YAHRZEITS FOR THE 20TH OF AV ~ BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT (08-24-2024)
Rav Aharon Freidman/Frishman - Tzaddik Nistar of Ohel (5576 / 1816 - 208th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Yaakov Dembitzer - Rosh Beis Din of Krakow, Meimei Ha'daas (5623 / 1863 - 161st Yahrzeit)
Rav Eliezer Brandwein of Azipolia (5626 / 1866 - 158th Yahrzeit)
Rav Eliezer was born in Poland. He was a Chassidic leader, son of the Tzaddik Rav Yehuda Tzvi of Stretin (who was the foremost student of the famous Chassidic Rebbe, Rav Uri of Strelisk). Like his father, Rav Eliezer davened and sang with tremendous joy. He showed a great deal of love toward all Jews, never displayed anger, and distributed great amounts of money to tzedoka. He was known as a man of miracles and wonders.
Rav Yehuda Zecharia Azulai - (5630 / 1870 - 154th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehuda Zerachya Azulai, a great-grandson of the Chida, (5630/1870).
Rav Pinchos Adler - Pnei Chesed, Av Beis Din of Radonka (5692 / 1932 - 92nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson - of Yekatrinoslav (5705 / 1945 - 79th Yahrzeit)
Rav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was born on the 18th of Nissan, 1878. His father was Rav Baruch Schneur and his mother was Rebbetzin Zelda Rachel Schneerson. He was a gaon in niglah and nistar and received semicha from the leading gedolim of his time, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk and Rav Eliyahu Chaim Meizel of Lodz. After almost a decade in Nikolayev, at age 31, Rav Levi Yitzchak was called upon to serve as rav of the Ukrainian city of Yekatrinoslav (known today as Dnepropetrovsk). He served in his capacity as chief rabbi of the community for 32 years, until 1939. On the 20th of Av, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s condition turned critical. That evening, he returned his pure soul to its Maker.
Rav Meir Rabinowitz (5766 / 2006 - 18th Yahrzeit)
Rav Meir Rabinowitz (1916-2006). The son of the Skolya Rebbe, Rav Dovid Yitzchak Eisik Rabinowitz, Reb Meir was born in Vienna during World War I. He spent three months in forced labor, and escaped with the help of Skolya Chassidim. Arriving in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, he and his brother opened a Skolya Beis Midrash.
Dr. Rav Jacob Immanuel Schochet (5773 / 2013 - 11th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Jacob-Immanuel Schochet [28 Av 5695 - 20 Av 5773] was a renowned authority on Jewish philosophy and mysticism. He wrote and lectured extensively on the history and philosophy of Chassidism and topical themes of Jewish thought and ethics, with over 35 books disseminated in countless countries and translated into numerous languages. Swiss born, he became rabbi of Cong. Beth Joseph, and professor of Philosophy at Humber College, in Toronto, Canada.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 21ST OF AV ~ BEGINS SATURDAY NIGHT (08-25-2024)
Rabbeinu Mordechai - The Mordechai (5070 / 1310 - 714th Yahrzeit)
Rav Meir Hagodol of Premishlan (5533 / 1773 - 251st Yahrzeit)
Rav Meir was born in 5471/1711 to Rav Yaakov of Premishlan, known as “Yaakov Ish Tom”. Rav Yaakov traced his yichus to Rav Yaakov of Korbil, the Rishon who wrote She’eilos U’Teshuvos Min HaShomayim. Rav Meir’s son was Rav Aharon Leib, who was the father of the well-known Rav Meir’l Premishlaner. Rav Meir’s other sons were Rav Dovid of Kalisch and Rav Pesach Chassid.
Rav Alexander Sender Eichenstein of Komarna - Zichron Devarim (5578 / 1818 - 206th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Yitzchok Issac of Safrin. He served as the Rav of Zidatshuv and Zhorbono and after תקע''ב in Komarno. The Chozeh testified that he was counted among the 36 hidden tzadikim the lamed vavniks. He passed away on 21 Av .תקע''ח
Rav Tzvi of Lublin (5591 / 1831 - 193rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Dovid Hager of Zablitov - Zablitov Rebbe, Tzemach Dovid (5608 / 1848 - 176th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Dovid of Zablitov was the son of Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Kosov and the son-in-law of Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov. He became a rebbe in his own right at the young age of 29. He was held in great respect for his wisdom, even by the other rebbes of his generation.
Rav Chaim Soloveitchik - Brisker (5678 / 1918 - 106th Yahrzeit)
Rav Chaim Soloveitchik of Volozhin and Brisk (1853-1918). Son of the Beis Halevi, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. Rav Chaim took the post of Rosh Mesivta Volozhin in 1880. In 1892, following the closing of the Volozhin yeshivah, Rav Chaim moved to Brisk where he succeeded his father as the community Rav. Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, also known as Reb Chaim Brisker, is credited as the founder of the popular Brisker derech an approach to Talmudic study.
Rav Aharon Rokeach - Belzer Rebbe (5717 / 1957 - 67th Yahrzeit)
Rav Aharon Rokeach, fourth generation Belzer Rebbe (1880-1957). He escaped the Nazis and made aliyah in 1944, establishing his court in Tel Aviv. The current Belzer Rebbe is his nephew.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 22ND OF AV ~ BEGINS SUNDAY NIGHT (08-26-2024)
Rav Moshe Kazis
Born around 5310/1550 in Mantuba. Rav Moshe was a talmid of Rav Menachem Azariah, the Rama of Fano.
Rav Mordechai Ashkenazi - Ha'Mordechai (5058 / 1298 - 726th Yahrzeit)
Rav Mordechai ben Rav Hillel, "the Mordechai", killed during the Rindfleisch pogroms, (5058/1298).
Rav Raphael Meyuchas of Yerushalayim - Rishon LeTzion (5531 / 1771 - 253rd Yahrzeit)
Born to Rav Shmuel and Rachel in Jerusalem. In 1753) תקי"ג) he was appointed as Rosh Yeshivah of Bais Yaakov Fererra and later in 1756) תקט"ז) he was appointed as Rishon LeTzion. He passed away 22 Av 1771) כ"ב אב תקל"א) and was eulogized with a hesped by the Chida.
Rav Eliyahu HaKohen Dushnitzer - Mashgiach Lomza Yeshiva Petach Tikva, Nachlas Eliyohu (5709 / 1949 - 75th Yahrzeit)
Rav Eliyohu Dushnitzer, mashgiach of Lomza Yeshiva, Petach Tikva. The Chazon Ish is reported to have said that he was one of the thirty-six "hidden Tzaddikim". He was a talmid of the Chofetz Chaim and one of those chosen to get a dibbuk out of a woman, in the well-known story told over by Rav Elchonon Wasserman, (5709/1949).
