YAHRZEITS FOR THE 11TH OF ELUL ~ BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT (09-14-2024)
Rav Yehuda Leib of Zolkova - Nefesh Yehuda (5552 / 1792 - 232nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Sholom Yosef Freidman of Sadigura (5611 / 1851 - 173rd Yahrzeit)
It was the 11th of Elul, and Rav Shlomo Chaim of Sadigura was about to conduct the first tisch since his older brother, the Abir Yaakov of Sadigura, had passed away (on 5 Teves 5721/תשכ׳׳א). “Today is the hillula of my ancestor, the holy tzaddik Rav Shulem Yosef. My holy ancestor didn’t have time to be a mentor and teacher, guiding us on the proper path, because he passed away shortly after his own father, the heilige Ruzhiner, in the very same year.
Rav Avrohom Yaakov Freidman of Sadigura - Emes L'Yaakov (5643 / 1883 - 141st Yahrzeit)
Rav Zev Wolf Landau of Strikov - Keser Torah, Zer Zahav (5651 / 1891 - 133rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Zev Wolf of Strikov was born in 1807) תקס"ז) in Plotsk to Rav Avrohom of Tchechnov. After his father’s passing at age 86 on 5th of Adarתרל'ה , the chassidim began to ask his son to serve as rebbe. They finally convinced Rav Zev Wolf, then aged seventy-three to serve as their rebbe, and he did so faithfully for sixteen years. He passed away on the 11th of Elul, 1891) 5651 תרנ"א). His soul departed while saying the passage, “A man goes out each evening to conduct his business and affairs” from Sefer Tehillim.
Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Freund of Nasoyd - Maor Yehoshua (5692 / 1932 - 92nd Yahrzeit)
Born תרט"ו in Sighet to his father Rav Moshe Aryeh Freund who was rosh kehillah in Sighet, descended from Dovid Hamelech as well as major poskim such as the Rema, the Maharshal, the Maharam, the Shach and others. He studied under the Maharam Schick in his yeshivah in Chust where he quickly climbed the ranks of the top students. He lived for ten years, immersed in his studies, with his in-laws until he was appointed as rav of Radna. In תרס"ה he was appointed to succeed his father-in-law as Rav of Interdam and the neighboring town of Nassod. He was considered one of the leading poskim in his generation and counted among the tzaddikim of Hungary who spread the Torah of chassidus.
Rav Gavriel Zev Wolf (Velvel) Margolis - Toras Gavriel (5695 / 1935 - 89th Yahrzeit)
Rav Gavriel Zev Margolis, or Rav Velvele as he was commonly known, was born in Vilna, Lithuania, on the twenty-seventh of Cheshvan 5608/1847. His father was Rav Yechiel Yitzchok. Upon the petira of his father-in-law, he was invited to serve as Grodno’s chief Rav. He held this position for close to twenty-seven years. As a result of harassment and death threats, in 5667/1907 he accepted the position of chief Rav of Boston, Massachusetts. In 1911 Rav Margolis moved to New York City, accepting the position of spiritual leader of the Adas Yisrael Congregation (United Hebrew Community of New York). He held this position for the rest of his life. In 1912, Rav Margolis established the Agudas HaYehudim Ha-Orthdoksim, which in 1920 became the Knesset HoRabbonim Ha-Orthdoksim d’America, and he served as its president. Rav Margolis was niftar on the tenth of Elul 5695/1935, just a few months short of his eighty-eighth birthday. He was buried in the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Saint Albans, Queens.
