Yahrzeits and Jewish history is created by Manny Saltiel, under the auspices of HaRav Yitzchok Summers of Kehillas Anshe Emes of Los Angeles. For sponsoring opportunities or to receive a weekly email, please contact [email protected].

All brief biographies listed are of gedolei Torah with no intended differentiation between them in regards to degree of greatness. A lengthier bio does not reflect degree of greatness, nor does a brief one reflect the opposite, chas vashalom.

 

 

Shabbos, 4 Teves

Rav Moshe Zev (ben Eliezer) of Margulios Bialystock, author of Maros Hatzovos and Agudas Aizov (1729). He was the founder of Gemilas Chassadim Bais Medrash, Bialystock’s most prominent Torah center, where Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk learned after his marriage.

Rav Menachem Eliezer (ben Levi) Ginshtling (1806). Head of the Yeshiva of Minsk, he was the author of Yair Kano on Tractate Kinim which was highly praised by the Vilna Gaon. His father authored Ataras Rosh and Ataras Tiferes.

 

Rav Moshe (ben Yosef) Panet of Karlsburg (1846). [another Rav Moshe ben Yosef Panet (1843-1903) was a grandson of Rav Yechezkel of Karlsburg (1783-1845. the Mareh Yechezkel)]

 

Rav Yehoshua Yitzchak (ben Yechiel) Shapira, the Eizel Charif of Slonim (1801-1872). Born in Glovanka, near Minsk. After many years of learning under his father-in-law, Rav Yitzchak Fein, he became Rav of Kalavaria, then of Kutno, and finally of Slonim (near Grodno). He was mechaber of many sefarim, including Emek Yehoshua, Nachalas 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, Tiferes Hachanochi on the Zohar, and Sidrei Taharos (a collection of the relevant material from the whole Talmud Bavli, Talmud Yerushalmi, and all other Braysos, presented in chronological order). He also compiled and published the work of his father (Bais Yaakov) and grandfather (Mei Hashiloach).

 

Rav Chaim Shaul (ben Eliyahu HaKohen) Dveik (Dewick, Dueck), Rosh Yeshiva Hamekubalim of Yerushalayim and author of Eifo (Aifah) Shleima (1933)

 

Rav Shalom (ben Shmuel) 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 Bais 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 descendants, all Torah-observant.

 

Rav Mordechai Pinchas Chaim (ben Binyamin Avraham Yaakov) Teitz, Rav of Elizabeth, NJ. (1908-1995) Born in Latvia and a student of the famed Rogachaver Ilui, he arrived in USA in 1933. He created the kehilla of Elizabeth and founded schools and 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)

 

• Jews were excluded by the Nazis from all employment benefits, 1939
• Beginning of the so-called “Prague Spring,” as reformist Slovak Alexander Dubček came to power, and instituted far-reaching reforms and renewed ties with the West, 1968. Rights given to citizens in the area of media, speech and travel were conjoined with a partial decentralization of the economy and democratization. The period lasted 7 months after which the Soviet Union and members of the Warsaw Pact invaded the country to halt the reforms.

 

 

Sunday. 5 Teves

 

Rav Shlomo Molcho (1500-1532 or 1534, per www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org). 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 (ben Tzvi Hirsch) of Titiov, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov (1828)

 

Rav Avraham Elchanan (ben Yehuda) of Plantch, author of Birkas Avraham (1835)

 

Rav Avraham Yaakov (ben Yisrael) Friedman 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 Yehuda (ben Yechiel Yehoshua) 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 Bais midrash in the Har Nof section of Yerushalayim.

 

Rav Shimon Cohen of Ashdod, Rosh Yeshivas Torah Ohr (2013). Rav Cohen was a pioneer of Jewish education in the port city.

 

• Auto-da-fe at Toledo, 1486. More than 900 people were humiliated in a parade from the Church of San Pedro Martir to the cathedral, forced to recant, fined 1/5 of their property and permanently forbidden to wear decent clothes or hold office.
• Decree of Empress Catherine restricted the right of residence of Russian Jews, 1791.

