YAHRZEITS FOR THE 13TH OF AV ~ BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT (08-17-2024)
Rav Nosson Nota Shapiro - Megale Amukos (5393 / 1633 - 391st Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Nosson-Nota Shapira [13 Menachem-Av 5393] was a noted rabbinical authority and kabbalist, who at a young age became the Chief Rabbi of Krakow in 1617. He was a main figure in the dissemination of the Kabbalah teachings of "the Holy Ari" of Safed throughout Poland. He is often referred to by the title of his most important book, the "Megaleh Amukot," an astonishing work containing 252 explanations of Moshes' prayer in the first verse of parashas Va'es'chanan.
Rav Mordechai Bennet - Har Hamor, Rav of Nikolsburg, Magen Avos (5584 / 1824 - 200th Yahrzeit)
Rav Mordechai ben Rav Avrohom Banet (1753–1829) was chief Rav of Moravia born at Csurgó, a small village in the county of Stuhlweissenburg, Hungary. He was niftar in Carlsbad on 13 Av 5584 where he had gone for treatment. His body was buried temporarily at Lichtenstadt, near Carlsbad, but seven months later was permanently interred at Nikolsburg, in accordance with his will. His friend and colleague, the famed Chasam Sofer, had the highest esteem for him. The Chasam Sofer eulogized him and called him Ben Yochid Le’Kudsho Berich Hu (an only child to Hashem), meaning that no one was his equal.
Rav Yehuda Leib Peasch Primer of Lipsk (5625 / 1865 - 159th Yahrzeit)
Rav Sir Moses Montefiore of London (5645 / 1885 - 139th Yahrzeit)
Sir Moshe (Chaim) Montefiore (1784-1885). Born in Livorno, Italy, of Sephardic descent, he traced his lineage back to the exiles from the Spanish Expulsion. When he was still a young child his family resettled in England. In 1846, he was elevated to the rank of Baron. By the time he was 41 years old, Sir Moses, with his wife’s encouragement, decided to retire from business affairs and devote the rest of his life, time and considerable resources to Jewish affairs. The welfare of the Jewish People became his sole business for the next 60 some years and his list of accomplishments is truly magnificent. The Montefiores died childless, but they left behind a legacy of tzedaka and chesed that endures to this very day.
Rav Yehoshua Feinberg - Av Beis Din of Averitch, Zichron Yehoshua (5652 / 1892 - 132nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yosef Eliyohu Henkin - Menahel of Ezras Torah, Edut L'Yisroel, Perushei Ivra (5733 / 1973 - 51st Yahrzeit)
Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin, a sixth-generation descendant of Rav Chaim Volozhiner (d. 1821) was born in 1881 in Klimavichy, Belarus, then in the Russian Empire. He studied at the Slutzker Yeshiva under Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer where he was ordained (semichah). He was also ordained by the Rav Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky, the Ridvaz, Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz, and Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein, the Aruch HaShulchan.
Rav Yosef Greenwald - Rebbe of Pupa, Vayechi Yosef (5744 / 1984 - 40th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 14TH OF AV ~ BEGINS SATURDAY NIGHT (08-18-2024)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch Friedman of Liska - Ach Pri Tevuoh (5634 / 1874 - 150th Yahrzeit)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Liska, Hungary (1798-1874). Rav Tzvi Hirsch spent several years at the court of the Yismach Moshe of Uhel, who spent a dominant role shaping his life. Rav Tzvi Hirsch authored Ach Pri Tevua and Hayashar Vehatov. His son and successor was Rav Chaim Friedlander of Liska.
Rav Pinchos Eliyohu Dembitzer - Rosh Beis Din of Krakow, Givat Pinchos (5680 / 1920 - 104th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yosef Naftali Stern - Rosh Yeshivas Pressburg in Yerushalayim (5731 / 1971 - 53rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yitzchok Friedman - Bohusher Rebbe (5752 / 1992 - 32nd Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 15TH OF AV ~ BEGINS SUNDAY NIGHT (08-19-2024)
Nochum Ish Gamzu
Rav Shimon ben Lavie - Kesem Paz, Composer of 'Bar Yochai' (5348 / 1588 - 436th Yahrzeit)
Rav Amram ben Diwan (5542 / 1782 - 242nd Yahrzeit)
(Some say the Yahrzeit is on the 9th of Av)
Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan It is always with a feeling of respect and awe that the Jews of Morocco evoke the holy name of Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan. Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan was born in Jerusalem, and later he settled in Hebron. In 5523 (1743), he was chosen by the Rabbis of Chevron as an emissary to Morocco with the mission of collecting money for the yeshivas of the Holy Land. He decided to settle in the Moroccan town of Wazan, and there he founded a Talmud-Torah and a yeshiva where numerous students came to quench their thirst for study by drinking from the source of his words. Rabbi Amram became attached to his students. His fatherly affection created a solid connection between him and his students. He provided for all their material needs, and spiritually directed them on the path that leads to the performance of G-d’s will. By his rich and varied pursuits, he contributed to the elevation and dissemination of Torah in all the communities of Morocco. Rabbi Amram was also known for his miracles.
