YAHRZEITS FOR THE 28TH OF NISSAN ~ BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT (04-26-2025)
Rav Shabtai Sheptil Horowitz - Vavei Hoamudim (5420 / 1660 - 365th Yahrzeit)
Rav Shabsai Sheftl Horowitz II (1590-1660) was the son of the Shelah Hakodesh. After his father left for Eretz Yisrael, he became dayan of Prague. He then became Rav of Fuerth, then Frankfurt am Main, then Posen, where he founded a yeshiva. In 1654, he was appointed Rav of Vienna.
Mekubel Yichye Tzalach (5565 / 1805 - 220th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yichiyeh ben Yosef Tzalach, the Maharitz, founder of the Baladi community of Yemen (1713-1805). He is described as “without question,....the greatest rabbi and exponent of Jewish law ever to have been produced by Yemen.” By 1795, he served on the Beis Din of Sanaa.
Rav Yehoshua of Ostrova - Toldos Odom (5633 / 1873 - 152nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yosef Yozpe Rosenberg of Zalkova - Yad Yosef, Revid Hazahav (5655 / 1895 - 130th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehoshua Pinchos Bombach of Ushpetzin (5681 / 1921 - 104th Yahrzeit)
Yissocher Leib Weinberg of Slonim (5688 / 1928 - 97th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Yissocher Leib Weinberg (1873-1928) served as Rebbe of Slonim after the demise of his father in 1916, together with his young brother Rabbi Avrohom Weinberg (1884-1933) author of Beis Avraham who served as Rebbe in Baranovichi.
Rav Shem Klingberg of Zalushitz - Oholei Shem (5703 / 1943 - 82nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Klingberg of Zalushitz (5755 / 1995 - 30th Yahrzeit)
Rav Aharon HaKohen Rosenfeld of Pinsk Karlin (5761 / 2001 - 24th Yahrzeit)
The Pinsk-Karliner Rebbe’s father, Harav Yitzchak Menashe Hakohen, zt”l, arrived in Yerushalayim from Lodz, Poland, at the age of 13 and became a Karliner Chassid. He named his son, born in 5687/1927, “Aharon” because his bris took place on Yom Kippur. For many years he was a Maggid Shiur at Yeshivas Eitz Chaim and afterwards in the Belzer Yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael and in Belgium. On Pesach 5751/1991 (the yahrtzeit of Harav Aharon Hagadol of Karlin, zy”a) he became the Admor of Pinsk-Karlin.
Rav Moshe Halberstam - Divrei Moshe, Member of Badatz Yerushalayim (5766 / 2006 - 19th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Halberstam (1932-2006). Born in the town of Tshakawe, Galicia to Rav Yaakov Halberstam, he was a great-great-great grandson of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He was a member of the Eida Chareidis Beis Din and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tshakawe. In 1997, he was appointed a member of Badatz. He founded the Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedaka, and was the head of the charity Chibas Yerushalayim Kupas Rebbe Meir Baal Hannes.
Rav Yissocher Dov Rubin - Tallelei Oros (5768 / 2008 - 17th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yissochor Dov (ben Shaul) Rubin, author of Tallelei Oros (1962-2008). After learning at Yeshiva L’tze’irim Ruzhin in Bnei Brak, he joined the Ponevezh Yeshiva and later continued his studies in the Kollel Avreichim of Yeshivas Ponevezh. He was hired as a maggid shiur in Yeshiva Karlin Stolin L’tze’irim and later as mashgiach in Yeshivas Beis Chilkiya.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 29TH OF NISSAN ~ BEGINS SATURDAY NIGHT (04-27-2025)
Rav Nochum Sofer of Tachov (5575 / 1815 - 210th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehuda Meir Shapira of Shpitivka (5589 / 1829 - 196th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Pallier of Kobrin - Imros Taharos (5618 / 1858 - 167th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Moshe Pallier of Kobrin [29 Nisan 1858] was a close follower of the Rebbe, R. Mordechai of Lechovitch and afterwards of his son, R. Noach. In 1833 he became the first Rebbe of the Kobrin dynasty, with thousands of chassidim, many of whom subsequently moved to Eretz Yisroel. His teachings are collected in Imros Taharos.