 

 

Monday, 6 Teves

 

Rav Yaakov (ben Yosef) Reischer (1661-1733 or 1732 per Hamodia 2012), 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 (ben Shmuel) Straushun of Vilna, son of the Rashash (1885). Author of Hagahos L’Cheilek MiMasechtos Shas.

 

Rav Yechezkel Shraga (ben Chaim) Halberstam, the Shinover Rav (1815-1899 or 1898 per Hamodia 2012). He was born in Rudnick, Galicia, eldest son of the Sanzer Rav. 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 (ben Yosef HaLevi) Rottenberg of Koson (1919). He was a scion of Tosch dynasty. He succeeded his father as Rav and Rebbe in Kosoni. He was a prolific writer of divrei Torah; however, he ordered his chidushim burned. Whatever remained was printed and published as Shmua Tova.

 

Rav Aharon Yeshaya (ben Tzvi Avigdor) Fisch of Hades, author of Kedushas Aharon (1927)

 

Rav Alter Yisrael Shimon (ben Yaakov) Perlow of Novominsk (1873 or 1874-1933), author of the posthumously published Tiferes Ish on the Haggadah she Pesach and later the Tiferesh Ish on the Moadim. Scion of the dynasties of Ustila, Koidanov, Lehovitch, Karlin, Apt, Czernobyl and Berdichev, he succeeded his father at Novominsker Rebbe in 1902. He 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. His ten children were all rabbanim or Rebbes, or wives of klei kodesh.

 

Rav Chaim Meidanik (1954). Rav in Chicago and author of Mazkeres Chaim and Hegyonei Chaim.

 

Rav Chaim Aryeh “Leib” (ben Yitzchak Menachem) Lerner (1893-1977). Born and raised in Leordina in northern Romania, he was a talmid of Rav Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, the Rav of Sighet. He moved the USA in 1929 where he became Rav of Chevra Bnei Yosef Degel Machaneh Ephraim in NYC. He authored the sefer Imrei 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 yahrzeit of every one of her noble forefathers and asked Hashem that their merit should protect all of klal Yisrael. Among her grandchildren are Rav Dovid Altusky and Rav Yechiel Altusky.

 

• First edition of the Sefer Mitzvos HaGadol published in Soncino, Italy, 1488.
• Ku Klux Klan founded in Tennessee, 1865
• Founding of Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak by Rav Eizik Sher, son-in-law of Rav Nosson Nota Finkel, the Alter from Slabodka
• United States Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe rejects a German demand for surrendo at the Battle of the Bulge, 1944.
• The U.S. embassy in Kuwait was bombed, killing six and wounding scores of others, 1983. The bombers were tied to al-Dawa, a terror organization backed by Iran

 

 

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 (ben Yisrael), son of the Baal Shem Tov (1779)

 

Rav Tzvi Hirsch (ben Dovid) of Kaminka (1781), author of Shnei Hameoros. Other sefarim named Shnei Meoros were published by R. Dov Ber Schneerson (1773-1827), “the Mittler Rebbe” of Lubavitch and Rav Yitzchok Aizik HaLevi Epstein of Homel (1857). Rav Eliyahu Kubo of Salonika (1628-1688) authored a sefer entitled Shnei HameorosHaGedolim.

 

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, Bais Dino Shel Shlomo, Lechem Shlomo, and Kisei Shlomo.

 

Rav Mordecai Yosef (ben Yaakov) 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 (ben Mordechai Shraga) Friedman of Husyatin (1879 [1851, according to Yated 2007]). Son of the first Rebbe of Husyatin (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-Krakow (“Reb Moshenu”).

 

Rav Yom Tov Lipman (ben Yehuda Zev Hakohen) of Mir (1821-1892). Author of Shu”T Malbushei Yom Tov. Born in the town of Slutzk, he was a grandson of Rav Shabtai Ha-Cohen, dayan in Slutzk. His first rabbinical position was in Shumyachi, where he also headed the yeshiva, the biggest in the region. From there he moved to Chislavichi. Following a city-wide fire in Chislavichi, he took position of Rav of Mir. He took part in the Rabbinical Conference in St. Petersburg, headed by Rav Yitzhak Elchanan and Rav Eliyahu Chaim Meizel from Lodz.

