Rav Yehuda Assad Yehuda Ya'ale (Sivan 23, 5626 / 1866 - 158th Yahrzeit)
The Gaon Rabbi Yehuda Assad was amongst the senior rabbis and Heads of Yeshiva in Hungary. He was a disciple of Rabbi Avrohom Suditz and Rabbi Mordechai Banet. He served as rabbi in Semnitz and Serdihal. He was appointed as rabbi by the Chasam Sofer. Together with the Ksav Sofer and the author of Yeriot Shlomo he stood at the helm of the Orthodox Jewry in Hungary. Some of his books: Responsa of the Mahari – Yehuda Ya'aleh, Novella of the Mahari on the Talmud, Divrei Mahari on the Torah.
Rav Yisrael Chaim Friedman Rachover Rav, Likutei Maharich (Sivan 24, 5682 / 1922 - 102nd Yahrzeit)
(1859-1922 / 5619-5682)
Rav Yisroel Chaim Freidman of Rachov, known as the Maharich, was born in 1859/5619 to Rav Yehudah Freidman.
He was a talmid muvhak in the yeshivah of the Yetev Lev in Sighet.
His first marriage was to Matil Leah, the daughter of Rav Menachem Zev Weissburg of Tarkan. His second marriage was to her sister Tzirel.
He was appointed AvBeisDin in Rachov 1897/5657. He was known as a gaon and authored a highly popular sefer on the laws and customs of Orach Chaim.
He passed away in a tragic accident and was laid to rest in Rachov on 24 Sivan 1922/5682.
His sons were: Rav Yaakov Tzvi Freidman and Rav Shlomo Zalman AvBeisDin Rachov, Lugano, Switzerland.
His daughters were: Nechamah, wife of Rav Elchanan Zalman Gross who was martyred al kiddush Hashem along with his descendants; Malka Breindel, wife of Rav Menachem Mendel Koifman; Mindel, wife of Rav Binyamin Zev Lichtenstein; Esther, the wife of Rav Isamar Leifer of Bishtina, son of Rebbe R’ Bertche of Satmar; and Miriam Pessil, the wife of Rav Avraham Yissocher Dov Isaacsohn AvBeisDin Palian-Riskova.
Rav Massoud Elchadad Mekubal of Morocco (Sivan 24, 5687 / 1927 - 97th Yahrzeit)
Born ה'תק"ף in Morocco served as Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivat Mekubalim Beit E"l in Yerushalayim. In 1902 he travelled as a fundraiser to Tunis and Tripoli where he earned a reputation as a miracle worker (see testimonies of this in the sefer Ma'amar Esther, Djerba, 1946, pgs 7-9). In 1903 he was appointed Rosh Yeshivah of the Chassidim Beit-E"l where he headed the yeshiva for over thirty years. He davened from the Siddur of the Rashash according to the kavanos of the Arizal. He studied Kabbalah for over sixty years and was the most senior mekubal of his time. In his last years he suffered greatly and was unable to walk so his disciples carried him on their shoulders to shul. He passed away at the very old age of 107. He passed away on 24 Sivanה'תרפ"ז and was laid to rest on Har haZeisim. A sample of his signature and handwriting is extant.
His seforim include:
Ben Mechabed Av
Koach Maasav Higid LeAmo
Simchas HaKohen 1 and part 2
Rav Aryeh Leib Rappaport Rosh Yeshiva Lwow (Sivan 25, 5519 / 1759 - 265th Yahrzeit)
Eldest Son of Rav Chaim HaKohen Rappaport 1st Av Beis Din of Lwow.
He passed away at a young age during his father’s lifetime on 25 Sivanתקי''ט חס''ד= ואמ''ת
Rav Moshe Tzvi Twersky Tolna Rebbe of Philadelphia (Sivan 25, 5732 / 1972 - 52nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Moshe Tzvi Twersky, Tolna Rebbe of Philadelphia (1890-1972). Born to Rav Menachem Nachum (Rebbe of Tolna-Toltchin) and great-grandson of first Tolna Rebbe, Rav Dovid. Rav Moshe Menachem succeeded his father in Toltchin un 1916, but left the Ukraine in 1921, crossing the southern border into Moldavia to escape persecutation. He emigrated to the United States the following year and settled in Philadelphia.
Tanna Yonasan ben Uziel (Sivan 26, )
The great and famous sage Hillel had eighty most distinguished disciples; thirty of them were said to be worthy to enjoy the Divine Presence as Moshe did; another thirty were said to be great enough to have stopped the sun in its path as Yehoshua did; the remaining twenty were "in the middle." The greatest of all of Hillel's disciples was Yonasan ben Uzziel; the smallest among them was Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, who was familiar with all the hidden secrets of the holy Torah.
Thus our Sages described the greatness of Hillel and his disciples. And from the greatness of Hillel's smallest disciple Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, we can imagine the greatness of Hillel's greatest disciple Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel!
The Sages related that when Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel was busy studying the holy Torah, a bird flying over him at that moment would be burned!
The great sage Shammai, who was the Av Beis Din had a very high opinion of Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel. The Talmud mentions a case, where Shammai came to discuss a point of law with him. It so happened that a rich Jew had willed all his possessions to Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel as his own children unfortunately did not live up to the way of the Torah. What did Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel do when he inherited such a large fortune? He retained one third; donated one third to the Beis Hamikdosh, and the other third to the heirs.
