Parshas Veara- Thanks Meir!

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.

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.

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)