Rav Elimelech Ashkenazi - Melbourner Rav (5772 / 2012 - 12th Yahrzeit)
Rav Elimelech Ashkenazi was born in Budapest, Hungary. His father was Rav Alexander Chaim Ashkenazi. According to family members, he was born on Erev Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5677/1917. At the age of fifteen, he joined the famed Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin, studying under Rav Meir Shapiro, and learned together with HaGaon Rav Shmuel Wosner, later of Bnei Brak. He later learned in Ungvar. In 5717/1957 the Tchebiner Rav instructed Rav Elimelech to accept a position in Rabbonus, and he subsequently became Rav in Sao Paulo, Brazil. After selflessly serving this kehilla with great devotion for twelve years, he accepted an offer to become Rav of Adas Yisrael in Melbourne, Australia. Rav Elimelech served as Rav in Melbourne for eighteen years. In 5747/1987 he moved to Seagate in Brooklyn, where he served as Rav of K’hal Chavas Da’as. He was niftar on the 10th of Elul, 5772/2012, at the age of ninety-five, and his mitta was flown to Eretz Yisrael, where he was buried on Har HaZeisim, in Yerushalayim.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 12TH OF ELUL ~ BEGINS SATURDAY NIGHT (09-15-2024)
Rav Yitzchok Zelaznik - Rosh Yeshivas Me'or Eliyahu
Rabbeinu Shimon of Toledo (5102 / 1342 - 682nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Simcha Bunim Bonhart - Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshis'cha, Kol Simcha (5587 / 1827 - 197th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (12 Elul 1827) spent many years as a business man and a pharmacist. He was a beloved disciple of "the Seer" and of "The Holy Yid" whom he succeeded. Known as "a rebbe of rebbes," his major disciples included the Kotsker and the first Rebbes of Ger and Alexander.
Rav Moshe Elyakim Briya Hopstein of Kozhnitz - Be'er Moshe (5588 / 1828 - 196th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe was the second son of Rav Yisroel of Kozhnitz. Rav Moshe too suffered weakness and ill health. His survival is attributed to his father’s tefillos along with the tefillos of Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev. He hid his greatness so effectively that after his father’s passing many chassidim were unsure of whether he should lead as successor. Finally, the Chozeh of Lublin appointed him as rebbe saying “Vayehi binsoa haarov v’yomer Moshe –And it was when the ark began to travel, Moshe spoke...” And so it was. Rav Moshe donned the mantle of leadership in תקע"ה. Rav Moshe passed away on the 12th of Elulתקפ"ח 1828) ,) and was laid to rest in Kozhnitz.
Rav Elazar Shapira of Lanzhot - Yodei Binah (5625 / 1865 - 159th Yahrzeit)
Author of Yodei Binah. Son of Rav Tzvi Elimelech of Dynow, author of Bnei Yissaschar. Born in the year 1808) תקס"ח). He served first as rav of Ribtitsh in תקפ"ט, as did his father before him. In the year תקצ"ח he became rav of Strizhov and afterwards as rav of Lanzhot. In תר"א, he was appointed his father’s successor and he acquired many followers. He travelled to Vienna for medical care and he passed away there on the 12th of Elul, 1865) תרכ"ה).
Rav Shalom Moshe Chai-Gagin - S'mach Nefesh (5643 / 1883 - 141st Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Aharon Teitelbaum of Kolbuszowa - Kolbosover Rov, Rav of Kolbasov (5670 / 1910 - 114th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, author Yetev Lev. Born in Gorlitz (1834) תקצ"ד. A scion of the Uhjel dynasty. While still quite young, he earned semichah from Chanina Yosef Meisels, Av Beis Din of Premisla and Rav Nachum Yoel Halperin, Av Beis Din of Reisha. He succeeded his father-in-law as rebbe of Kolbosov. Rav Avrohom Aharon passed away on 12th of Elul, 1910) תר"ע).
Rav Tzvi Yechezkel Michelson - Plonsker Rav, Tirosh VeYitzhar (5702 / 1942 - 82nd Yahrzeit)
The Rabbinic Council of Warsaw counted about 20 rabbis in its ranks, all of them Torah greats. Among them was one rabbi who was known for being a very active scholar, one that the Jews of Warsaw called the “Rav of Plonsk” (the city where he previously served as rabbi). However outside of Warsaw people knew him by his actual name, Rabbi Tzvi Yechezkel Michelson, the author of the book of responsa entitled Tirosh VeYitzhar. Rabbi Tzvi Yechezkel’s great deeds made him famous in the Jewish world, and the community leaders of Warsaw invited him to join the Rabbinic Council of Warsaw, which he accepted. He held this position, along with its heavy responsibilities, until the city fell to the Nazis during the Second World War. He was respected and honored by all levels of society, and his personal warmth also attracted many Jews who were far from Torah and Judaism.