Naftali of Litovisk - Ayala Shelucha (5650 / 1890 - 135th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yaakov Yitzchok Twersky of Makarov (5652 / 1892 - 133rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Nosson Nochum Rabinowitz - Av Beis Din of Karimilov (5703 / 1943 - 82nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Mordechaim Sholom Yosef Friedman - Sadigerer Rebbe, Keneses Mordechai (5739 / 1979 - 46th Yahrzeit)
Rav Mordechai Shalom Yosef Friedman, Sadigerer Rebbe, the Keneses Mordechai (1897-1979) The son of Rav Aharon of Sadiger, and grandson of the second Sadigerer Rebbe, Rav Yisrael.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 30TH OF NISSAN ~ BEGINS SUNDAY NIGHT (04-28-2025)
Rabbeinu Yosef HaLevi Ibn Migash - Rimigash (4901 / 1141 - 884th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Broda (5477 / 1717 - 308th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Shaul. From among the greatest Ashkenazi rabbonim of the eighteenth century. Born in Bomsala near Prague around 1650 ת''י, he was a student of Rav Yitzchok Charif and he served as chief rabbi of several kehillos including Prague and Metz. He was chief Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva of Prague for sixteen years between תנג-תסט. He established a yeshiva and bais medrash there that he himself supported. Due to disagreements with his halachic decisions he left and served in Metz. He served as AvBeisDin of Frankfurt after the great fire when it was rebuilt after the departure of Rav Naphtali Kohen author of Semichas Chachamim. He was Rav and Rosh Yeshiva of Frankfurt until his passing.
Rav Yaakov Emden - Yaavetz (5536 / 1776 - 249th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Yaakov Emden was born in Altona (near Hamburg) in the summer of 1697. His father Rabbi Tzvi Ashkenazi (known as the Chacham Tzvi) was then chief rabbi of the three sister communities of Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbeck (known in Jewish history as the 'Kehiloth AHU,' after the Hebrew initials of the communities). Rabbi Yaakov Emden's real name, as you see, was Ashkenazi, but he was called Emden after the city where he had served as rabbi. He is also known as YaBeTz, being the initials of the words Yaakov Ben Tzevi.
Rav Yechezkel Segal Horowitz - Toras Yechezkel (5598 / 1838 - 187th Yahrzeit)
Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel of Drohbitch (5684 / 1924 - 101st Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Hershler (5751 / 1991 - 34th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Moshe Hershler, 69, a Jewish author and scholar, served as dean of the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie from 1976 to 1979. Rabbi Hershler studied in seminaries in Yerushalayim and was visiting professor at Jews College, London, and Yeshiva University, New York.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 1ST OF IYAR ~ BEGINS MONDAY NIGHT (04-29-2025)
Rav Abba Shaul - Talmudic Sage
Rav Yaakov Beirav (5306 / 1546 - 479th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Yaakov Beirav [1 Iyar 1546] was born near Toledo, Spain. As a young man, he studied with Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav. Subsequently, he wrote commentaries on the four sections of the Rambam and on Talmudic subjects and published a volume of responsa. After serving as a rabbinical leader in Fez, Morocco, and Cairo, Egypt, he became the chief rabbi of Tsfat.
Rav Nosson Nota Shapira - Mevo Shearim, Av Beis Din Hordona (5378 / 1618 - 407th Yahrzeit)
His disciple was Rav Binyamin Aharon Selnik author Masas Binyamin. He authored the sefer Mevo Shaarim and Hagahos on the Shaarei Dura of Rav Yitzchok ben Meir HaLevi in hilchos issur ve’heter and kashrus. He also authored the sefer Imrei Shefer on Peirush Rashi and a commentary on Birkas HaMazon as well as chiddushim and glosses on the Rif and Tur.
Rav Yosef Yuska - Chief Rabbi of Minsk (5460 / 1700 - 325th Yahrzeit)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch Ashkenazi - Chacham Tzvi (5478 / 1718 - 307th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ashkenazi (1660-1718) was the rabbi of the Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbeck communities, and the chief rabbi of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam. He passed through many communities in Germany and Poland and also served as a rabbi in Lviv. He wrote the responsa "Chacham Tzvi". His son was Rabbi Yaakov Emden, known as the Ya'avetz.
