Shavuos

 

Shavuos - Torah, Tikun, Segulas and more

Sivan Yartzeits

1 Sivan 

R' Eliezer David Greenwald of Satmar (1928) author of Keren L'David

R' Yechiel Aharon ben R' Dovid Leifer (2000), the Bania-Nadvorna Rebbe of Tzefas

 

2 Sivan

R' Yisroel Hager ben R' Boruch of Vizhnitz, the Ahavas Yisrael (1936)

R' Chaim Eliezer ben R' Tzvi Hirsch Shapiro of Munkatch (1937), author of many seforim, including Minchas Elazar, Shaar Yisaschor, Nimukei Orach Chaim, and Divrei Torah

See: The Vizhnitzer and Munkatcher Debate Who Should Enter Gan Eden First

3 Sivan

R' Yaakov Shimshon ben R' Yitzchok of Shpitovka (1801) Was considered a great Halachic authority; he is quoted by R' Ephraim Zalman Margolies in Sefer Zera Ephraim. Talmid of the Magid of Mezeritch, Toldos Yaakov Yosef and R' Pinchos of Koritz. Moved to Teveria, where he met Reb Nachman of Breslov. Traveled to Arab countries to collect money for the poor of Eretz Yisroel.

R' Yosef Irgas (1730) Italian Kabbalist, author of Divrei Yosef and Shomer Emunim

R' Yisrael Tzvi of Koson HY"D (1944) ben R' Yehosef , was killed, "Al Kiddush Hashem" in Aushwitz

R' Ovadia ben Avrohom Bartenura, the Rav -one of the most used commentaries on Mishna

4 Sivan

R' Yeshayah Naftali Hertz of Dinov (1885), author of HaNosain Imrei Shefer, son of R' Dovid of Dinov, the son of the Bnei Yisaschar.

5 Sivan

R' Zev Volf ben Reb Shmuel HaLevi of Zhitomir. See: Reb Wolf Zhitomir Does Teshuva For Clapping His Hands

R' Chaim Yaakov Safran of Komarna (1969) Author of Shabbos Sholom U'Mevorach and Beis Avos. He was the son of R' Avrohom
Mordechai of Bureslov. Moved to the USA and the to Eretz Yisroel.

6 Sivan

Dovid HaMelech, Dovid ben Yishai Avdicha Mishichecha

The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760). Born in the Hebrew year "NaChaS, 5458, on Chai Elul. There is a difference of opinion whether the yahrzeit is the first or second day of Shevuos. If anyone has any knowledge of this please let me know. Thank You.

The Imrei Emes of Ger, R' Avrohom Mordechai Alter (1866-1948). He was the son of Reb Yehudah Leib, the Sfas Emes. Under his leadership, the Gerrer Chassidim grew to number over 100,000. A large portion of them were killed by the Nazis, yimach shemom. The Imrei Emes escaped and rebuilt the Gerrer Chassidus.

R' Avrohom Azriel, Mekubal of Yeshiva Beis El

R' Yehuda Rosner(1944), Imrei Yehuda

7 Sivan

Hoshea ben Be'eri, Navi

Avrohom ben Avrohom , the famous Ger Tzedek of Vilna, originally the son of Count Pototski. His family was a well respected family, but he decided to become a Jew. He was from the same family of Sofia, after whom Sofia Park in Uman is named. He was killed for refusing to give up his newfound religion. The Vilna Gaon offered to save him through the use of Kabbala, but the Ger Tzedek refused. He said he wanted to give his life up "al kiddush Hashem". He also said that the souls of converts were those individuals that wanted to accept the Torah, but weren't able to because the rest of their nation didn't want to accept it.

R' Zelig Reuvein ben R' Tzvi Hirsch Bengis (1864-1953) Av Beis Din in Yerushalaim

R' Shmuel Ehrenfeld of Mattesdorf (1990)

8 Sivan

R' Moshe Nechemia ben R' Meshulam Kahana, author of Shaar Sholom Yerusholayim (1887)

9 Sivan

R' Moshe ben R' Naftal Hirsch Rivkes, author of Be'er Hagolah on Shulchan Aruch (1672)

R' Yisroel ben R' Shmuel Ashkenazi of Shklov (1839) Talmid of the Gra who moved to Eretz Yisroel, Wrote Pe'as HaShulchon

R' Yaakov Chaim ben R' Yitzchak Baruch Sofer (1870-1938), Wrote Kaf HaChaim, for many Sephardim it is the equivilent of the Mishna Berura. The Sefer Kaf HaChaim is used in many other circles as well, and contains many things according to the Arizal.

