalom, who was the son of the
Divrei Yechezkel of Shinava, the eldest son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. Rav
Yechezkel Shraga’s first public post was as Rav of Yablonka. After a few years
there, he became dayan of Bergsas. During WW2, he was sent to Auschwitz, where
his wife and five children perished. After the war, he moved to Eretz Yisrael.
In 1954, upon the death of his uncle, Rav Menachem of Stropkov, and Rav
Yechezkel was appointed Admor by the Sanz elders of Shinava and Stropkov. He
authored Divrei Yechezkel Shraga.
RavYechezkel Shraga Landau (1996). Rav of Veretzky in pre-War Europe, he founded
Khal Veretzky in Flatbush.
Rav Chaim Shmuel (ben Eliyahu) Lopian (1998). He was amongst the first students
in the Gateshead Kollel under Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, in 1942.He was the
author of Ravcha Shmaatsa.
Sunday, 7 Kislev
Rav Dovid Sinzheim of Strasbourg, France (1745-1812). He served as President of
the “Sanhedrin” established by Napolean, the first meeting of which occurred on
February 9th, 1807. He was author of Yad Dovid.
Rav Shlomo Binyamin Halevi Ashlag, author of the Peirush Hasulam
(1983).[According to others, 10th of Tishrei]
Monday, 8 Kislev
Rav Moshe, author of Mahadura Basra, printed at the back of Gemara (1668)
Rav Eliyahu (ben Yehuda) Kovo (1630-1688). The son-in-law of Rav Moshe Chaim,
who was the son of Rav Chaim Shabsai and the Chief Rabbi of Salonica. After the
death of his father-in-law in 1685, he was appointed to be Chief rabbi. He died
at a young age due to a plague, which also took the lives of his two sons. He
compiled Tana D’bei Eliyahu, a collection of 451 responsa, but most of it was
lost. His grandsons managed to collect 26 of them and printed them as Sheilos
Uteshuvos Aderes Eliyahu.
Rav Yitzchak (ben Yehudah) Navon (1733-1786). Born in Contantinople, he was the
son the author of Kiriyas Melech Rav on the Rambam’s Mishna Torah, and the
grandson of Rav Ephraim Navon, author of Machaneh Ephraim. Rav Yitzchak himself
wrote Din Emes on the Tur and the Beis Yosef; the sefer was published in
Salonika in 1803.
Rav Moshe Shapira of Slavita, son of Rav Pinchas of Koretz (1838).
Rav Avraham Yitzchak of Tunis, author of Mishmeros Kehunah (1864).
Rav Aharon (ben Mordechai) Twersky, the 3rd Rebbe of Chernobyl (1786-1871).
Rabbi Aharon was a grandson of Rav Menachum Nachum, the Meor Einayim of
Chernobyl, his childhood teacher. Rav Aharon succeeded his father after the
latter’s petira in 1837. He also served as the nasi of the Rabi Meir Baal Haness
maos of Eretz Yisrael fund in the Ukraine.
Rav Nachum Dov Schneerson of Ovritch (Ovruch)(1895). Uncle of Rav Yosef
Yitzchak, son of the Rebbe Rashab. Ovruch is an historic town in the Zhytomyr
province of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Ovrutsky
district. {note: Rav Avraham Dov of Ovritch is author of Bas Ayim}
Rav Avraham Mordechai of Kamarna (1941). {RavYitzchak IsaakYehudah Yechiel of
Kamarna (1806- 1874). His uncle was Rav Zvi of Zhiditchov. He authored many
important Chassidic works such as Heichel Habracha, Derech Emunah, Otzar
Mitzvosecha, Zohar Chai, and Megillas Setarim among others.
