Saturday, October 27, 2007

Rav Shach's Will

16 Cheshvan is the yartzeit of Rav Shach, R' Elazar Menachem Man ben R' Azriel ZY"A. The Steipler told someone that needed advice on something, to speak to Rav Shach, explaining that since Rav Shach is always thinking in learning, whatever comes out of his mouth is Daas Torah. That's one of the great things that the Holy Steipler had to say about him.

 

The following is an excerpt from Rav Shach's will:

 

I would also like to ask all those talmidim who know that they received some benefit from me, whether in Torah, whether in yiras Hashem or whether in good character traits, to act kindly towards me and to learn for the elevation of my neshama, even a single mishnah, or a single mussar thought, and this shall be my reward, since I too sacrificed myself for the sake of your success in learning. And if it will be in my power to do anything or to advocate good for you, I will do so beli neder.

 

Zchuso Yogen Aleinu

 

Thursday, October 25, 2007

14-20 Cheshvan Yartzeits

14 Cheshvan - R' Avrohom Elimelech Perlow of Karlin HY"D (1942) ben R' Yisroel, killed al kiddush Hashem.


15 Cheshvan - Mattisyahu Kohen Godol  (166 B.C.E.)
15 Cheshvan - R' Leib "Baal Yisurim" (1836), from the greatest talmidim of the Baal HaTanyain, Buried in Tzefas. Before he died he said that anyone that has a tzarah should come to daven at his kever and he will be helped.  
15 Cheshvan - R' Avraham Yeshaya ben R' Shmaryahu Yosef Karelitz, the Chazon Ish (1953) Desended from the Maharal, Baal HaMaor and Baal HaPardes. He was one of the greatest and most respected Gedolim of his time.

 

16 Cheshvan - R' Amram Chasida, the Amora

16 Cheshvan - R' Chaim Pinto (1937), great Rov on Morocco

16 Cheshvan - R' Elazar Menachem Man ben R' Azriel Shach, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh (2001)


17 Cheshvan - R' Reuven Katz, author of Degel Reuven, rosh yeshiva in Petach Tikva (1964)
17 Cheshvan - R' Menachem Mendel of Kosov (1825), Ahavas Sholom, son of R' Yaakov Koppel "Chosid"

17 Cheshvan - R' Binyomin Zev ben R' Nechemia Cheshin (1988) great mekubal involved in the Kiruv movement. He was also one of the Ziknei Breslov of his time. He descended from the talmidim of the Vilna Gaon. He has several well known sons.

 

18 Cheshvan - R' Yaakov Friedman of Husyatin (1952) ben R' Yitzchok of Buhosh. He was a son-in-law of R' Yisroel of Husyatin

18 Cheshvan - R' Rafael Baruch Toledano, author of Sephardic Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (1970)
18 Cheshvan - R' Nochum Partzovitz, Rosh Yeshivas Mir (1986)


19 Cheshvan - Hevel

19 Cheshvan - R' Pinchas Epstein, Rosh Av Beis Din of the Eida Hachareidis (1970)
19 Cheshvan - R' Avrohom Tzvi Hirsch Kamai, HY"D, rosh yeshiva and Rov of Mir (1941)


20 Cheshvan - R' Avrohom bar Yitzchak, Raavad II, author of Sefer Eshkol (1198)

20 Cheshvan - R' Sholom ben R' Yaakov Yosef HaLevi Rosenfeld of Kaminka (1851 )talmid of R' Shlom Kluher and R' Naftali of Ropshitz

20 Cheshvan - R' Moshe Nosson Nota ben R' Menachem Mendel Lemberger, the Makover Rov (1982) Talmid of R' Sholom Eliezer Halberstam of Ratzfort
20 Cheshvan - R' Mordechai Sharabi (1983), descendant of the Rashash, one of the greatest mekubalim of his time and rosh yeshiva Nahar Sholom, buried on Har Hamenuchos

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Shmiras Einayim Forum

See A Simple Jew's Shmiras Einayim forum, about how ordinary people cope with this nisayon. I previously wrote about the subject here.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Webcam and Send a Kvitel to Kever Rochel on Rochel Imeinu's Yartzeit

11 Cheshvan is the Yartzeit of Rochel Imeinu. You can watch a webcam of Kever Rochel, send a kvitel and find out about Kolel at Kever Rochel at the website of Mosdos Kever Rochel.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

7-13 Cheshvan Yartzeits

7 Cheshvan - R' Yehuda Meir ben R' Yaakov Shimshon Shapiro (1933), Rosh Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin and innovator of Daf Yomi. He was a descendant of R' Pinchos of Koritz and a Chosid of R' Yisroel of Chortkov, who told him to spread the idea of Daf Yomi.

