YAHRZEITS FOR THE 4TH OF TEVES ~ BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT (12-16-2023)
Rav Menachem Eliezer Ginshtling - Yair Kano (5567 / 1806 - 217th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Zev Margalios (Yavetz) - Reb Velvele Bialystoker (5590 / 1829 - 194th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Zev of Bialystok, mechaber of Maros HaTzovos and Agudas Eizov, was the founder of Gemilas Chassodim Bais Medrash, Bialystok’s most prominent Torah center.
Rav Moshe Panet of Karlsburg (5606 / 1846 - 178th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehoshua Yitzchok Shapira - Rav Eizel Charif (5633 / 1873 - 151st Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehoshua Eizel Charif of Slonim was born in Glovanka, near Minsk. After many years of learning with the enthusiastic support of his father-in-law, Rav Yitzchok Fein, he became Rav of Kalavaria, then Kutno, and finally Slonim (near Grodno).
Rav Gershon Chanoch Henoch Leiner - Radziner Rebbe, Orchos Chayim, Ba’al HaTecheiles (5651 / 1890 - 133rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Gershon Chanoch Henoch Leiner of Radzin was known as the Ba’al HaTecheiles.
Rav Tzvi Hirsch HaKohen Wolk/Volk - Keser Kehuna (5667 / 1906 - 117th Yahrzeit)
Rav Chaim Shaul HaKohen Dweck (5694 / 1933 - 90th Yahrzeit)
Rav Sholom Roke'ach - Skohler Rebbe (5722 / 1961 - 62nd Yahrzeit)
Mr. Yitzchok Meir Bunim (5741 / 1980 - 43rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yaakov Katzin (5755 / 1994 - 29th Yahrzeit)
Rav Mordechai Pinchas Teitz (5756 / 1995 - 28th Yahrzeit)
Rebbetzin Rochel Rechel Schwab - Recha (5764 / 2003 - 20th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 5TH OF TEVES ~ BEGINS SATURDAY NIGHT (12-17-2023)
Rav Shlomo Molcho - HaKadosh (5293 / 1532 - 491st Yahrzeit)
Shlomo Molcho was born as Diogo Pires in 1501 to a family of marranos in Lisbon, Portugal. In the winter of 1532 on 5 Teves 5293, HaKadosh Rav Shlomo Molcho was burnt at the stake at age 31 in Mantuba, Italy, after refusing the emperor's pardon on condition that he convert back to Christian, he chose instead to be mekadesh shem shomayim.
Rav Aharon of Tityov (5560 / 1800 - 224th Yahrzeit)
Rav Aharon Isserles (5589 / 1828 - 195th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Elchonon of Plantch - Birkas Avrohom (5595 / 1835 - 189th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Yaakov Friedman - Sadigerer Rebbe, Abir Yaakov (5721 / 1960 - 63rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yerachmiel Tzvi Yehuda Rabinowitz - Biala-Peshis'cha Rebbe, Har Nof (5764 / 2003 - 20th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 6TH OF TEVES ~ BEGINS SUNDAY NIGHT (12-18-2023)
Rav Yaakov Reischer - Shevus Yaakov (5494 / 1733 - 290th Yahrzeit)
Rav Mattisyohu Strashun of Vilna - Hagahos L'Cheilek MiMasechtos Shas (5646 / 1885 - 138th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam - Shinover Rebbe, Divrei Yechezkel (5659 / 1898 - 125th Yahrzeit)
He was the first-born son of the renowned Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim and Rachel Feiga, the daughter of Rav Baruch Frenkel Teomim, author of the Baruch Ta’am. His first rebbe was his father, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, and even when he himself had hundreds of followers and chassidim he still treated his father as his rebbe and acted towards him in the manner of a chassid. His rebbe muvhak was the Sar Sholom of Belz, and he adopted many Belzer minhagim. He was renowned for bringing about miracles, for his clear halachic decisions, and for demonstrating outstanding control over his middos. The Divrei Yechezkel, The Shinover, was rav in Rudnik, and after his third father-in-law’s passing, he succeeded him in Razla. After seven years, in 1856/5616, he was appointed as rav in Shinova where he was rav and rebbe for the next eleven years. He served as Rav of Stropkov 1868/5628 and after the Divrei Chaim’s passing in 1876/5636, he succeeded his father as AvBeisDin in Sanz.
Rav Chaim Shlomo Rottenberg - Kosoner Rebbe, Shemua Tova (5680 / 1919 - 104th Yahrzeit)
Rav Chaim Shlomo Halevi was the son of Rav Yehosef HaLevi Rottenberg of Kosoni. He was a scion of Tosch dynasty and the son-in-law of Rav Asher Yeshaya Rubin of Kolbosuv. Descended from Ropshitz. In תרנ"ג Rav Rottenberg was appointed as Rav of NirAdani. In תרע"ב he moved to Kosoni and succeeded his father as Rav and Rebbe.