Rav Pinchas Dovid (ben Shmuel) Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe (1876-1941). Born in
Yerushalayim, he became a devoted talmid of his uncle, Rav Dovid Tzvi Shlomo of
Lelov. After his marriage, he lived in Tzfas with his wife’s parents. When his
father died tragically at age 36, he was forced to move to Yerushalayim to care
for his mother and younger siblings. His wife died in 1904. Her father, eager to
keep his son-in-law in the family, suggested that he marry his granddaughter,
who was still a child. In 1909, at the age of 16, she gave birth to a son,
Moshe. During World War I, he escaped to the United States as a refugee in 1915,
with the help of Rav Yaakov Meir of Salonika, the Rav of Greece. In gratitude to
the Jews of Boston, who helped him procure residential rights in America, he
settled in Boston. See also
Rav Dovid (ben Shmuel) Borenstein of Sochotchov, the Chasdei Dovid (1876-1942).
Born to the Shem MiShmuel, who was the son of the Avnei Nezer, his primary
teacher was his grandfather. In 1906, he became the Rav of Vishogrod, Poland. He
moved to Loz in the late 1920s. He was very active with Agudas Yisrael and
encouraged many to settle in Eretz Yisrael. He died of heart failure in the
Warsaw Ghetto. The Sochatchov heritage continued under his brother, Rav Chanoch
Henoch, who had established a beis medrash in Bayit Vegan.
Rav Eliezer (ben Eliyahu Yehoshua) Geldzahler (1958-2004). Rav Eliezer’s mother,
Henna Freidel, was the daughter of Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler. As a child, he
learned in his father’s yeshiva, where he made a siyum for Gemara Bava Basra
before his Bar Mitzvah. As a bachur, he learned at Yeshiva Zichron Yaakov in
South Fallsburg under Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel. From there, he went to
Yerushalayim to learn in the yeshiva of Rav Dovid Soleveitchik. He spent several
years in the Lakewood Kollel. In 1980, he married Baila, the daughter of Rav
Michel and Rebbetzin Feige Twersky of Milwaukee. He opened Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael
in Brooklyn and served as its Rosh yeshiva, developing a mesivta and a yeshiva
gedola. In January of 2004, the bus he was on in Israel was involved in a crash,
and he was critically injured. He never recovered from his injuries and passed
away 10 months later.
Tuesday, 9 Kislev
Rav Dov Ber (ben Shneur Zalman) Schneerson of Lubavitch (1773-1827), the 2nd
Lubavitcher Rebbe, known as the Mitteler Rebbe. He was the son and successor of
his father Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Baal HaTanya (the Alter Rebbe), and
uncle and father-in-law of the Tzemach Tzedek. Rav Dov Ber assumed the
leadership of Chabad upon his father's passing in 1812. In 1813 he settled in
the town of Lubavitch, which was to serve as the movement's headquarters for the
next 102 years. In 1826, Rabbi Dov Ber was arrested by the Czarist government on
slanderous charges. His day of release, Kislev 10 is celebrated to this day as a
"festival of liberation" among Lubavitch chassidim.
Rav Moshe Shapiro, Rav of Slavita (1837). He established the Slavita Printing
Press, which printed exclusively sifrei Kodesh. In 1823, he handed over the work
to his two sons, Rav Shmuel Abba and Rav Pinchas.
Wednesday, 10 Kislev
Rav Moshe Mordechai Margulios, Rav and Av Beis Din Cracow, author of Chasdei
Hashem (1616)
Rav Pinchas Menachem Elazar Justman (Yustman) of Piltz, the Sifsei Tzadik
(1920). He was a grandson of the Chidushei HaRim.
Rav Refael (ben Frija) Dabosh of Libya (1926), son of the famous mekkubal from
Lybia, he himself was Av Beis Din in Tripoli.
Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein (1866-1934), rosh yeshiva of Slabodka and Chevron
yeshivos. Born in the town of Bakst in the Vilna district, he learned at
Volozhin while still quite young. After his marriage in 1889, he moved to Kovno.