R' Yitzchak Issac ben R' Yisachor Beirish of Ziditchov (1873)

R' Moshe Asio (1838) Tzadik of Solonika, wrote Higid Mordechai

R' Ahron Ben Azriel (1879) Av Beis Din of the Sephardim in Yerushalaim, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis El, Wrote K'fi Ahron

10 Sivan

R' Elazar Rokeach (1741) ben R' Shmuel Shmelke, Maaseh Rokeach, descendant of R' Elazar of Garmiza

R' Moshe of Rozvadov (1894) ben R' Eliezer of Dzikov

R' Yishmael HaKohen (1811) Zera Emes

R' Ezra Harari-Raful (1936) Syrian Mekubal in Eretz Yisroel

 

11 Sivan

R' Yechi ben Moshe Levi (1932) Rosh Yeshiva and Av Beis Din in Yemen

R' Yitzchok Yaakov ben R' Yosef Yehuda Weiss (1989), Av Beis Din of Eidah Chareidis in Yerushalaim, his Minchas Yitzchak is one of the most respected halacha seforim of recent times.

R' Yehuda (Yidel) ben R' Alter Yechezkel Horowitz of Dzhikov (1989)

R' Shmuel Rosenberg, Rov of Unsdorf, wrote Be'er Shmuel

R' Shlomo Zalman Bloch (1976) talmid of the Chofetz Chaim

 

Will Update IY"H

 

                                                                                                             

 

 

 

Segulas for Good Children

(This was posted 2 years ago with slight changes)

Today is Yom Kippur Koton. There is a well known minhag to say a tefila for one's children that they should go in the proper derech, on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan. Since this year that falls out on Shabbos, it is usually recited on Yom Kippur Koton. It can be recited Friday also, or any other day of the year. The source for this is the Shlah HaKodosh (Mesechta Tamid, Ner Mitzva), where he says:

 

"There is an obligation to daven and ask from Hashem every need we have, at any time, because it all comes from Him. People should be especially careful to daven for their children to be "kosher" forever. My heart tells me that an auspicious time for this is Erev Rosh Chodesh of Sivan, because that is the month we received the Torah and we are called "children of Hashem our G-d. It is worthy for man and wife to fast and do teshuva." (It is actually Yom Kippur Koton. Some daven a special Mincha with slichos, and some also fast a whole or half day and read Vayichal from a Sefer Torah, like on a Taanis Tzibur.)

 

The tefila the Shlah lists was written by Reb Shabsei Sofer of Premishla, a talmid of the Levush, and can be found here (with an English translation).

 

The Shlah says one should also have in mind their children by Birchas HaTorah (v'nihiye anachnu v'tzetzoeinu), Ahava Rabbah (v'sein bilibeinu) and Uva Litzion (l'maan lo nega lorik v'lo neled l'beholo)

 

Tanna Devei Eliyahu says one should constantly ask for mercy from Hashem that his children shouldn't sin.

 

Sefer Chasidim says one should daven for their children and grandchildren.

 

Rabbeinu Yonah in Iggeres HaTeshuva says a woman should daven for her children, night, morning and afternoon, that they should fear Hashem and be successful in Torah. He says she should also do this while giving tzedaka and light Shabbos candles.

 

Many of the great tzadikim (from all segments, Sephardim, Ashkenazim, Litvish, Chassidish) said that all of the success of their children came about because they constantly davened and cried to Hashem for that their children should go in the proper derech.

 

Other Segulas for Good Children

There are many segulas for good children; I will list a few here.

 

It is brought down in many places that tznius is a great segula for good children. The Mishna Berura quotes the Gemara in Yoma that says a very modest woman name Kimchis, merited having many sons who became Kohanim Gedolim because of her great modesty.

 

Making sure that people who serve Hashem have parnasa is a segula that one's children won't be swayed to bad influences. (Sefer Hamidos)

 

R' Yissachor Dov of Belz told someone whose son was straying a bit from the ways of his father, to bring guests into his house.

 

Reb Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam - Shiniva Rav says that serving meat at a Bris is a segula for the child to grow up properly. (Divrei Yechezkel)

 

Learning Sefer Degel Machane Ephraim is a segula for good children. See A Simple Jew for the source. You can get a PDF of the sefer here.

 

Washing a childs hands, negel vaser, before the age of 3, even though not halachically required, is a segula for the child's yiras shomayim. (Rav Wolbe, quoting Chazon Ish)

 

Reb Nachman of Breslov says that if a boy comes to him before the age of 7, he will be saved from sin. (Chaye Mohoran/Tzadik) Reb Avrohom B'Reb Nachman Chazan says that he was referring to "mikra layla". He also says that this also applies after Reb Nachman's passing and that the boy should give tzedaka and recite Tikun Haklali (as outlined in Sichos HaRan and Chaye Mohran). (Kochvey Ohr) Many people, even ones that aren't "Breslovers", take their sons to Uman at various times during the year, before they turn 7.