8 Cheshvan - Rabbeinu Yonah ben Avrohom of Gerondi (1263) Author of Shaarei Tshuvah
8 Cheshvan - R' Nochum "Hachassid" of Horodno, Lithuania (1879) Rebbe of the Chofetz Chaim
8 Cheshvan - R' Yaakov Rosenheim, a founder of Agudas Yisrael (1965)
8 Cheshvan - R' Moshe Yosef Hakohen Tawil (1977), From the great Rabbonim of Aram Soba

9 Cheshvan - Rabeinu Asher ben Yechiel, the Rosh (1327)

9 Cheshvan - R' Yosef Leib Bloch, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva (1928)
9 Cheshvan - R' Shimon Yehuda ben R' Yitzchok Shmuel HaKohen Shkop of Grodno (1940)
9 Cheshvan - R' Yehuda ben R' Yitzchok Horowitz of Stutchin (1981) Descendant, ben acher ben, from R' Naftali of Ropshitz.
9 Cheshvan - R' David Laniado, of Aram Soba, author of Likedoshim Asher Ba'aretz


10 Cheshvan - Gad ben Yaakov (1563-1438 B.C.E.)
10 Cheshvan - R' Avraham Oppenheim, author of Aishel Avraham on Shulchan Oruch (1786)
10 Cheshvan - R' Dov Berish Weidenfeld, the Tchebiner Rov (1965) One of the Gedolei Hador of his time in Eretz Yisroel


11 Cheshvan - Mesushelach ben Chanoch, died at age 969. (2103 B.C.E.)
11 Cheshvan - Rachel Imeinu (1552 B.C.E.) (according to the GRA, she was 36 years old, according to Sefer Hayashar, 45)
11 Cheshvan - Binyamin ben Yaakov Avinu (1441 B.C.E.)
11 Cheshvan - R' Menachem Nachum ben R' Tzvi Twersky, of Chernobyl, Me'or Einayim (1797)
11 Cheshvan - R' Avraham ben R' Yitzchok Matisyahu Weinberg, First Slonimer Rebbe, author of Yesod HaAvoda (1883) He was a talmid of R' Noach and R' Michel of Lechovitch and R' Moshe of Kobrin.
11 Cheshvan - R' Yehuda Leib Chasman, mashgiach of Yeshivas Chevron (1936)
11 Cheshvan - R' Pesach Pruskin, Rov and Rosh Yeshivah in Kobrin (1940) He was one of the Rabbeim of R' Moshe Feinstein.

 

12 Cheshvan - R' Zev Wolf Kitzis (1788) Talmid and Baal Tokea of the Baal Shem Tov, who he is buried immediately next to.
12 Cheshvan - R' Nochum of Shadik, Great Rov in Yerushalayim (1866)
12 Cheshvan - R' Yehuda ben R' Shaul Tzadka, Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef (1992)


13 Cheshvan - R' Yehuda HaChosid, author of Sefer Chasidim (1217) son of ben R' Shmuel HaChosid (There are many different dates given as his yartzeit and I don't know which one is accurate)
13 Cheshvan - R' Tzvi Shraga Grossbard, head of Chinuch Atzmai in Eretz Yisrael (1993)

Thursday, October 18, 2007

A Favor for the Man Responsible for Shatnez Awareness

7 Cheshvan is the yartzeit of R' Yosef ben Moshe HaLevi Rosenberger, the man responsible for making the mitzvah of the prohibition of wearing  Shatnez known to us. In his will he asked that since he spent so much time involved with Shatnez, researching and popularizing this mitzvah which many were unaware of, he didn't have much time to learn Torah, and therefore asked that we should learn Mishnayos or say Tehilim as a zchus for his neshama.