Three years later, one of his sisters married Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer. In 1894,
Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel offered both of them positions at Yeshiva Kenesses
Yisrael of Slobodka. He authored Levush Mordechai. Both Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer
and Rav Moshe Mordechai married daughters of Reb Shraga Frank, one of the
wealthiest men in Kovno, and in whose attic Rav Yisrael Salanter began teaching
mussar to Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel and Rav Yitzchak Blazer.
Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer (1870-1954), author of Even HaEzel, rosh yeshiva of
Slutsk and Eitz Chaim-Yerushalayim, disciple of Netziv, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik,
and the Chafetz Chaim. Father-in-law of Rav Aharon Kotler, and uncle of Rav
Shach.His wife was descended from Rav Meir Eisenstadt, author of Ponim Meiros.
Both Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer and Rav Moshe Mordechai married daughters of Reb
Shraga Frank, one of the wealthiest men in Kovno, and in whose attic Rav Yisrael
Salanter began teaching mussar to Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel and Rav Yitzchak
Blazer.
Thursday, 11 Kislev
Rav Yehoshua Katz, Rav in Krakow (1734)
Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Halevi of Pressburg, author of Imrei Ravrevei (1762).
Rav Simcha Ashkenazi of Dessau [Dasseau] (1785)
Rav Yechiel Heller, Rav of Sovalk [Suvalk]. Among his sefarim are Shailos
U'Teshuvos Amudei Ohr, Ohr Yesharim on the Haggadah, Oteh Ohr on Shir HaShirim,
and Kinah L'Dovid which was a hesped on Rav Dovid Luria. He was niftar at the
age of 47. (1861; according to some, 1867)
Rav Yitzchak Friedman (1924). Born in Sadigura, both of his parents were
grandchildren of the Ruzhiner Rebbe. In 1903, he married, and with the passing
of his father, he set up his court in Rimanov. He was niftar during a
fund-raising expedition in the United States. A close friend and relative
collected hespedim for the Rebbe in a sefer called Akeidas Yitzchak.
Friday, 12 Kislev
Rav Shlomo Luria Ashkenazi, the Maharshal (1510-1574) of Lublin; author of the
Yam Shel Shlomo, a halachic commentary on 16 tractates of the Talmud (only 7 of
which are still extant). His Chochmas Shlomo, glosses on the text of the Talmud
and comments, is printed in the standard editions of the Talmud.
Rav Yitzchak Lampronti (1679-1756), author of Pachad Yitzchak, the first major
Talmudic encyclopedia ever assembled. He was also moreh tzedek in Ferera, Italy,
and the teacher of the Ramchal
Rav Avraham Dov Auerbach of Avritch and Tzefas (1765-1840). He was a disciple of
Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev and the first two Rebbes of Chernobyl. He served
as Rebbe of Avritch from 1785, and then moved to Tzefas in 1830 at the age of
65. He is the author of Bas Ayin, a commentary on Chumash. In the deadly
earthquake of 24 Tevet 5597 (January 1, 1837), 5,000 people lost their lives, of
whom 4,000 were Jews. Although most of the shul of the Avritcher Rebbe
collapsed, the part where the men were clustered remained upright and everyone
was saved. He is buried in the old cemetery of Tzefas.
Rav Yehoshua Moshe Aharonson of Petach Tikva (1910-1993). Born in Warsaw, he was
was named rabbi of Sanok in 1937. In the winter of early 1940, he was appointed
to the Beis Din of Warsaw. In March 1942, he was deported to the Konin labor
camp, near Chelmno. The Konin camp was liquidated in the summer of 1943. Rabbi
Aharonson was taken to Hohensalza, and afterwards to Auschwitz 3 (Buna). In 1945
he was transferred from Auschwitz to Buchenwald and then taken on a death march
to Theresienstadt, where he was liberated. He subsequently moved to Eretz
Israel, where he served as a rabbi in Petach Tikva and Emmanuel. His writings
were collected in the book Alei Merorot.
