Rav Moshe Yehuda Leib Erblich Sassover Rebbe (Shevat 4, 5567 / 1807 - 218th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Moshe-Leib of Sassov (4 Shevat 1807) was the leading disciple of Reb Shmelke of Nicholsburg. He also received from the Maggid of Mezritch and from Elimelech of Lyzhinsk. Subsequently a Rebbe in his own right with many followers, he was famous primarily for his love of his fellow Jews and his creative musical talent. His teachings are contained in the books, Likutei RaMal, Toras ReMaL Hashalem, and Chidushei RaMal.
http://www.ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=rebbeBios
Rav Menachem Shlomo Taub Kaliver Rebbe, Ba'al Chakal Tapuchin (Shevat 4, 5738 / 1978 - 47th Yahrzeit)
His father was Rav Moshe Taub of Kalov (died 1936) — son of Rav Yehuda Tzvi, Rav Moshe was the author of Es Ratzon.
Rav Menachem Shlomo (1901-1978) (תרס"ב - תשל"ח) he authored the sefer Chakal Tapuchin, he was son in law of Rav Yissocher Dov of Linsk. He lived in Mihapalovia, Transylvania (Zibenburgen) and later in Arad where there were many Kaliver chassidim. After the second World War in 5706 he moved to the United States and lived in Boro Park and later in WIlliamsburg were he settled and established the Kalover bais medrash of New York. His sons in law were Rav Yisroel of Stanislav Monsey (son of the Zutshka Rebbe), Rav Yitzchok Ashkenazi of Olesk, Rav Nosn Duvid Rosenberger of moshav Gamzu. Rav Menachem Shlomo's son Rav Moshe Taub Shlita is the current Kalover Rebbe of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY.
Rav Yisrael Abuchatzeira Baba Sali (Shevat 4, 5744 / 1984 - 41st Yahrzeit)
Born on Rosh Hashanah of 5650/1889 in Tafilalet, Morocco, to the llustrious Abuchatzera family. From a young age he was renowned as a sage, miracle maker and master kabbalist. In 1964 he moved to the Holy Land, eventually settling in the southern development town he made famous, Netivot. He passed away in 1984 on the 4th of Shevat. His graveside in Netivot has become a holy site visited by thousands annually.
The young Rav Yisrael observed how his father, Rav Masoud, would lock himself in an attic for hours, deep in study of both the revealed and hidden Torah. His brother Rav Dovid, 24 years his senior, never slept in a bed; rather, he would doze off a bit at the table, over his sefer.
Unlike most children his age, the young Rav Yisrael never longed for toys or sweets. All he wanted was a new siddur. He learned to daven with great devotion.
After his bar mitzvah, he went on to master Shas with many Rishonim and became expert in such areas as shechitah, milah and safrus.
Most of Moroccan Jewry began emigrating to Eretz Yisrael after 1948. Rav Yisrael’s brother Rav Yitzchak founded a kehillah in Ramle, and urged Rav Yisrael to share the challenge of reorienting Moroccan Jewry to their new environment.
In Elul 5711/1951, Rav Yisrael boarded a ship for Eretz Yisrael, which arrived on Erev Rosh Hashanah at the Haifa port.
Rav Yisrael went to Yerushalayim, where he intended to settle. He was deeply pained by the spiritual condition of Yerushalayim at that time. After much thought, he decided to leave Eretz Yisrael.
At first, he went to France. In 5713/1953 he decided to return to Tafilalet, which had a then-stable government.
Rav Yisrael lived near his son, Rav Meir, who served as the regional Rabbi and Dayan. In 5723/1963 Rav Yisrael turned 73, the age when both his father and grandfather were niftar. That year Rav Yisrael did not travel, so that if he was niftar he could be buried alongside them in Tafilalet, in accordance with Chazal’s teaching that when a man reaches the life span of his father, he should prepare himself for death.
But the year passed and Rav Yisrael was healthy and vigorous. In 5724/1964 he moved back to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Netivot, a small city in the Negev with a largely Moroccan-Jewish population.
From the moment Rav Yisrael arrived in Netivot, it became a magnet for people in need of a tzaddik’s wise counsel.
The Baba Sali had a profound impact on Netivot and its surrounding settlements. Many residents of these towns changed their lifestyle and began to observe mitzvos.
