Rav Gedalya Chiyun (Av 5, 5510 / 1750 - 274th Yahrzeit)
Founder of Yeshivas Bais E”l for mekubalim in Jerusalem. He passed away 5 Menachem Av. תק''י. Succeeded by Rav Shalom Sharabi, the Rashash as next rosh yeshivah.
Rav Meir Berabi Rav of Pressburg, Chiddushei Maharam Berabi (Av 5, 5549 / 1789 - 235th Yahrzeit)
Rav Meir was born in 5485/1725 in Berabi, near Halberstadt in Germany. His parents were Rav Shaul and Rebbetzin Yentlichi.
At a young age, his father sent him to learn under Rav Tzvi Hirsh Charif, Rav of Halberstadt, who put immense efforts into this talmid. From there, Rav Meir continued on to the Yeshiva of Rav Yaakov Paprish, Rav of Frankfurt-am-Main. He stayed in this Yeshiva for two years, advancing in Torah. After a two-year stay in Frankfurt, he returned to Halberstadt.
At the age of thirteen, in 5498/1738, Rav Meir married Rebbetzin Elkeli, the daughter of Rav Michel of Halberstadt. He dedicated himself solely to learning Torah, thanks to the support of his brother-in-law, Rav Nosson.
Even at this young age, Rav Meir was already known as an outstanding Talmid Chochom. Eventually, he was appointed Dayan in the city, and in 5517/1757, when Rav Moshe Brisk, the local Rav, was niftar, Rav Meir was asked to fill his place, which he did for the next six years, until 5523/1763.
In 5523/1763, Rav Meir was accepted as Rav in Hali, Germany, but this was for one year. Afterward, Rav Meir became Rav of Pressburg, Hungary, a position he held for the next twenty-five years, until his passing in 5549/1789.
Rav Meir was zocheh to teach many talmidim in all the communities where he was Rav. Many of them went on to become leading Rabbonim and Gedolim. Rav Meir was close with many of the generation’s Gedolim and frequently discussed with them she’eilos, most notably with the Noda B’Yehuda.
Rav Meir was known as a Rav who always sought peace and harmony in all the communities where he officiated. It is related that one year, on Yom Kippur night, the inhabitants of the city were waiting for Rav Meir to arrive in shul for davening. In the meantime, he was standing outside, trying to make peace between two long-time enemies, telling them that davening wouldn’t begin until they made peace; they heeded his words and Kol Nidrei commenced.
In 5549/1789, Rav Meir took ill. He was niftar on the fifth of Av 5549/1789, at the age of sixty-four. Zechuso yagen aleinu.
www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-5-avaugust-1/
Rav Chaim (Av 5, 5553 / 1793 - 231st Yahrzeit)
One of the greatest disciples from the chevraya of the holy Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem called him a chaver and his wife, an eshes chaver – chaver being the acronym of his name: Chaim ben Rachel and his wife’s Chaya bas Rivkah. Further, the gematria of both Chaim and Chaya equals Hashem’s two Divine Names: 91 (YH”VH 26 plus ADN”Y 65).
It was said of Rav Chaim that he never lifted up his eyes to gaze upon anything that was not to aid him in serving Hashem. He was a close friend and colleague to Rav Pinchos of Koretz. His divrei Torah are cited in Teshuos Chein by Rav Gedalia of Linitz, Bas Ayin by Rav Avrohom Dov of Avritsh and Sifsei Tzadikim by Rav Pinchos Dinowitz. The greatest collection of his sayings and teachings appears in Imrei Tzaddikim by Rav Tzvi Chassid of Yampola.
He passed away on 5 Av 1793 תקנ''ג in Mogilev on his way to Eretz Yisroel. His sons: Rav Yosef Moshe of Krasna; and Rav Yisroel Yehudah Leib, who was son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Shimshon of Shpetivka (with whom he made aliyah to Eretz Yisroel).
Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski Achiezer (Av 5, 5700 / 1940 - 84th Yahrzeit)
He studied at the yeshivas of Eishishok and Volozhin and became known as the “prodigy or illui of Ivya,” after his birthplace in Lithuania. In Volozhin, he studied and was friendly with Rav Chaim Soloveichik of Brisk, but did not adopt the Brisker methods of study.
Rav Binyomin Paler (Av 5, 5760 / 2000 - 24th Yahrzeit)
Rav Binyomin Paler (1908-2000), a talmid muvhak of the Brisker Rav, Rav Yitzchak Zev HaLevi Soloveitchik. His mother was a direct descendent of the Rema. Born in Brisk, Rav Binyomin studied in Toras Chessed of Rav Moshe Sokolovski, author of the Imrei Moshe. In 1931, he transferred to the yeshiva of Rav Velvel Soloveitchik, the rav of Brisk. He traveled with the Mir yeshiva to Shanghai, where he drew close to the mashgiach, Rav Yechezkel Levenstein. After the war, he arrived in the United Sates and founded the Beis HaTalmud yeshiva in Brooklyn. Soon afterward he married the daughter of Rav Shmuel Ehrenfeld of Mattersdorf. In 1967, he founded the Mekor Chaim yeshiva, where he taught for over thirty years.
Rav Aharon Shakovitzky (Av 5, 5765 / 2005 - 19th Yahrzeit)
Rav Aharon Shakovitzky (1911-2005). Born to Rav Binyamin Shakovitzky, the Maggid of Minsk, Reb Aharon traveled alone to Eretz Yisrael at the age of 12 to study under Rav Leib Chasman at Yeshivas Chevron. He survived the Chevron Massacre of 1929 and later he lived in the home of Rav Yechezkel Sarna. After marrying, he and his wife lived in Tel Aviv and later in Bnei Brak. He studied with hasmodoh and yegi’oh his entire life, never wanting to take on the burden of the rabbinate.
matzav.com
