15 Sivan - Yahrzeits

Yehuda ben Yaakov Avinu (1436 B.C.E.)

 

R' Yedidyah Raphael Chai Abulafia (1869) Head of Yeshiva Beis El, Yeshiva of Mekubalim in Yerushalayim

 

R' Sholom Shekalo (1919) Tzadik of the Syrian community of Aram Soba

 

R' Yaakov Yisroel V'Yishurin Rubin of Sasregen HY"D (1884-1944) ben R' Boruch of Gorla, scion of Ropshitz. Murdered in Auschwitz. Wrote hagaos on Shulchon Aruch. One of his sons open the Sulitzer Shul in Far Rockaway, NY. Anothe son is Rebbe of Muzai - Ropshitz, on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, NY, whose Rebbetzin a'h, a niece of the Satmar Rebbe, wrote a fascinating book for Artscroll: The Final Solution Is Life, A Chassidic Dyansty's Story of Survival and Rebuilding about their's and the Satmar Rebbe's escape from the Nazi's y's. Another son has a shul in Midwood, the world renown Khal Sasregen .

Reb Chaim of Volozhin

Reb Ahron Kotler told over the following story:

There was a man who donated large amounts of money every month to the Yeshiva of Volozhin. Reb Chaim, the Rosh Yeshiva, went to visit the man to thank him. The generous benefactor told him that he has no family and the only thing he wants in return is for someone to say kaddish and learn Mishnayos for him when he leaves this world. Reb Chaim assured him that he would do this personally.

Several years later this man died, and Reb Chaim attended the funeral which was on a very hot summer day. After returning home, Reb Chaim, remembering his promise, immediately starting learning Mishnayos for the neshama of this man. He was learning Seder Toharos and was having trouble understanding a Mishna. From his toiling to understand the Mishna and the heat, Reb Chaim fell asleep. While asleep, the recently deceased benefactor came to him in a dream and thanked him for learning Mishnayos for him and proceeded to fully explain the Mishna that Reb Chaim couldn't figure out. After this incident, Reb Chaim said that he always knew that one who supported Torah would get to learn and understand Torah in Olam Habah, but he never realized how fast this happens. The funeral was hours ago and this man was explaining one of the most difficult Mishnayos to one of the greatest Torah scholars of the generation.

After Reb Ahron Kotler finished the story, a student asked Reb Ahron why he leave the Yeshiva and support many Torah scholars and then he will know all that Torah in Olam Habah. Reb Ahron responded beautifully: "It is 100% accurate that you will know all that Torah in Olam Habah, but what kind of Olam Hazeh will you have without learning Torah.

(Similarly, Reb Elazar Shach was once speaking with one of the great supporters of Torah, and Rav Shach said that he is really not sure which one of them will get more reward in Olam Habah, but he said that he himself definitely has the better Olam Hazeh.)

Many people say that Reb Chaim Volozhiner's Nefesh HaChaim is the Litvish response to Chasidus and that the sefer proves that many thing said by the great Chassidish Rebbes are in error. Reb Gedaliah Kenig wrote a sefer, Chayei Nefesh, proving that this is incorrect and there is no argument between them, He says that he has kabala passed down that there is no argument between Chassidim and Misnagdim on the principles and foundations of Yidishkeit, as they are beyond dispute. Parts have been translated into English by Rabbis Dovid Sears and Dovid Zeitlin, of The Breslov Center , and are available for download (PDF) - Part 1 and Part 2. They are quite fascinating and explain a lot.

The yahrzeit of Reb Chaim of Volozhin is 14 Sivan - Zchuso Yogen Aleinu

14 Sivan - Yahrzeits

R' Chaim of Volozhin (1749-1821) Talmid muvhak of the Vilna Gaon, wrote
Nefesh HaChaim, Ruach Chaim and Nishmas Chaim. Founded the Volozhin Yeshiva

R' Chaim Dovid Amar, talmid of the Ohr HaChaim

R' Moshe ben R' Pinchas Dovid HaLevi Horowitz (1985), Bostoner Rebbe

R' Nissim Chaim ben R' Yaakov Yagen (1999) Tzadik from Yerusalayim who was
very involved in kiruv.

Preparing For Rosh Hashana Already

The Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoel Teitelbaum, used to say in the name of his father, the Kedushas Yom Tov, that when we read in Parshas Naso נָשֹׂא אֶת רֹאשׁ – "רֹאשׁ" is a reference to Rosh Hashana, telling us that we already need to start preparing ourselves for Rosh Hashana.

13 Sivan - Yahrzeits

R' Ephraim Katz of Vilna (1616-1678), Shaar Ephraim

R' Avrohom Yitzchaki (1729), Tzadik in Yerushalaim, author of Zera Avrohom

R' Chaim Yisroel Morgenstern of Pilov (1905) ben R' Dovid of Kotzk ben R' Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. Wrote Shaelu Shelom Yerushalaim and Maaseh Hamenorah, which are included in sefer Shearis Yisroel

R' Yaakov Meir ben R' Shlomo Betzalel Biderman (1869-1941) Married into the Gerrer Dynasty, was very involved in Agudas Yisroel. Died in the Warsaw Ghetto.