 

Rav Asher Zev (ben Simcha Bunim) Werner, Rav & Av Bais Din of Teveria (1894-1957). Born in Yerushalayim, his father was a member of the city’s Bais Din. Reb Asher Zev was a talmid chacham in Shas and poskim as well as in Kabbalah. He wrote Taam Zekeinim, based on the works of the Arizal and other mekubalim. When World War I broke out, Reb Asher Zev left Eretz Yisrael, settling first in Cyprus and then moving to Alexandria in Egypt. Following the advice of Rav Shmuel of Slonim, Reb Asher Zev set off for America. His final position was in Providence. In 1934, after the petirah of Rav Meir Kliers, Reb Asher Zev was asked to return to Teveria and take the position of Rav

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.

Rav Eliezer Chaim (ben Raphael) Blum (1938-2018), Rav of Kashau (Košice), he was the eldest son of the previous Kashau. Born in the town of Mihalowitz, in what was then Czechoslovakia, where his father led a yeshivah. As Czechoslovakia fell under the control of the Nazis, the Blums, together with other Jews in the area, began to suffer from the occupation and were eventually interned in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. They were among those who would travel to freedom in Switzerland on the Kastner train. In 1948, the Blums moved to the United States and settled in Williamsburg where the Kashau Rav established a Bais medrash and assumed the position of Rosh Yeshivah of the Tzehlemer Yeshivah. after his marriage, Eliezer Chaim was selected by his father to deliver a daily shiur at the newly established Kashau Yeshiva. Eventually he assumed the post of Menahel and later Rosh Yeshivah. The yeshiva was later moved to in Bedford Hills where a Kashau community exists to this day. In addition to the intensive study of Gemara, Rav Eliezer Chaim also delivered daily shiurim in various mussar sefarim including Chovos Halevavos and Orchos Tzaddikim. In the early 1990s, Rav Eliezer Chaim moved to Monsey, where he established a Bais Medrash and, following his father’s petirah in 2005, he took the reins of the Kashau kehillah, which maintains branches in Monsey, Bedford Hills, and Williamsburg. He established several new mosdos, including a school for girls and a kollel.

 

• Three leaders of Babylonian Jewry were arrested by Persian officials, sparking a wave of persecution of the Jews of Bavel, 468.
• Board of Deputies of British Jews was founded, 1760.
• Supposed liberties granted Russian Jews by the Czar Alexander I in 1804, actually spelled economic ruin for much of the Jewish community.
• The Prussian government decreed that Jewish services must be conducted in strict adherence to Jewish Tradition, 1823. The decree was solicited by the religious Jewish community in order to fight against the new Reform movement.
• Birth of Rav Shimon Schwab, in Frankfurt am Main, 1908.

 

 

Wednesday, 8 Teves

 

Rav Yisrael Gabrielovitch, a talmid of Rav Akiva Eiger (1886)

 

Rav Asher Anshil (ben Mordechai) Ashkenazi, Rav & Av Bais Din of Stanislav and author of Shu”T Shem Rosh (1833-1901). He was a grandson of the renowned Rav Moshe Dovid Ashkenazi (~1780–1856), author of Toledos Adam (chidushim on several mesechtos) and Be’er Sheva (drushim on Chumash).

 

Rav Baruch Tzvi Hakohen Moskowitz , Rosh Yeshiva of Paks and Rav of Budapest (1906). He published Tenuvas Baruch (a 4-volume set of drashos) and Mishmeres Tzvi.

 

Rav Binyomin Aryeh (ben Chaim Tzvi HaKohen) Weiss (1842-1912), Av Bais Din of Czernowitz and author of Shu”T Even Yekara.