 

See here for a segula to do after a child is born.

 

 

What I Learnt Last Year

In honor of the yartzeit of the Degel Machane Ephraim, I wrote a guest post on A Simple Jew about the things I learnt from my posting on the Degel last year.

14-29 Iyar Yartzeits

14 Iyar

Rebbi Meir Baal Haness, See Pesach Sheni - Yom Hilula Of Rebbi Meir Baal HaNess Segulas & Minhagim

 

Rebbi Yehudah bar Iloy, Tanna

 

R' Akiva (ben Yaakov) of Frankfurt. There is also a minhag to give tzedaka for the neshama of Reb Akiva Frankfurter, in order to find lost objects.

 

R' Yehudah Tzvi (the second) ben Reb Uri of Stretin (1907)

 

15 Iyar

R' Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira, "the Saraph" (fiery angel) of Moglenitz (1849) He was a descendent, ben acher ben, from the Megaleh Amukos and a Son-in-law of R' Elazar of Lizensk. His father, R' Avi Ezri Zelig was the son-in-law of the Magid of Koznitz. He was raised and taught by his maternal grandfather, the Koznitzer Maggid. He was a talmid of the rebbes of Lublin, Apta, and Peshischah. His son was R' Elimelech of Grodzensk, the father of the Piazeczna Rebbe HY"D.

 

16 Iyar

R' Meir ben R' Gedalia, Maharam of Lublin, Rav in Cracow and Lemberg, wrote Meir Einei Chachomim - Maharam on Shas (1616)

R' Yechiel Michel ben R' Avrohom Yitzchok Feinstein of Bnei Brak (2003), son in-law of the Brisker Rav and nephew of R' Moshe Feinstein

 

17 Iyar

R' Yechezkel ben Yehuda HaLevi Landau of Prague, the Nodah BeYehudah (1793) See: Noda BeYehudah - The Most Important Tzadik In The History Of Chassidus ?

R' Moshe Chaim Ephraim ben R' Yechiel of Sudlikov (1800) See: The Bitul of the Degel Machane Ephraim

 

R' Mordechai ben Yochonon Twersky of Rachmastrivka (1921) and his son R' Pinchas of Ostila HY"D (exact death date is unknown, sometime in 1943, so it is observed with his fathers)

 

18 Iyar

Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai, See: Lag BaOmer - Segulas & Minhagim

R' Moshe ben R' Yisroel Iserles, the Rama, see Yitz's comment

R' Shlomo ben R' Moshe of Kishenev (1828) Talmid of the Rebbe, Reb Elimelech of Lizensk and the Rebbe, Reb Shmelke of Nikolsberg. He said he would help whoever mentions his name together with his mother's name, R' Shlome ben Feiga

R' Shlomo ben R' Shlomo Amar (1872) -Shetilei Zeitim

R' Moshe Kohen Narol (1659), Rov of Metz and author of Sefer Kel Molei Rachamim

R' Uri Feivel HaLevi , wrote Sefer Mikdash Me'at

19 Iyar

Maharam MiRuttenberg, R' Meir ben R' Boruch, died in prison because he wouldn't allow the Jews to pay an enormous ransom to free him (1293) Rebbe of the Rosh

R' Shmuel Abuchatzeira - The forefather of the Abuchatzeira dynasty, which includes the Abir Yaakov and Baba Sali. Origianally the family name was Elbaz, but it was changed to Abuchatzeira, which means master of the carpet, after the well know story of the him travelling on top of a carpet over the sea, after he was refused passage on a ship. He was a talmid of R' Chaim Vital, and is mentioned by the Chida in Shem Hagedolim as being a great tzadik. He was born in Eretz Yisroel but lived in Syria for a while.

R' Menachem Mendel ben R' Yosef "Charif" Thurm of Rimanov (1815) He said he would do a favor for one who lights a candle for his neshama. He was one of the 4 main talmidim of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk.

R' Ezra Attiah, Rosh Yeshivas Porat Yosef (1970)

R' Yaakov Moshe Soloveitchik of Zurich, Rosh Yeshiva in Lucerne (1995)

R' Avraham Chaim Pinaso (1896) Wrote sefer Beis El

R' Moshe of Brosholi, talmid of the Chofetz Chaim

20 Iyar

R' Saadia Marjok of Yerushalaim (1773)

R' Mordechai ben R' Menachem Nochum Twersky, Magid of Chernobyl (1838) See: Magid Of Chernobyl - Pure Simple Emunah

R' Chaim Avrohom ben R' Moshe Gagin of Constantinople (1848), Rishon Letzion & Rosh Yeshiva of Beit El, wrote Mincha Tehora on Menachos and Responsa Chukei Chaim.