R' Yitzchok Issac Weiss of Spinka HY"D (1944) ben R' Yosef Meir, Author of Chakal Yitzchok

R' Yaakov Mutzafi (1983), Mekubal & Rov of the Sefardic Eida Chareidis in Yerushalaim

An Unholy Thought Disguises Itself As a Holy One To Reb Menachem Mendel of Bar

Once, while davening, Reb Menachem Mendel of Bar, who was one of the talmidei Baal Shem Tov, thought to himself: "How can I daven to Hashem when I am so full of aveiros?" He figured this was a holy thought until he pondered it for a while and realized that such thoughts never bother him while he's eating, only while davening, so it must not be a real holy thought. He immediately banished this thought from his mind.

There is much to learn from this small story, as from every story of tzadikim.

Reb Menachem Mendel of Bar - 12 Sivan 5525

Zchuso Yogen Aleinu

12 Sivan- Yahrzeits

R' Menachem Mendel of Bar (1765), one of the early great talmidei Baal Shem Tov

R' Dovid Pardo (1710 - 1792) Author of Maskil LeDovid on Rashi and Chasdei Dovid on Tosefta.

R' Avrohom ben R' Noach Weinberg (1981) Slonimer Rebbe, author of Birchas Avrohom

11 Sivan - Yahrzeits

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

10 Sivan - Yahrzeits

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

9 Sivan - Shabbos Yahrzeits

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

Shavuos Yahrzeits

The first day of Shavuos is the yahrzeit of:

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. I heard that there are certain descendants of the Baal Shem Tov that have a kabala that it is the second day and there is ssupposed to be a story behind it. I am trying to find out more information on this. If anyone has any knowledge of this please let me know. Thank You.

There is a connection between Dovid HaMelech and the Baal Shem Tov, as the Baal Shem Tov descends from Dovid HaMelech. When the Baal Shem Tov’s name is written, it is often written as הבעש״ט. This is because the gematria of הבעש״ט is exactly the same as דוד בן ישי.

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

The second day of Shavuos is the yahrzeit of:

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)

Reb Wolf Zhitomir Does Teshuva For Clapping His Hands

Erev Shavuos, 5 Sivan, is the 210th yahrzeit of Reb Zev Volf of Zhitomir,
was one of the greatest talmidim of the Magid of Mezritch, with his seat
being between Reb Ahron of Karlin and Reb Mendel of Vitebsk. He is the
author of Ohr HaMeir, one of the essential texts of Chassidus. He may not
be as well known, because he didn't leave behind a dynasty, but in the world
of Chassidus, the Ohr HaMeir is among the most respected seforim.

Reb Volf's way was to never show any outward sign of emotion in serving
Hashem, such as clapping hands or davening loudly. He said this could only
be done when you feel inside the way you want to express yourself outside.
Reb Volf said that in all his life he never showed any outward signs except
once. This is what he said happened:

He was in the Beis Medrash one Erev Shabbos, with many of the other
tzadikim, and the Magid was sitting in his house, which was adjacent to the
Beis Medrash, reading the parsha, shnaim mikra v'echod targum. (He always
did this in a closed room, without anyone watching.) The door to the Magid
accidentally opened and all the talmidim in the Beis Hamedrash saw him in
this great state of kedusha - there was such a light coming from the face of
the Magid. The brothers, the Rebbe Reb Shmelke and the Haflah, and the
brothers, the Rebbe Reb Meilech and the Rebbe Reb Zisha ran out of the Beis
Hamedrash from fear. Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev was rolling under the
benches, feeling like his neshama was going to leave him.

And Reb Volf, from seeing this awesome sight of the Magid reviewing the
parsha, simply clapped his hands. Reb Volf said that for the rest of his
life he did teshuva for this outward sign of emotion - the clapping of his
hands. Praiseworthy is he whose teshuvah is on such an act.

What can be learnt out from this is that even those who follow tzadikim that
say to daven with outward emotion should strive to internalize in their
neshama the expressions the do externally.

Reb Zev Volf ben Reb Shmuel HaLevi of Zhitomir

Zchuso Yogen Aleinu

It is also the yahrzeit of 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.

3 Sivan - Yahrzeits

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. See A Simple Jew for a story about R' Yaakov Shimshon.

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

Thanks to Yitz of Heichal HaNegina for the following yahrzeits

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

Rebbetzin Chaya Sarah Kramer, who is the subject of this book.