 

Rav Yechezkel (ben Yechiel Meir HaLevi) Halshtuk, Rebbe of Ostrovtza (1887-1942). Born in the town of Skrenevitz, his father was the Ostrovtze Rebbe. Rav Yechezkel was appointed Rav of the village of Inabladz, and later Nashlask. In 1928, following his father’s petirah, he became the Ostrovtze Rebbe. (Ostrovtze is located approximately halfway between Warsaw and Krakow in Poland.)  He founded a network of yeshivos named “Bais Meir,” l’zecher nishmas his father. Despite his efforts at hiding, the Nazis, ym”sh, caught him and his entire family and killed them al kiddush Hashem. He had seven sons, several of them noted Rabbanim, a daughter and son-in-law. Some of his writings were published after the war under the name Kodshei Yechezkel, printed together with his father’s sefer, Meir Einei Chachamim. The rest of his many manuscripts were lost in the war.

Rav Asher Zev (ben Simcha Bunim) Werner (1894-1957). Born in Yerushalayim, he wrote Taam Zekenim based on the works of the Ari and other mekubalim. When World War I broke out, he left Yisrael, eventually settling in Providence, Rhode Island In 1934, after the petira of Rav Meir Kliers, he was asked to succeed him as Rav in Teverya, where he lived the rest of his life.

 

Rav Shalom Schachne Zohn (1910-2012). Born in Mezhibuzh, he was five years old when his parents moved to America, where he came under the care of Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman (“All for the Boss”). After four years learning at the New Haven Haven Yeshiva, he and three other talmidim were urged by Rav Herman to travel to Mir in Europe to further their studies. There he learned under Rav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel and Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz. In 1939, he and his wife escaped Europe and settled in Williamsburg; he served as magid shiur in Torah Vodaas for 18 years. He also served as an askan, following through on recommendations of gedolei Torah in publicizing their daas torah to the masses, despite his poverty. In 1970, he moved to Eretz Yisrael and settled in the Mattersdorf neighborhood.

 

• A taanis tzibur was declared to commemorate the translation of the Torah to a foreign language (Greek) under King Ptolemy (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 580:2)
• Adolf Eichmann, HY”Sh, is sentenced to death, 1961.

 

 

Thursday, 9 Teves

 

Ezra Hasofer (313 BCE or 320 BCE?) and Nechemya

 

Rabbeinu Yosef (ben Shmuel) Hanaggid, and son-in-law of Rav Nissim Gaon of Kirouan was murdered in a Muslim pogrom with another 1,500 Jews in Spain (1067).

 

Rav Ezriel of Gerona (1227), a Tosafist and the Ramban’s teacher in Kabbalah. He himself learned Kabbalah from Rav Yitzchak Sagi Nahor, son of the Ravad III.

 

Rav Avraham Chaim (ben Naftali Tzvi Hirsch) Schorr (1632), Rav of Belz, Kremenitz, Satanov, and Lemberg, Rav Avraham Chaim was a descendant of Rav Yosef of Orleans, the Bechor Schor, who was among the disciples of Rabbeinu Tam. Although best known for his sefer Toras Chaim (chiddushim on nine masechtos), Rav Avraham Chaim had also co-authored the sefer Tzon Kodashim on Zevachim, Menachos, Temurah and Bechoros together with Rav Mordechai, Rav of Berzan. This sefer is a basic work when learning Kodashim. The Chofetz Chaim reprinted this sefer in his Asifas Zekeinim on Maseches Zevachim. (some say his yahrzeit is 19 Teves).

Rav Yaakov (ben Naftali Tzvi) Horowitz of Melitz (c1784–1836). Born in 1782 or 1801, Rav Yaakov was the son of Rav Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz, author of Zera Kodesh. Rav Yaakov Horowitz served as Rav of Kolbasof and later, in 1809, he served as Rav of Melitz and was buried there.  The people of Kolbuszowa loved Jacob so much that when he finally decided to leave, he did it in the night to “escape.” His teachings were published from manuscript in c1994 as Zera Yaaḳov. Selected portions of this manuscript had been previously published. A sefer of the same title was written by Rav Yakov Chaim Ibn Naim (published1784, Livorno) and another by Rav Shlomo Zalman Zaleznik

 

Rav Yehoshua Basis (1860). Chacham and Chief Rabbi of Tunisia for many years.