Rav Aharon Yeshaya Fisch of Hades - Kedushas Aharon (5688 / 1927 - 96th Yahrzeit)
Rav Alter Yisrael Shimon Perlow - Novominsker Rebbe (5694 / 1933 - 90th Yahrzeit)
Rav Chaim Meidanik (5715 / 1954 - 69th Yahrzeit)
Rav Nochum Meir Karelitz (5719 / 1958 - 65th Yahrzeit)
Rebbetzin Beila Morgenstern (5766 / 2006 - 18th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 7TH OF TEVES ~ BEGINS MONDAY NIGHT (12-19-2023)
Rav Dovid Pinchi of Mantuba
Rav Dovid Pinchi was one of Rav Shimshon Nachmani’s first rebbes in Kabbalah in Mantuba where he served as a posek. Rav Pinchi served as Rav and posek in Elisandira dela Paula (Alessandria, Piedmont) and in Mantuba. Rav Pinchi was the Ramchal’s father-in-law.
Rav Moshe Dovid Walli (5538 / 1778 - 246th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Dovid was the son of Rav Shmuel. The foremost talmid of the Ramchal. Rav Moshe Dovid received semichah at the same time 1726 תפ"ו as his colleague, the Ramchal, who was ten years his junior. The Ramchal, who initially studied Kabbalah under Rav Moshe Dovid, later became his mentor (see Almansi Kerem Chemed). When the Ramchal founded a yeshivah and bais medrash, he cosigned along with Rav Moshe Dovid Walli and Rav Yekusiel Gordon. When the Ramchal left Italy for Amsterdam, Rav Moshe Dovid Walli replaced him as the head of the yeshivah and bais medrash.
Rav Tzvi Hirsch Isserles of Pinsk - The Holy Besht (5540 / 1779 - 244th Yahrzeit)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Kaminka - Shnei Hameoros (5541 / 1781 - 243rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Refoel Shlomo Laniado - HaRaShaL, MaHaRShaL Stam (5553 / 1792 - 231st Yahrzeit)
Rav Mordechai Yosef Leiner - Izhbitzer Rebbe, Mei Hashiloach (5614 / 1854 - 170th Yahrzeit)
Rav Sholom Yosef Friedman of Ruzhin (5640 / 1879 - 144th Yahrzeit)
Rav Dovid of Lublin (5652 / 1892 - 132nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yom Tov Lipman HaKohen - Malbushei Yom Tov m'Gur (5653 / 1892 - 131st Yahrzeit)
Rav Yom Tov Lipman Baslianski - Av Beis Din Mir (5653 / 1892 - 131st Yahrzeit)
Rav Aharon ben Shimon - Rav & Av Beis Din of Tzfas, Toras Aharon (5709 / 1949 - 75th Yahrzeit)
Rav Osher Zev Werner - Rav & Av Beis Din of Teveria, Taam Zekeinim (5718 / 1957 - 66th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yosef Elyashiyov (5768 / 2007 - 16th Yahrzeit)
Rav Eliezer Chaim Blum - of Kashau (5779 / 2018 - 5th Yahrzeit)
Born 26 Tishrei תרצ״ט - He was Rav of Kashau also spelled Kassa (Košice), the Kashau Rav, Harav Eliezer Chaim Blum, zt”l, a marbitz Torah and renowned baal darshan, who fought for the purity of Klal Yisrael and served Hashem for decades with phenomenal kedushah and mesirus nefesh.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 8TH OF TEVES ~ BEGINS TUESDAY NIGHT (12-20-2023)
Rav Yosef Elimelech Halberstam of Kishinov (5667 / 1906 - 117th Yahrzeit)
Rav Binyomin Aryeh HaKohen Weiss - Av Beis Din of Tshernowitz, Even Yekara (5673 / 1912 - 111th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yechiel Moshe Segalowitz (5701 / 1941 - 83rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yechezkel HaLevi Holtshuk of Ostrovtza - Kodshei Yechezkel (5703 / 1942 - 81st Yahrzeit)
Rav Yechezkel HaLevi Holtshuk, second Ostrovtza Rebbe (1887-1942, perished in the Holocaust), was the son of Rebbe Meir Yechiel HaLevi Rabbi of Ostrovtza ("the tzaddik who fasted for 40 years"). An outstanding Torah scholar and holy man. He served as rabbi of Inowłódz, Nasielsk and later as rebbe and rabbi of Ostrovtza. He founded the Beis Meir network of yeshivos.
Rav Boruch Tzvi Moskowitz (5711 / 1950 - 73rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yosef Dov Lieberman (5747 / 1987 - 37th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 9TH OF TEVES ~ BEGINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT (12-21-2023)
Ezra HaKohen HaSofer
Some say Ezra was buried in Syria.