The old sage Shammai came to Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel to question his right to return part of the inheritance to the heirs, against the wishes of their father. Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel did not agree to the objections of Shammai. He argued that if he was the rightful owner of the property to donate part of it to the Beis Hamikdosh, he had the same right to return part of it to the heirs, for he could do with the inheritance as he pleased. Shammai was forced to admit that Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel was right.
Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel became especially famous through his interpretation of the Torah, called Targum Yonasan, that he left us.
Our Sages relate that when Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel wrote his commentary on the books of the Prophets, the Holy Land trembled and a heavenly voice called out: "Who has dared to reveal My secrets to mortal men?" Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel then arose and declared: "I am the one responsible for revealing Your holy secrets to mankind. But not to do myself honor, nor for the glory of my ancestors did I do this, but solely so that the Jews may understand what the Prophets have told them."
When he intended writing an interpretation of the Kesuvim, he was forbidden to do so, because they reveal secrets which must not be revealed till Moshiach comes.
Rav Boruch Rappaport Rav Boruch Charif (Sivan 26, 5506 / 1746 - 278th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Moshe Meir HaKohen
Known as Rav Baruch Charif.
Served as Rav and Av Beis Din Vilna (תס''ט), afterwards in Fiorda (תע''א), and later in Hordona. He was known as one of the gedolim of his generation. When the Ramchal, who was a disciple of Rav Yeshaya Bassan, came under scrutiny over the claim that his teachings were controversial, it was Rav Baruch whom Rav Bassan turned to support the Ramchal’s position in the machlokes. Besides his gaonus (brilliance) he was renowned for his chassidus, his piety, and his good deeds. All his life he spent fasting and afflicting himself and teaching Torah to the masses.
The Chida writes that when he traveled through Ashkenaz, he met Rav Aryeh, Rav Baruch Rappaport’s son who served as rav in Heightsfield, and heard through him several chiddushim from his father, Rav Baruch.
Rav Baruch HaKohen Rappaport passed away on 26 Sivan 1746) תק''ו).
He was eulogized by Rav Yonasan Eibschitz in Metz (Yaaros Devash Vol. 2 Derush 12)
Rav Avrohom Yehosua Heschel Shapira (Sivan 26, 5635 / 1875 - 149th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel Shapiro was born in 5586/1826. He was the youngest son of Reb Chaim Meir Yechiel, the Saraph of Mogelnitza, and a great-grandson of the Kozhnitzer Maggid.
Rav Chaim Meir named his son after the Apter Rav who became his Rebbe following the petira of his grandfather, the Kozhnitzer Maggid and his other Rebbes, the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa and Rav Yaakov Yitzchok, the Chozeh of Lublin. (They were all niftar over a two-year period, 5574–5/1814–5.) The Apter Rav instructed Rav Chaim Meir to be a manhig. This came about some years later, in 5588/1828, when Rav Chaim Meir became Rebbe of Kozhnitz and Mogelnitza.
Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel was a son-in-law of Rav Yisroel Yitzchok Baron, son and successor of Rav Yissachar Ber of Radoshitz.
On the 15th of Iyar, 5609/1849, his father Rav Chaim Meir was niftar. Rav Chaim Meir had five sons. His older sons opened their own courts in other cities: the more famous ones were Rav Yaakov Yitzchok, rebbe in Blendov; and Rav Elimelech, Rebbe in Grodzinsk. Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel became Rebbe in Mogelnitza.
The youngest son, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel was niftar before his brothers. He left this world on 26 Sivan 5638/1878, at the age of fifty-two.
He was buried in the Mogelnitza ohel in the Warsaw cemetery, but although the cemetery has been rehabilitated in recent years, his matzeivo has not been found.
Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel was succeeded by his son Rav Aviezri Zelig (named after his paternal great-grandfather, the father of his grandfather Reb Chaim Meir).
Zechuso yogein oleinu.
Rav Moshe Leib Ehrenreich (Sivan 26, 5704 / 1944 - 80th Yahrzeit)
He succeeded his father (a grandson of the Kol Arye) as Av Bais Din of Mad. His first marriage was to Baila, the daughter of Rav Shlomo Zalman Weinberger of Margareten. Later he married Feiga. He died Al Kiddush Hashem in Ebenze, Austria, along with his second wife and all their descendants. HY”D
Rav Yehoshua Buxbaum Galanta Rav, Or Pnei Yehoshua (Sivan 26, 5704 / 1944 - 80th Yahrzeit)
Author of Ohr Pnei Yehoshua
Son of Rav Yosef the Shochet of Pupa
Born in Pupa, Hungary in תרל''ז
His father, descended from Rav Nasan Adler of Frankfurt and grandson of Rav Aryeh Leib Parnas of Santuv, raised him and his brothers to Torah and yiras shomayim.
At age thirteen he apprenticed himself to a shoemaker. After his daily routine, instead of going home, he studied under Rav Moshe Yosef Hoffman, the Dayan of Pupa who foretold that he would reach greatness. At age sixteen Rav Moshe Yosef sent him to further his studies first in Tzelem for two years where he quickly surpassed all the talmidim there. He studied so continuously, that his colleagues could not recall that he ever slept Shabbos Friday night in a bed!