 

Rav Shlomo (ben Aharon) Zilberstein of Groswardein (1814-1909). He was born in Bonyhad. He was chosen as Rav of the Sarkad community, but due to his opposition to “innovators,” he moved to Grosswardein, and gave drashos at the Ahavas Reim shul. His chidushei Torah were printed by his grandson in Ohel Moshe. Another sefer by the name Ohel Shlomo was authored by Avraham Chaim Ben Gedaliah.

 

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.

 

• Yosef, the son of Shmuel Hanaggid, and son-in-law of Rav Nissan of Kirouan, was murdered in an Arab pogrom with another 1,500 Jews in Muslim Spain, 1066.
• Avraham Ibn Ezra begun work on his Iggeres HaShabbos, a work defending the traditional reckoning of Shabbos and Yom Tov against the trend to begin them only at day break rather than the previous night, 1158.
• Ritual murder massacre at Fulda resulted in the death of 32 Jews, 1235. Following this event, Emperor Frederick II declared that since Jews are prohibited from eating animal blood, they would surely be banned from using human blood. He forbade anyone from accusing Jews of this charge.
• The Pope bans conversion of Jewish children without consent of their parents, 1420, a ban which was often ignored.
• French Captain Alfred Dreyfus was falsely convicted of passing secret French military documents found in the German embassy in Paris, 1894. He was court-martialed for treason and sent into exile to Devil’s Island. A worldwide campaign to vindicate his name eventually led to his pardon.
• Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich name Adolf Eichmann leader of “Referat IV B” (in charge of transport of Jews for Final Solution), 1939.
• The United Nations repeals the Zionism is Racism proclamation, 1991.
• Deposed Iraqi leader, Sadam Hussein, was executed by hanging, 2006.

 

 

Friday, 10 Teves

 

Zecharia ben Berachya ben Ido Hanavi (320 or 313 BCE). Zechariah’s prophecies took place during the reign of Darius the Great and were contemporary with Haggai after the fall of Jerusalem. Zechariah is specific about dating his writing (520–518 BCE). After the death of Cyrus in 530 BCE, Darius consolidated power and took office in 522 BCE. Zerubbabel was appointed by Darius as governor over the district of Yehud Medinata. The rebuilding of the Temple was encouraged by the leaders of the empire, and the Jews viewed it as a blessing from Hashem. Not much is known about Zechariah’s life other than what may be inferred from the book. It has been speculated that his grandfather Iddo was the head of a priestly family who returned with Zerubabel and that Zechariah may have been a priest as well as a prophet.

 

Malachi Hanavi (320 or 313 BCE). His death ended the era of prophecy.

 

Rav Yehuda Leib (ben Ovadya) Eilenberg, author of Minchas Yehuda (1610). Other sfarim called “Minchas Yehuda” were written by Yehuda Fatiyah, Yehuda Pesaya, Yehuda Horowitz, and Yehuda Ben Elazar, one of the Baalei Tosefos.

 

Rav Nosson (ben Naftali Hertz) Sternhartz of Breslav, author of Likutei Halachos (1780-1844). Born in the town of Nemirov, Ukraine, he moved to Breslov in 1802, to get acquainted with Rav Nachman and became his lifelong devoted talmid and chassid. After Rav Nachman’s petirah on 17 Tishrei 1810, Rav Nosson moved to Breslov and came to be known as Rav Nosson of Breslov. He became the leader of the Breslover Chassidim, but not Rebbe, because Rav Nachman did not officially appoint a successor or establish a dynasty. Rav Nosson was also responsible for making Uman, Ukraine — the city in which Rav Nachman is buried — into a focal point of Breslover Chassidus. Before Rosh Hashanah 1811, he organized the first kibbutz at the tziyun; it later became an annual pilgrimage. In addition to publishing the works of Rav Nachman, Rav Nosson wrote several sefarim of his own. Among them are Alim L’Terufah, a collection of his letters; Chayei Moharan, biographical material on Rav Nachman; Likutei Eitzos; and Likutei Tefillos.