Rav Shmuel Tolwinski (5764 / 2004 - 20th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 13TH OF ELUL ~ BEGINS SUNDAY NIGHT (09-16-2024)
Rav Yaakov Yisroel Twersky of Cherkas - Shoshanas Ho'amokim (5636 / 1876 - 148th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Mordechai Twerski of Czernoble (Tshernoble). Born in 1792) תקנ"ב) others say 1794) תקנ"ד). In תקצ"ד, Rav Yaakov Yisroel served as Horonsteipler maggid and rebbe in his own father’s lifetime - indeed, at his father’s behest. He passed away on the 13th of Elul, 1876) תרל"ו).
Rav Yaakov Gezundteheit of Warsaw - Tiferes Yaakov (5638 / 1878 - 146th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Yissocher Ber HaKohen Rabinowitz of Radomsk - Chesed l'Avrohom, Radomsker Rebbe (5652 / 1892 - 132nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Yissachar Dov was born in the year 1843) תר"ג) in Radomsk to the founder of the Radomsk Dynasty, Rav Sholomo HaKohen Rabinowitz. Son of Rav Shlomo Hakohen of Radomsk. At age 23 in the year תרכ"ו, he succeeded his father as rebbe of Radomsk, thus becoming head of the most important dynasties in Poland. Despite his youth, his brothers accepted his authority, and thousands flocked to him. He passed away on the 13th of Elul, 1892) תרנ"ב) at age 49 and was laid to rest beside his father in Radomsk.
Rav Yosef Chaim of Baghdad - Ben Ish Chai (5669 / 1909 - 115th Yahrzeit)
Author of the Ben Ish Chai, Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, haChacham Yosef Chaim was born in 1832 in the city of Baghdad where his father was the Rabbi. When his father passed away, Rabbi Yosef Chaim was only twenty five years old. Nevertheless, the Jews of Baghdad accepted him to fill his father's place and Rabbi Yosef Chaim became the Rabbi of Baghdad.
Rav Yerachmiel Moshe Haufstein of Kozhnitz (5669 / 1909 - 115th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yerachmiel Moshe Hopstein of Kozhnitz (1860-1909). The scion of a long line of Kozhnitzer Rebbes, beginning with the Kozhnitzer Maggid and through Rav Yechiel Yaakov, Rav Yerachmiel’s father. In 1875, Rav Yerachmiel returned to Kozhnitz to lead his flock of Chasidim, a job he performed for 34 years.
Rav Gavriel Gestetner - Sifsei Gavriel, Av Beis Din of Sambathely (5704 / 1944 - 80th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Fish (5758 / 1998 - 26th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Avrohom Yechiel Fish (died on the 13th of Elul 1998), was a Kabbalist who had ru'ach hakodesh and performed wonders. A hidden kabbalist, he resided in Tel Aviv and was instructed by the Baba Sali to reveal himself at the end of his life drawing many to his door. Disciple of the "Holy Shoemaker". He was very active in performing clandestine charitable acts, such as establishing soup kitchens for the poor and helping the needy. He also took care of tikunim of the souls of people who died and was known for the wonders he performed and for his blessings.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 14TH OF ELUL ~ BEGINS MONDAY NIGHT (09-17-2024)
Rav Boruch Mordechai Etinga of Bobruisk (5617 / 1857 - 167th Yahrzeit)
Rav Boruch Mordechai, the son of Rav Eliezer Lazer Etinga of Lvov, was born in the year 1727) 5527/ז"תקכ). He was a child prodigy who was renowned as “the illui of Svintzion”. Rav Boruch Mordechai learned Torah from the Vilna Gaon himself and served as Rosh Yeshiva. His father-in-law was Rav Shmuel, the Av Beis Din of Vilna, and Rav Boruch Mordechai was appointed a dayan in Vilna after Rav Shmuel passed away in 5551 תקנאIn the year 1801) 5562/ב"תקס), Rav Boruch Mordechai was appointed Rav of the Chassidim in Bobruisk, a position he held for some 40 years. He passed away in Yerushalayim on 14 Elul in the year 1857 5617/תריז and was laid to rest on Har HaZeisim.