Rav Yisroel Chaim Yosef Elyakim of Saloniki - Shem Yosef (5529 / 1769 - 256th Yahrzeit)
Author of Shem Yosef on Rambam(commentary on the Rambam). Laid to rest on Har Hazeisim.
Rav Shmuel Shmelke Horowitz of Nikolsburg - Divrei Shmuel (5538 / 1778 - 247th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke HaLevi Horowitz of Nikolsburg (Iyar 1778) was a major disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch along with his younger brother, Rabbi Pinchas, who became the Rabbi of Frankfort (see above). Many of the leading rebbes in Poland and Galitzia were originally his disciples. Among the books he authored are Divrei Shmuel and Nazir HaShem.
Rav Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk - Pri Ho'oretz (5548 / 1788 - 237th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk/Horodok [5490 - 1 Iyar 5548] was an elder disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch and one of the earliest Chasidic rebbes. He led the first modern aliyah to Israel, in 1777, where he and three hundred Chasidim and others settled in Tzefat. After a few years most of the group moved to Teveria, where he is buried in the "Students of the Baal Shem Tov" section of the Old Cemetery.
Rav Akiva Yosef Schlesinger - Lev Ha'ivri (5682 / 1922 - 103rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Weinberg - Slonimer Rebbe, Beis Avrohom (5693 / 1933 - 92nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Weinberg of Slonim - Baranovitch, the author of Bais Avrohom was the son of Rav Shmuel Weinberg of Slonim. After his father’s passing in תרע''ו 1916)), the majority of the Slonimer chassidim became his followers. In תרע''ח he opened and founded the Toras Chessed Yeshivah Gedolah in Slonim together was Rav Moshe Midner who served as mashgiach ruchani. He was appointed the Nasi of Kollel Reisin of Eretz Yisroel which was founded by Rav Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and Rav Avrohom Kalisker. He therefore traveled to help raise money to support the institutions and the chassidim in the Holy Land.
Rav Shmuel Boruch Zaku of Kurdistan & Yerushalayim (5754 / 1994 - 31st Yahrzeit)
One of the leaders of Torah Jewry of Kurdistan. Born in .תרנ'ט
Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapira (5766 / 2006 - 19th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapira (1914-2006). Born to Rav Aryeh, the dayan of Bialystok and grandson of Rav Refael (the Toras Refael) of Volozhin, who himself was a grandson of the Netziv. In 1938 he fled to Eretz Yisrael. His cousin, the Brisker Rav, arrived in Eretz Yisrael around the same time. Rav Moshe Shmuel became one of his closest talmidim. After his marriage in 1946 he learnt in Kollel Chazon Ish for a year and then served as a maggid shiur in Yeshivas Kol Torah in Yerushalayim for three years. The Chazon Ish, to whom he became very close, requested him to open a yeshiva in Beer Yaakov together with the renowned mashgiach, Rav Shlomo Wolbe.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 2ND OF IYAR ~ BEGINS TUESDAY NIGHT (04-30-2025)
Rav Yisroel of Bahpoli - Ateres Tiferes Yisroel (5611 / 1851 - 174th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Rokeach of Karov (5643 / 1883 - 142nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Glick - Av Beis Din of Toltchova, Be'er Yitzchok (5669 / 1909 - 116th Yahrzeit)
The renowned R. Avrohom Yitzchok Glick, (1826-1909) was a leading Hungarian posek. He served as Rabbi of Toltchova for more than 50 years (from 1858) and was considered one of the foremost poskim in Hungary.
Rav Moshe Zakan Mazuz of Djerba - Shaarei Moshe (5675 / 1915 - 110th Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Zakan Mazuz of Djerba (1851-1915). He learned under Rav Chaim HaKohen, author of Lev Shomea. He was appointed Rav of Charah Zagira in 1905 and became Rav and Av Beis Din in Djerba in 1910. He authored Tzadik Venisgav; Shaarei Moshe (a collection of responsa); Shem Moshe, Shaarei Torah (pilpulim on Torah and Shas), Sever Panim (chidushim on Shas and on the Rambam).