 

Rav Meir Shalom (ben Yehuda Asher) Rabinowitz of Kalushin (Kałuszyn) (1851-1901). A grandson of the Yid Hakadosh of Peshischa, he served as Rav of the kehillos of Porisov, Gravlin, and Kalushin. He became Rebbe after the petira of his brother 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 (ben Meir Yechiel) Halshtuk, the Ostrovtzer Rebbe (1885-1942). Born to 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. In 1909, 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 Bais 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 was murdered 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 Meir Chaim (ben Yaakov) Ungar, (1905-1958). Rabbi Meir Chaim Unger served as the last Rabbi of Lackenbach, Burgenland, Austria (1935-1938). Author of Ma’or HaTorah. He survived the Holocaust, in 1938 he received a certificate to go to Palestine, and served later as a Rabbi in Jerusalem.

 

Rav Avraham Abba (ben Yosef) Leifer, the Pittsburgher Rebbe, the Admor of Petersburg-Ashdod (1989). Author of Emunas Avraham and Ibba d’Avraham, son of the 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. In 1970, he decided to move to Israel and chose the coastal city of Ashdod. There he established Torah schools and began monthly shiurim for adults. He also established a kollel for avreichim from Bnei Brak and founded Yeshivas Tzidkas Yosef in memory of his father.

 

Rav Moshe (ben Meir Yitzchok) Shapiro (1935-2017). Rav Moshe Shapiro was born in Petach Tikva. His father was a talmid of the Alter of Slabodka and mashgiach at Yeshivas Nachalas Dovid. In his youth, he studied at Yeshivas Chevron and established a relationship at that time with the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik. He then learned at Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, where he established a close kesher with the mashgiach, Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, with whom he learned b’chavrusah. He became close to the Chazon Ish, on whose advice he began learning in Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael Chevron in Yerushalayim in 1953.  His harbatzas haTorah began in Yeshivas Tifrach. In 1968, he joined Rav Dov Schwartzman in establishing Yeshivas Bais Hatalmud in Bayit Vegan. In 1976 he was invited to establish Yeshivas Bais Binyamin in Stamford, Connecticut, together with Rav Simcha Schustal, where he remained for two years. He returned to Eretz Yisrael in 1979 and began delivering numerous shiurim, while also becoming involved in outreach and the baal teshuvah community. He was instrumental in establishing Ohr Somayach for Israeli baalei teshuvah and delivered a Thursday night parashah shiur there for more than 20 years. In total, he delivered some 30 shiurim a week. In 2000, Rav Moshe established the first kollel that was supported by Reb Zev Wolfson. The kollel instituted a program to train avreichim to become kehillah Rabbanim. He established the Mesilot Aliyah organization, with the goal of locating Jews from the Former Soviet Union interested in learning more about Torah and Judaism. Throughout the years of the existence of Yeshivas Toras Chaim in Russia, he was one of its mainstays, frequently delivering shiurim there. In 2001 he established Yeshivas Shev Shmaatsa, in memory of his daughter, Shulamis Shapiro, who passed away at a young age. He also headed Yeshivas Pischei Olam in Yerushalayim for baalei teshuvah. He was known for his phenomenal memory, citing passages in Tanach and Gemara by heart during his shiurim. His series on Pirkei Avos numbered some 400 shiurim. His series on tefillah was comprised of 60 shiurim. His sefarim, published by talmidim, include Afikei Mayim on the moadim; MiMa’amakim Al HaTorah; and Ra’ah Emunah on the yud gimmel ikrim.

 

• Siege of Yerushalayim by Nebuchadnezer begins, 424 BCE (or 586BCE)
• Beneyahu son of Yehoyada of Kavtze’eil struck down the two commanders of Moav, and slew a lion in the middle of a well on a snowy day. (Targum Rav Yosef on Divrei Hayamim I 11:22).
• The first masechta — Gemora Brachos — was printed by Joshua Soncino, 1483. It included Rashi, Tosefos, Piskei Tosefos, and the meforshim of the Rambam and Mordechai ben Hillel.
• The decree for the elimination of Jews from German economic life took effect, 1939.
• 3,000 Jews killed in Bucharest riots, 1941.
• Warsaw Jews were forbidden to greet a German in public, 1941.