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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