R' Yitzchok Eizik Halevi Rabinowitz, wrote Doros Harishonim to counter the false history written by maskilim

R' Eliyahu Elejimi, Mekubal and Av Beis Din in Yerushalaim

R' Yechi ben R' Avrohom Abuchatzeira (1935)

R' Yosef Valtuch, mekubal in Eretz Yisroel (1983)

22 Iyar

R' Mordechai Shraga Feivish Friedman of Husiyatin (1894) youngest son of R' Yisroel of Rizhin

 

R' Shlomo Eliezer ben R' Yaakov Alfandri, the Saba Kadisha (1930) See here for more.

 

23 Iyar

R' Shalom Bashari, Dayan in Yemen (1773)

 

24 Iyar

R' Binyomin ben R' Menachem Mendel Mendelson, Rov of Komemiyus. He was one of the founders of Moshav Komemiut, in Eretz Yisroel, which was one of the first moshavim to keep the laws of shmita. See here for the famous story about how their crops grew better after shmitah than the ones who didn't observe shmitah. Interestingly, his yahrzeit this year comes out on Behar-Bechukosai (he died the Monday after this parsha), where it talks about shmitah and the blessings that come through its observance. This is testament to the deeds of this great Rov.

R' Yaakov ben R' Yaakov Moshe Lorberbaum of Lisa (his father died berore he was born, hence, the name), wrote Chaavas Daas and the Nesivos. Great-grandson of the Chacham Tzvi.

R' Eliezer Tzvi ben Yitzchak Issac Yehuda Yechiel Safrin of Komarna (1898), wrote Damesk Eliezer on Zohar

R' Chezkiah Aharon Chaim Pinkarli, Rov in Italy

R' Yitzchak Ibn Dana (1900), Rov in Fez, Morocco, wrote L'Yitzchok Reiach

R' David HaCohen Sakali (1948), wrote Kiryas Chanah Dovid

25 Iyar

R' Ozer ben R' Meir HaKohen of Klimintov (1710), Even HaOzer

R' Chaim ben R' Menachem Mendel Hager of Kosov (1854), wrote Sefer Toras Chaim, he was the father of the first Vizhnitzer Rebbe.

R' Avrohom Yosef ben R' Meir Ash, Chassidish Rabbi in New York in the second half of the 19th century. He is buried in Queens, NY, in one of the old cemeteries.

26 Iyar

Rabbeinu Sa'adia Gaon (942)

 

Ramchal, R' Moshe Chaim Luzzato ben R' Yaakov Chai (1747), wrote many seforim, including Mesilas Yeshorom, Derech Hashem and Daas Tevunos. Died at age 39, which the Magid of Mezerich said was because the generation was not worthy of such a great tzadik. The Vilna Gaon said he did not find one extra word in the first 8 chapters of Mesilas Yesorim and that if he were still alive he would walk from Vilna to Italy to learn from him.

 

R' Yitzchok ben R' Chaim of Volozhin

 

R' Shlomo ben R' Mordechai of Zvhil (1945) See Reb Shlomke's Miraculous Cholent

 

R' Shmuel Eliyahu of Zvolin, son of R' Yecheskel of Kuzmir and father of the first Modzhiter Rebbe

 

R' Yitzchok Issac Epstein of Homil (1857), See: Reb Aizel Homiler Does a Jew a Favor

 

27 Iyar

R' Avrohom Shmuel Bacharach (1615), married the grandaughter of the
Maharal of Prague and was the grandfather of the Chavas Yair

R' Yitzchok Abulafia (1825), Av Beis Din of Tzefas

R' Shlomo Zalman ben R' Yehuda Leib Schneerson of Kapust (1900), author of Mogen Avos, grandson of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch

R' Eliezer Zev of Kretchnif HY"D (1944) ben R' Meir of Kretchnif

R' Yerachmiel Yehuda Meir ben R' Shimon Sholom Kalish, the Amshinover Rebbe (1976)

 

28 Iyar

Shmuel Hanavi (878 B.C.E.) and his mother Chana

R' Yitzchak of Kurweil, author of the S'mak, Sefer Mitzvos Kotton (1280)

 

29 Iyar

R' Meir ben R' Aron Aryeh Leib of Premishlan. See here for more.

 

R' Shmuel Shlomo of Radzin HY"D (1942) ben R' Mordechai Yosef Elazar