Meir Nosson Halberstam (5615 / 1855 - 169th Yahrzeit)
Rav Osher (the second) of Karlin (5633 / 1873 - 151st Yahrzeit)
Rav Yaakov Leiner of Izbitza - Bais Yaakov (5638 / 1878 - 146th Yahrzeit)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch Halberstam - Rav of Rudnik (5678 / 1918 - 106th Yahrzeit)
Rav Tzvi Hirsch Halberstam, born in 5606/1846, was the son of Rav Boruch of Gorlitz, son of Rav Chaim of Sanz, the Divrei Chaim. After learning under his grandfather in Sighet for a year, Rav Tzvi Hirsch received semicha from him and was appointed Rav of the Polish town of Niska, serving for ten years. After Rav Boruch of Gorlitz’s petira on the first of Adar 5666/1906, Rav Tzvi Hirsch became Rebbe in his place. He was niftar on the fifteenth of Av 5678/1918 in Kleinvardein, and his aron was brought to Gorlitz, where he was buried next to his father, Rav Boruch. In 5647/1887, his father, Rav Boruch, moved to Gorlitz and handed over the Rabbonus of Rudnik to Rav Tzvi Hirsch.
Rav Bentzion Yadler - Maggid of Yerushalayim (5722 / 1962 - 62nd Yahrzeit)
All the days of the life of the Tzaddik Rabbi Bentzion Yadler were devoted to Torah and the fear of Hashem. His voice was heard in the cities of Eretz Israel for 70 years without interruption, a voice that awakened hearts to repentance and good deeds. Like all children in Yerushalayim, the young Bentzion was educated in the famous Etz Chaim yeshiva, where he rose in the rungs of Torah and the fear of Hashem. At the age of 22, he received semichah from Rabbi Shmuel Salant’s Beis Din.
Rav Yaakov Yehuda Hecht - 'J.J.' (5750 / 1990 - 34th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda ("J.J.") Hecht (15 Av 1990) was sometimes described as the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Foreign Minister. In 1945, he was appointed the official director of the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE). In 1953 he started one of the first camps for religious Jewish girls, Camp Emunah. In the 1970's he became the administrative head in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, of both Hadar HaTorah Yeshiva and Machon Chana Seminary. Rabbi Hecht also was the official translator of the Rebbe's talks to children and for the farbrengens on the radio.
Rav Chanoch Henich Dov Padwa - Rav of London, Cheishev Ha'efod (5760 / 2000 - 24th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 16TH OF AV ~ BEGINS MONDAY NIGHT (08-20-2024)
Rav Yitzchok Meir Levine
Rav Menachem Mendel Lazar of Tarnow - Av Beis Din of Strizhov, Sova Semachos (5591 / 1831 - 193rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Menachem Mendel was born in 5548/1788 in Tarnow. His father was Rav Moshe Avrohom Dovid. As a child he excelled in Torah, outshining the other children his age. Aside from his ge’onus, he served Hashem with a unique inner fire, and was a mushlom in Torah and Avodas Hashem. After serving as Rav in Strizov he returned to Tarnow, the city of his birth, where he led an elite group of Chassidim to higher aspirations in Avodas Hashem. Unfortunately, he was niftar at the young age of forty-three.
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 17TH OF AV ~ BEGINS TUESDAY NIGHT (08-21-2024)
Rav Shimshon Wertheimer (5484 / 1724 - 300th Yahrzeit)
Rav Shimshon Wertheimer (1658-1724). Born in Worms, Germany, he learned in the Yeshivos of Worms and Frankfurt. After marrying the daughter of the Rav of Manheim in 1684, he moved to Vienna. Within a few years, he became the wealthiest Jew of his day. He served as finance minister for Austrian emperors Leopold I, Josef I and Karl IV. In exchange for his services, Rav Shimshon requested better treatment for his fellow Jews throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Rav Asher - Mayim Adirim (5564 / 1804 - 220th Yahrzeit)
Rav Avrohom Mordechai Horowitz of Pintchov (5584 / 1824 - 200th Yahrzeit)
Son of Rav Binyamin Zev Yaakov of Zhmigrod. A disciple in Chassidus of Rav Yechiel Michel the Maggid of Zlatshuv, Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, Rav Elimelech of Lizensk and after their passing of the Chozeh of Lublin. He passed away on 17 Av.תקפ''ד
Rav Shmuel Eibschutz of Apta (5600 / 1840 - 184th Yahrzeit)
Born in 5514/1756, Rav Shmuel Eibschutz was the son of Rav Naftali Hertz, related to Rav Yonoson Eibschutz, and a descendant of the Megaleh Amukos. Rav Shmuel learned under Rav Akiva Eiger for a number of years. Rav Shmuel also went to the court of the Chozeh. He was appointed Rav in Vorka, where he served for thirty-eight years. Later, in 5595/1835, he became Rav in Apta, a post he held until his petira. Rav Shmuel was niftar on the seventeenth of Menachem Av 5600/1840, at the age of eighty-six. He was buried in Apta.
