19 Iyar - Yahrzeits

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. See Heichal HaNegina: How the Riminover became a Chassid

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

11 Iyar - Yahrzeits

R' Eliyahu Shema HaLevi (1804) Av Beis Din in Eretz Yisroel, wrote sefer Korbon Isha

R' Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz ben R' Menachem Mendel (1827), wrote sefer Zera Kodesh, talmid of the Rebbe, Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk, Reb Mendel of Rimanov and the Chozeh of Lublin See Heichal HaNegina for more.

R' Yitzchak of Radvil (1832), son of R' Yechiel Michel, the Magid of Zlotchov, his teaching are in sefer Ohr Yitzchok

R' Yehudah Tzvi of Stretin (1844) ben R' Shmuel Zanvil. He was a talmid of R' Aron Leib of Premishlan and talmid muvhak of R' Uri "the Saraf" of Strelisk. He wrote Degel Machane Yehudah.

What To Do On A Tzadik's Yahrzeit

Today, Moshe Rabbeinu’s yahrzeit is an appropriate time to speak about yahrzeits of tzadikim, since all tzadikim have a part of Moshe Rabbeinu’s neshama. There are many things we can do on a tzadik’s yahrzeit that can benefit the tzadik and us. Reb Mendel of Rimanov said that the smallest neshama can do something for the biggest neshama by lighting a candle for the neshama. Imagine, by the simple act of lighting a candle l’ilui nishmas a tzadik, a simple person can benefit the soul of a tzadik.

There many other things one can do, such as give tzedaka, learn mishnayos, say Tehilim, or any other mitzvah. Before doing them you should say “I am doing this lilui nishmas the tzadiks name ben the father’s name (by certain tzadikim the minhag is to use the mother’s name). If you don’t know the full name that is also good. We owe the tzadikim for all the teachings they gave us and for all the zchusim thay may have brought to the world that we know nothing about. Also, since we did something for the tzadikim they will daven for us. Also, after 120 years if chas v’shalom one has to go to Gehinom, tzadikim have the ability to take people out of Gehinom. This concept is mentioned by meforshim in Mesechta Brochos. Among them are Tzlach(Noda B’Yehuda), Ben Ish Chai, and Rif (Ein Yaakov).

If one has the ability he can daven at the kever of the tzadik. There are many Kivrei Tzadikim in the USA Here are some in NY.
Monroe - Satmar Rebbes and Tenka Rov.

Monsey - Vizhnitz Cemetery - Ribnitzer and Skulener Rebbes.

Queens near JFK, the Lubavitcher Rebbes ( http://www.ohelchabad.org/ )

Queens - Union Field Cemetery Exit 3 on Jackie Robinson - Rabbis Jacob Joseph(first and last Chief Rabbi of NY, Noson Nota Notkin d. 1887(grandson of Shagas Aryeh & son-in-law of R. Zundel Salanter), Dovid Halberstam(grandson of Divrei Yecheskel of Shiniva).

Queens - Mount Judah Cemetary in Queens (right next to Union Hill) Exit 2 on Jackie Robinson has probably over 50 big Rabbonim and many of there wives. To name a few: the wife and son of the Chofetz Chaim, many Soloveichiks, Rabbis Yaakov Kamenetsky, Reuvein Grozovsky, Shlomo Heiman, Yampola Rebbe, Kobriner Rebbe, Avrohom Pam .

Mount Zion Cemetery in Queens has Reb Yitzchok Friedman, Sadigerer- Riminover Rebbe d. 1924 (great-grandson of Rizhiner). Beth David in Long Island has Rabbis Eliyahu Henkin, Moshe Bick and many Chernobeler Rebbes.
On the yahrzeits that I am aware of, I will post the grave location with directions how to get there for all those that live near by. Union Field & Mount Judah are right on the Brooklyn-Queens border, they are very close to Boro Park, Flatbush, Kew Gardens.
If anyone wants more info on this or directions email me @ zchusavos@gmail.com.