Rav Yosef Yaski Ashkenazi - Ohel Yosef (5627 / 1867 - 157th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yosef Yoske was the son of Rav Yisrael Ashkenazi. Rav Yosef Yoske was Rav in Fudamkin, near Brod. He was a Gaon in Torah, a Chassid, and a Kodosh. Rav Yosef Yoske was niftar on the fourteenth of Elul 5627/1867.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 15TH OF ELUL ~ BEGINS TUESDAY NIGHT (09-18-2024)
Rav Akiva Eiger - Mishnas DeRabbi Akiva, The Elder (5518 / 1758 - 266th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yaakov Kopel Chossid Hager (5547 / 1787 - 237th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Nechemia Feivel of Kolomaya. Part of the inner circle of disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and nicknamed "Rav Kopel Chassid'. According to tradition, the region of Marmorosh, Romania was granted to Rav Kopel Chassid and his descendants by the Baal Shem Tov to spread Torah and chassidus. Rav Yaakov passed away on the 15th of Elul, 1787) תקמ"ז) and was laid to rest in Tismanitz.
Rav Yitzchok HaLevi Patshnick of Brezhna (5625 / 1865 - 159th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Yechiel Michel. He gained renown as a miracle worker and had a strong influence among the common folk and even among gentiles who came to receive his brachos and advice. He passed away on the 16th (some say 15th) of Elul, 1865)תרכ"ה) and laid to rest in Brezhna.
Rav Binyamin Bunim Menachem Mendel Maryles of Yaruslov (5648 / 1888 - 136th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Shimon of Yaruslov. His son Rav Shimon succeeded him as rebbe in Yaruslov. He passed away on the 15th or 16th Elul 1888) תרמ"ח); others say it was 1890) תר"ן), and was laid to rest in his father’s ohel in Yaruslov.
Rav Nachum Brandwein of Borshtein - Imrei Tov (5675 / 1915 - 109th Yahrzeit)
Born in 1847) תר"ז) to Rav Eliezer Brandwein a scion of the Stretiner dynasty. Rav Nuchem Brandwein served as Stretiner Rebbe from the year תרכ"ה. In תר"ל, he became rebbe in Borstein. After The Great Fire of תרע"ד, he moved to Stanislow. He passed away on the 15th of Elul 1915), תרע"ה).
Rav Yisroel Yaakov Yokel Teitelbaum of Volova - Heitiv Eitiv (5684 / 1924 - 100th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Shmuel Teitelbaum of Gorlitz. Born in 1838) קצ"ח). A scion of Sighet Uhjel dynasties. Rav Yisroel Yaakov Yokel was a chassid of Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim. The Divrei Chaim loved him very much. He served as rav in Berbesht תרכ"ב, and in תרמ"ט, he succeeded his father in Gorlitz. In תרנ"ד, he left Gorlitz and moved to Volova in the Carpathians and became rebbe there. He passed away on the 15th Elul, 1924) תרפ"ד).