Nechemya
Rav Yosef ibn Nagrallah (4828 / 1067 - 956th Yahrzeit)
Rav Ezra of Gerona (4988 / 1227 - 796th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Chaim Schorr - Toras Chaim (5392 / 1632 - 392nd Yahrzeit)
(Some say the Yahrzeit is on the 19th of Teves) The Toras Chaim was a descendant of Rav Yosef of Orleans. He served as Rav Av Beis Din in Satinov and Belz and his descendant and grandson Rav Ephraim Zalman Margolios writes that he also served as Av Beis Din Kremenitz.
Rav Yehuda of Melitz (5639 / 1879 - 145th Yahrzeit)
Rav Menachem Zev Weissberg - Av Beis Din of Dabra, Tarkan, Tarkaner Rav (5655 / 1895 - 129th Yahrzeit)
Rav Menachem Zev (Mendel Wolf) Weissberg AvBeisDin of Dabra, Tarkan and one of the greatest disciples of the Sigheter Rav, author of the Yetev Lev. Rav Menachem Zev's father was Rav Shlomo Zalman Weissberg of Dabra. He was descended from a grandchild of Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel, the Apta Rav's sister. Rav Menachem Zev's father-in-law was Rav Yaakov Tzvi Waldman of Barsha.
Rav Klonimus Kalman HaLevi Epstein of Neustadt (5663 / 1903 - 121st Yahrzeit)
Rav Shlomo Zilberstein of Groswardein - Ohel Shlomo (5669 / 1909 - 115th Yahrzeit)
Rav Menachem Mendel Yosef HaLevi Heimlich of Mishkoltz - Minchas Yosef (5704 / 1944 - 80th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehuda Weber - Reb Yiddel (5767 / 2006 - 17th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 10TH OF TEVES ~ BEGINS THURSDAY NIGHT (12-22-2023)
Rav Refoel Wexelbaum - Rosh Yeshivas Itri
Zecharya (3448 / -313 - 2,336th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehuda Leib Eilenberg - Minchas Yehuda (5371 / 1610 - 413th Yahrzeit)
Rav Eliezer Greiver of Slonim - Mishnas Eliezer (5591 / 1830 - 193rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Nosson Sternhartz - Rav Nosson of Breslov, Sichos Haran (5605 / 1844 - 179th Yahrzeit)
Rav Nosson Sternhartz was born on 15 Shevat 5540/1780 in the town of Nemirov, Ukraine. His father, Harav Naftali Hertz Sternhartz, zt”l, was a talmid chacham and a wealthy businessman. Rav Nosson was responsible for preserving the teachings, stories and everyday conversations of his Rebbe, and for the dissemination of Breslov Chassidus after Rav Nachman’s petirah. After Rav Nachman’s petirah on 17 Tishrei 5571/1810, 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. Rav Nosson was also responsible for making Uman, Ukraine — the city in which Rav Nachman is buried — into a focal point of Breslover Chassidus.
Rav Meir Sholom Rabinowitz - Kalushiner Rebbe (5662 / 1901 - 122nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Noach of Hordishitz (5664 / 1903 - 120th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yechezkel Halshtuk - Ostrovtzer Rebbe (5703 / 1942 - 81st Yahrzeit)
Rav Shabtai Yogel (5718 / 1958 - 66th Yahrzeit)
Rav Meir Chaim Ungar - Chief Rabbi of Luxemburg (5718 / 1958 - 66th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Abba Leifer - Pittsburgher Rebbe, Emunas Avraham (5750 / 1990 - 34th Yahrzeit)
HaRav Avraham Abba Leifer, zt’l (known as the Emunas Avraham) was born in Kroli, Hungary in 1918 to his father, Rav Yosef Leifer, The Tzidkas Yosef, who was the son of Rav Bertche of Satmar, the son of Rav Mordche of Nadvorna, zy’a. In 1970, he decided to move to Eretz Yisrael. He chose the coastal city of Ashdod for his new base. He also established a kollel for avreichim from Bnei Brak yeshivas and founded Yeshivas Tzidkas Yosef in memory of his father.
Rav Moshe Shapiro - Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Pischei Olam (5777 / 2017 - 7th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Shapiro zt'l, was the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Pischei Olam in Eretz Yisroel and one of the world’s leading baalei mussar. His harbatzas haTorah, which he continued for the rest of his life, began in Yeshivas Tifrach. In 1968, Rav Moshe joined Harav Dov Schwartzman, zt”l, in establishing Yeshivas Bais Hatalmud in Bayit Vegan. In 1976 he was invited to establish Yeshivas Bais Binyamin in Stamford, Connecticut, together with Harav Simcha Schustal, zt”l, where he remained for two years. Rav Shapiro returned to Eretz Yisrael in 1979. He was instrumental in establishing Ohr Somayach for Israeli baalei teshuvah. In 5760/2000, Rav Moshe established the first kollel that was supported by Reb Zev Wolfson, z”l. In 2001 he established Yeshivas Shev Shmaatsa, in memory of his daughter, Shulamis Shapiro, a”h.