Next Shabbos, 13 Kislev (Parashas Vayishlach)
Ravina berei D'rav Huna (499, 475, or 421 CE). Rosh Metivta of Sura. He,
together with his teacher, Rav Ashi, collected and commented upon the Gemara of
what would henceforth be known as the Talmud Bavli.
RavAzariah min Ha’adumim, author of Meor Einayim (1577).
Rav Shlomo Zalman Yosef of Vyelpol (1857).
Rav Dov Ber of Levo, son on Rav Yisrael of Ruzhin (1875).
Rav Yisrael Aryeh of Premishlan (1890).
Rav Dov Ber Livshitz, Rav of Sardnik (1900)
Rav Yisrael Taub (ben Shmuel Eliyahu) of Modzhitz, author of Divrei Yisrael
(1849-1920). He was a grandson of Rav Yechezkel Taub of Kuzmir, who was one of
the students of the Chozeh of Lublin. He became the first Rebbe of Modzhitz in
1891, and was succeeded by his son, Shaul Yedidya Elazer. Legend has it that in
1913 Taub composed a 30-minute negun while having his leg amputated without
anesthesia.
Rav Yisrael Friedman, the second Tchortkover Rebbe (1934, 1933, or 1932)
Rav Yechiel Michel (ben Baruch) Hager of Horodenka (1941). One of the sons of
the Imrei Baruch, he was appointed Rebbe (as were his brothers), after his
father’s petira on 20 Kislev 1892. Rav Yechiel Michel moved to Horodenka, to
succeed his brother, Rav Shmuel Abba, who passed away childless in 1895. He
married the daughter of his older brother, Rav Chaim (Rebbe in Antiniya). During
World War I, he escaped to Chernowitz and served as Rebbe to the many Vizhnitz
Chassidim there. He had one son, Baruch, who was later appointed Dayan in
Chernowitz. After Sukkos of 1941, he was among 5000 Jews who were deported to
Transnistria, and area in southwestern Ukraine, between the Dniester River
(“Nistru” in Romanian) and the Bug River, north of the Black Sea. Also on that
transport was Rav Aharon of Boyan, who came down with typhus and was niftar on
13 or 14 Cheshvan. Both Rav Yechiel Michel and his son Baruch came down with
typhus in the work camp in Warchovka and died there.
Rav Shalom Hadayah of Aram Tzova (1864-1944). A descendent of Rav Saadyah Gaon,
Reb Shalom’s father passed away when he was only three. He married at the age of
20, and moved to Eretz Yisrael in 1888 with his fgather-in-law’s family. In
1891, Rav Shalom had to return to Aram Tzova. While there, he was stricken with
an eye ailment and nearly lost his eyesight. Despite that, he wrote a sefer,
Shalom LaAm, which focuses on the issues of doing tzedakah and chessed,
particularly on behalf of Torah students and scholars. In 1896, Rav Shalom moved
to Eretz Yisrael permanently, first settling in the Bucharian Quarter, then
moving to the Ohel Moshe neighborhood. In 1904, Rav Shalom was appointed moreh
tzedek in the beis din of Rav Vidal Anjel and Rav Baruch Elnekavah. In 1930, he
was appointed Rosh Av Beis Din of all the Sephardic communities in Yerushalayim.
In 1927, Yerushalayim's chief kabbalist, and rosh yeshivah of Bais Keil, Rav
Mas'ud HaKohen Elchaded, passed away and Rav Shalom was appointed his successor.
Besides Shalom LaAm, the other sefarim Rav Shalom wrote were: Dover Shalom,
responsa on the Arba Turim; HaChaim v'HaShalom, a series of Torah
extrapolations; and Shalom v'Tzedek. His son, Rav Ovadyah, was a prominent Rosh
Mesivta in the Porat Yosef yeshiva. When the Jordanians conquered the Old City,
Yeshivas Bais Keil was destroyed and Rav Ovadyah reestablished it in his own
home in the new city. After the Six-Day War, he reestablished the yeshiva in the
Old City.
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