Rav Shlomo Chaim Perlov of Koidanov (5622 / 1862 - 162nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Shlomo Chaim Perlow of Koidenov, the son of Rav Aharon, the son of Rav Mordechai Yaffe of Lechovitch. They were direct (ben acher ben) descendants of the Levush. He was raised by his maternal grandfather, Rav Osher Perlow of Karlin, after his father was niftar, and therefore he is also known by the last name of Perlow. After his uncle, Rav Noach of Lechovitch, was niftar, all the Chassidim flocked to Rav Shlomo. He had several sons who became great Rebbes in their own rights, (5622/1862).
Rav Yehuda HaLevi Levi - Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem (5639 / 1879 - 145th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yehuda Levi (1783-1879). Born in Sarajevo to Rav Menachem Levi, he immigrated to Eretz Yisrael, and became Chief Rav of Yerushalayim in 1845. He was niftar in Yaffo, (5639/1879).
Rav Avrohom Korkidi - Vayikach Avrohom (5645 / 1885 - 139th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 18TH OF AV ~ BEGINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT (08-22-2024)
Rav Moshe Bernstein - Rosh Yeshivas Kaminetz
Rav Moshe Bernstein, Rosh Yeshivas Kamenitz. Born in the town of Turetz, he learned in Mir. He became the son-in-law of Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz and hired Rav Elya Lopian as mashgiach on the recommendation of Rav Moshe Aharon Stern.
Rav Chaim Raphael Avrohom Ibn Asher (5532 / 1772 - 252nd Yahrzeit)
From the year תקי''ח served as Rosh yeshiva in Yifaer Anavim in Jerusalem. He was appointed Rishon leTzion on תקל''א but his tenure was cut short when he passed away Chai Menachem Av.תקל''ב 1772
Rav Zekel Wermish - Av Beis Din of Pulda (5539 / 1779 - 245th Yahrzeit)
Rav Shlomo Chanoch Rabinowitz - Sifsei Kohen - Birkas Shlomo, Admor M'Radomsk (5702 / 1942 - 82nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Shlomo Chanoch HaKohen of Radomsk ben Rav Yechezkel, a great-grandson of the Tiferes Shlomo, murdered in Warsaw, (5702/1942).
Rav Tzvi Aryeh Twersky of Zlatipoli-Tchortkov (5728 / 1968 - 56th Yahrzeit)
YAHRZEITS FOR THE 19TH OF AV ~ BEGINS THURSDAY NIGHT (08-23-2024)
Rav Yaakov Kuli - Yalkut Me'am Loez (5492 / 1732 - 292nd Yahrzeit)
Rav Yaakov Kuli was born in Eretz Yisrael in 5449/1689 or 5450/1690. His father, Rav Meir, was a scion of an honored family that had come from either France or Germany. Rav Yaakov edited various important seforim. While working on his grandfather’s writings, Rav Yaakov formed a close relationship with the Rav of Constantinople, Rav Yehuda Rosanes, mechaber of Mishneh LaMelech on the Rambam. He appointed Rav Yaakov as Dayan. Rav Yaakov was niftar on the nineteenth of Menachem Av 5492/1732.
Rav Aryeh Leib Balchover of Zaslev - Shem Aryeh (5611 / 1851 - 173rd Yahrzeit)
Rav Naftali ben Rav Yehuda of Nemerov (5620 / 1860 - 164th Yahrzeit)
Rav Naftoli ben Rav Yehuda of Nemerov, one of the closest talmidim of Rav Nachman of Breslov and one of the two witnesses to the promise about reciting Tikun HaKlali at Rav Nachman's kever, (5620/1860).
Rav Aharon Menachem Mendel Eichenstein of Alesk (5683 / 1923 - 101st Yahrzeit)
Rav Menachem Nochum Freidman of Charnowitz - Tiferes Menachem (5696 / 1936 - 88th Yahrzeit)
Rav Shimon Sholom Kalish - Mashmia Sholom (5714 / 1954 - 70th Yahrzeit)
Rav Shimon Sholom ben Rav Menachem Kalisch of Amshinov, the Amshinover Rebbe (1863-1954). Born to Rav Menachem of Amshinov, he was a grandson of Rav Yitzchok of Vorka, founder of the Vorka-Amshinov dynasty. During his teens, Rav Shimon was sent to learn with his uncle, Rav Yeshaya of Peshis’cha. During the war, the Rebbe escaped to Kobe, Japan, along with a group of talmidim of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, and the entire Mir Yeshiva. After the war, he spent eight years in America. He passed away while planning his immigration to Eretz Yisrael, a goal he never accomplished.