Rav Avrohom Badush of Mexico - Me'oros Avrohom (5750 / 1990 - 35th Yahrzeit)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch Zaks (5751 / 1991 - 34th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehuda Meir Abramowitz (5767 / 2007 - 18th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehuda Meir Abramowitz (1915-2007). He was the chairman of the Agudas Yisrael World Organization for many years (co-chairman with Rabbi Moshe Sherer when he was alive). He was one of the last Talmidim of Rav Meir Shapira.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 3RD OF IYAR ~ BEGINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT (05-01-2025)
Choni Ha'meagel
Rav Yehuda Leib Fistiner of Kolomay (5505 / 1745 - 280th Yahrzeit)
Rav Aryeh Leib Tzintz of Plotzk - Melo Ho'omer, Maharal Tzintz (5593 / 1833 - 192nd Yahrzeit)
Born in 5733 תקכ"ח. Rav in Płotzak and Tashknov, Poland. Known as the gaon of Płotzek. Passed away in .תקצ"ג
Rav Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir - Reb Yeshayale M'Kerestir (5685 / 1925 - 100th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Yeshayaleh Steiner of Kererstir was born to Rav Moshe and Hentshe Miraim Steiner in 5611/1851. He was orphaned from his father at age three and was raised and educated by his saintly mother who sacrificed much to give him a proper chinuch. Rav Shayaleh was a disciple of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, and after his passing, he became a disciple of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna. The Nadvoner Rebbe suggested that he move to the town of Kerestir (Karstir). In Kerestir he became a famous rebbe known as a miracle worker. It was said of him that he had an otherworldly ability to give others since he gave of himself in a supernatural manner. He gave away all his food and distributed all his money to charity. He gave until there was nothing left to give and so Hashem gave him more to give!
Rav Yitzchak Isaac Hager (5701 / 1941 - 84th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yitzchak Isaac Hager, son of Rav Menachem Mendel of Zavltov, was a scion and descendant of the Kossov-Vizhnitz dynasty. He lived in Berditchev and was renowned as a miracle worker, reciting Tehillim day and night.
Rav Yosef Breuer (5740 / 1980 - 45th Yahrzeit)
The Rav was born in 1882 in Papa, Hungary. His father Rav Shlomo Zalman a talmid of the Ksav Sofer was married to Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch, youngest daughter, Sophie. After Rav Hirsch's passing in 1888, Rav Shlomo Zalman was selected to replace him as the Moreh Dasrah of the Austrittsgemeinde (secession community) of Orthodox Jews in Frankfurt am Main, known as Khal Adath Yeshurun. The Rav immigrated to the United States in 1939 after being arrested by the Gestapo. Once in New York, the Rav took the initiative to start a congregation with the numerous German refugees in Washington Heights, which would closely follow the morale and customs of the Frankfurt community.
Rav Abba Mordechai Berman - Rosh Yeshivas Iyun Hatalmud, Iyun Hatalmud (5765 / 2005 - 20th Yahrzeit)
Rav Abba Berman, Rosh yeshiva Iyun HaTalmud (1919-2005). Born in Lodz, Poland to Rav Shaul Yosef, who considered the Chofetz Chaim his primary rebbi. He was a descendant of the Kli Yakar. After his Bar Mitzvah, Reb Abba began to learn at the Mir and became very close to Reb Yerucham Levovitz. He fled to Sanghai with the yeshiva at the outset of WW2, then migrated to America. He was one of the founders of the Mir in Brooklyn. In Brooklyn, he married Rebbetzen Itka Greenberg. After several years, he moved to Eretz Yisrael and founded Yeshiva Iyun HaTalmud in Bnei Brak. He also lectured frequently at Ponevezh. The yeshiva relocated to Yerushalayim, then to Kiryat Sefer in Modiin Ilit. His many shiurim were published in five sefarim, also named Iyun HaTalmud. He is survived by his Rebetzen and 6 daughters.