The Vizhnitzer and Munkatcher Debate Who Should Enter Gan Eden First

2 Sivan is the yahrzeit of 2 of the greatest Chasidish Rebbes of that time

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

The following encounter, between theses two tzadikim, is told over:

They were once together, and as they were about to enter a house, each one wanted the other to enter first. Each one of these great Rebbes kept insisting that the other should enter first. Eventually, the Ahava Yisroel of Vizhnitz entered first (perhaps because he was 12 years older). The signifigance of this story was revealed several years later, when the Ahavas Yisroel passed away on 2 Sivan, and the next year the Minchas Elazar passed away on the first yahrzeit of the Ahavas Yisroel.

Zchusom Yogen Aleinu

Degel Machane Ephraim on Bamidbar - When NOT To Emulate A Tzadik

The following is my understanding of the Degel Machane Ephraim on Parshas Bamidmar, writing in the name of his grandfather, the Baal Shem Tov. (Incidentally, this parsha contains the words “Degel Machane Ephraim”.)

The last posuk in Bamidbar (4:20) says:וְלֹא-יָבֹאוּ לִרְאוֹת כְּבַלַּע אֶת-הַקֹּדֶשׁ וָמֵתוּ And you should not go in to see as they cover the holy, or they will die.

At times, one will go to see a tzadik, in order to learn from his actions, however, the tzadik will be in a state of katnus (doing thing he normally wouldn’t, due of his lowered state), and this person will learn things improperly from him. This happened once, when someone saw Reb Nachman Horedenker drinking coffee, while wearing his talis and tefilin, and this individual proceeded to do the same thing, thinking this is a proper way to act.

This posuk alludes this important lesson to us, in the: And you should not go in to see – and learn improperly, as they cover the holy – meaning while the tzadik is in a state of katnus, or they will die - meaning you will fall from your current level.

I could just imagine the scene. A fellow comes into shul, sees some people drinking coffee before davening and thinks to himself that these guys don’t know what they are doing. He puts on his talis and tefilin, then makes himself a coffee and smugly tells his friends that an erlicher yid should really drink coffee like this – only while wearing talis and tefilin.

Similarly, there are those who daven Shachris after the zman and sometimes even after chatzos, because they saw a great tzadik davening late. Some of them actually think they are extra frum because of this and look askance at those who are particular to daven bizmanah. The difference is the tzadik didn’t roll out of bed at the crack of noon. (This is not the place for the discussion of tzadikim davening late, but they have reasons for this and don’t want the general public to copy them. One of the great tzadikim, who davened Shachris after the zman often, said that every day he intends to daven at 8:30AM, however, for reasons beyond his control he usually is not able to daven at his intended time. It says one sin causes another sin, so if this is the only sin one can find in a tzadik, it must not be a sin.)

Rosh Chodesh Sivan - Yahrzeits

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

Reb Meir'l of Premishlan

Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 29 Iyar, is the yahrzeit of the famous tzadik, Reb Meir'l of Premishlan.  He was the son of R' Aron Aryeh Leib of Premishlan, who was the son of R' Meir "HaGadol" of Premishlan, a student of the Baal Shem Tov. When Reb Meir'l was a little boy he was already something very special. His mother commented on this saying: "Meirlech like this don't grow in every garden" (Meirlech means carrots in Yiddish).

 

Reb Meir'l and Reb Yisroel of Ruzhin were very good friends, even though they had very different ways of serving Hashem. The Rizhiner lived in grand luxury while Reb Meir lived with the bare minimum. One day Reb Meir'l was riding in a simple wagon drawn by a lone horse and he came across R' Yisroel of Rizhin riding in a wagon drawn by four powerful horses. Reb Meir asked him why he needed this. The Rizhiner replied that if he got stuck in the mud, these horses could get him out easily. Reb Meir responded: "since I have one weak horse, I am careful not to get stuck in the mud, in the first place".

 

He was also on very good terms with Gedolim from the non-chassidic world, such as Reb Shlomo Kluger and Reb Yosef Shaul Natanson. There are many recorded Divrei Torah and interchanges between them. Some of the most beautiful stories out there involve Reb Meir of Premishlan. To me he was always one of the most beloved figures in Chasidish stories. I read a biography, written in English, years ago, about Reb Meir and Reb Uri of Srelisk; I searched online and couldn't find any information on it. It had lots of great stories and Divrei Torah.

 

It is also the yahrzeit of R' Shmuel Shlomo of Radzin HY"D (1942) ben R' Mordechai Yosef Elazar

 

Zchusom Yogen Aleinu

Segulas For Good Children

This Thursday is Yom Kippur Koton, Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan. There is a well known minhag to say a tefila for one’s children that they should go in the proper derech, on that day. 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.

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.

Serving meat at a Bris is a segula for the child to grow up properly. (Divrei Yechezkel)

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

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.

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 this also applies these days, after Reb Nachman's passing. (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.

I've heard in the name of tzadikim that 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.

28 Iyar - Yahrzeits

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

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

27 Iyar - Yahrzeits

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)