Rav Avrohom Yaakov Halevi HaLevi Horowitz - Tzur Yaakov (5702 / 1942 - 82nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Chanoch Henich Eiges of Vilna - Marcheshes (5704 / 1944 - 80th Yahrzeit)
Perhaps best known by the name of his sefer on Responsa Marcheshes - Rav Chanoch Henich Eiges was born in 5624 (1864) in Raissen (Prussia). His father was Rav Simcha Reuven Eidelman was known as Sar ben Chayal Ha’Adulami. After the petira of Rav Shmuel Zibertenski in 5658/1898, Rav Chanoch Henich became a Rav and posek in Vilna, and he held the position for more than forty years. In 5666/1906, with the petira of Rav Shlomo HaKohen, the elderly Rav of Vilna, Rav Chanoch Henich and Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski became the acknowledged leaders of the Torah community of Vilna. After the petira of Rav Chaim Ozer in Av 5700/1940, Rav Chanoch Henich was considered by many of the bnei Torah the senior Rav and Torah leader. He was martyred al Kiddush Hashem on the 15th of Elul 5701/1941.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 16TH OF ELUL ~ BEGINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT (09-19-2024)
Rav Avrohom Naftali Tzvi Hirsch Halevi HaLevi Shpitz - Malei Tzion (5472 / 1712 - 312th Yahrzeit)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch Greenwald - Rav Hirschel Dishkes (5616 / 1856 - 168th Yahrzeit)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch was known by the name Rav Hirschel Dishkes. He was among the greatest Chassidim in his generation, despite his earning a living as a merchant. He was among the foremost talmidim of the Chozeh of Lublin and still he attached himself to the Yid HaKodosh and especially to the Rebbe Reb Bunim of Peshis’cha. He was a Godol BaTorah, but in the manner of Kotzk, refused to serve in the rabbinate, instead making his living selling imported wines from Hungary to Poland.
Rav Pinchos Chaim Halevi HaLevi Ish Horowitz - Pischa Zuta, Rosh Beis Din of Kossov (5698 / 1938 - 86th Yahrzeit)
Rav Masoud Yonah Edre'ei - Sfas Emes, The Tzaddik of Rosh Pina (5728 / 1968 - 56th Yahrzeit)
Rav Masoud Yona Edre’ei was born in 5674/1914 in the city of Deganah in Morocco. As a young bochur he moved to Marrakesh, where he learned with hasmoda in the local Yeshiva. Rav Masoud served as a Rav, mohel and sofer. In 5710/1950 Rav Masoud moved to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Rosh Pina. Rav Masoud was niftar on the sixteenth of Elul 5728/1968 at the age of fifty-four and was buried on Har HaMenuchos in Yerushalayim.
Rav Avrohom Avigdor Nachum Landau - Strikover Rebbe of Bnei Brak (5761 / 2001 - 23rd Yahrzeit)
Harav Avraham was born 11 Shevat 5677/1917, in Kinov, in the Ostrovtze region of Poland. His father was Harav Yaakov Yitzchak Dan, Hy”d. In Kislev 5700/1940, obeying his father’s orders, Reb Avraham fled Warsaw for Vilna. Of all his family, only he and a sister survived the war, while their parents and eight of their siblings perished, Hy”d. He eventually arrived in Eretz Yisrael and settled in Yerushalayim. In 5744/1984 he moved to Bnei Brak, where he re-established his beis medrash and founded Yeshivas Strikov. Reb Avraham was one of the rare Gedolim acclaimed equally by the world of Chassidus and the Litvishe yeshivah world. The Strikover Rebbe’s humility was extraordinary; he simply could not bear any kavod at all. The Strikover Rebbe was niftar on 16 Elul 5761/2001.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 17TH OF ELUL ~ BEGINS THURSDAY NIGHT (09-20-2024)
Rav Mordechai Parnes (5424 / 1664 - 360th Yahrzeit)
His father was the Av Bais Din of Cracow, Rav Mordechai was the grandson of Rav Yehoshua of Cracow, mechaber of the Maginei Shlomo. His son Rav Elyokim Getz, Dayan of Poznan, published his great-grandfather’s seforim, Maginei Shlomo and Shu”t Pnei Yehoshua.
Rav Chaim Benveniste (5433 / 1673 - 351st Yahrzeit)