Monday, October 15, 2007

4-6 Cheshvan Yartzeits

4 Cheshvan - R' Klonimus Kalman (sometimes written Kalmish) Shapiro HY"D, Piazetsna Rebbe (1943), author of Chovas Hatalmidim, Aish Kodesh, Derech Hamelech and others. He was the son of R' Elimelech of Grodzensk. He was a descendant of the Noam Elimelech, Koznitzer Magid, Meor Veshemesh and many other great tzadikim.
4 Cheshvan - R' Aryeh Zev Gurwitz, Rosh Yeshiva of Gateshead (1983)

5 Cheshvan - R' Meir Heilprin, Rov and Av Beis Din of Lublin (1722)
5 Cheshvan - R'  Avrohom Yosef Rice (1862), pioneer of the Baltimore Jewish community and founder of one of the first Hebrew schools in the U.S.
5 Cheshvan - R' Avrohom Halevi Zions, Rosh Yeshiva of Knesses Yisroel in New York

6 Cheshvan - R' Shlomo Dovid Yehoshua Weinberg of Slonim HY"D(1944) son of R' Avrohom, the Bais Avrohom 

Saturday, October 13, 2007

1-3 Cheshvan Yartzeits

1 Cheshvan - R' Yosef Engel, author of many seforim including Asvin D'Oraysa, Beis Ha'Otzar, Lekach Tov and Gilyonei HaShas (1910)
1 Cheshvan - R' Yisroel ben R' Yehoshua Shapira, the Bluzhover Rebbe (1990)

-

2 Cheshvan - R' Shmuel ben Moshe di Modena, the Mahrashdam (1589)
2 Cheshvan - R' Boruch ben R' Yisroel Hager (1963), the Seret-Vizhnitz Rebbe, the Makor Boruch

2 Cheshvan - R' Elazar Simcha Wasserman (1996), son of R' Elchonon Bunim Wasserman

2 Cheshvan - R' Yosef ben R' Mordechai Dovid of Dombrovna (1866) Talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin, R' Chaim Meir Yechiel of Moglenitza and Reb Yisachor Dov of Radoshitz.

-
3 Cheshvan - R' Yitzchok ben
R' Chaim of Volozhin (1848)
3 Cheshvan - R' Yosef Zundel ben R' Binyamin Beinush of Salant (1865) Talmid of R' Chaim of Volozhin and R' Akiva Eiger. Rebbe of R' Yisroel Salanter. After moving to Eretz Yisroel he became one of the leaders of the Jews in Yerusholayim
3 Cheshvan - R' Mordechai Miller, principal of Gateshead Seminary (2000)
3 Cheshvan - R' Yisroel Friedman of Rizhin (1850) ben R' Sholom Shachna of Probisht

3 Cheshvan - R' Eliezer of Dzikov (1860) ben R' Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Hakofos Sheinis in Breslov



Here is a clip by Hakafas Sheinis singing "Veye'esoyu chol le'ovdicha" from the Yomim Noraim Musaf. This is the niggun used in Uman on Rosh Hashona. Notice all the jumping and clapping. At the end of the video, when they say the final words "veyitnu Lecha "Keser Melucha" they all start clapping. This is what is done on Rosh Hashona - they clap here and by "Hamelech" and "Hamelech HaKodosh", except there you have thousands and thousands of people clapping together. It is an amazing sight to see.

Monday, October 8, 2007

27-30 Tishrei Yartzeits

27 Tishrei - Rabbeinu Yitzchak Hazaken bar Shmuel, "the RI", a Baal Tosfos and grandson of Rashi who headed yeshivos in Ramerupt and Dampierre (1200)
27 Tishrei - R' Nosson Tzvi ben R' Yerachmiel Moshe Kenig (1997), Rosh Kollel Breslov in Bnei Brak (I think the actual date is 17 Tishrei)

28 Tishrei - R' Ephraim Zalman Shorr, author of Tevuos Shor (1732)
28 Tishrei - R' Lieber "HaGadol" of Berdichev His real name was R' Eliezer ben R' Avrohom (1770) one of the talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov. He was a great-grandson (ben acher ben) of R' Shimshon Ostropolier and was also a descendent of the Megaleh Amukos
28 Tishrei - R' Avrohom ben R' Avrohom Eiger, the Lubliner Rebbe (2002) Named after his father who died a few months before his birth
 
29 Tishrei - Shimon Hatzaddik of the Anshei Knesses Hagedola (c. 350-300
B.C.E.)
29 Tishrei - R' Menachem Mendel ben R' Chaim Hager of Vizhnitz, the Tzemach Tzaddik
(1885)
29 Tishrei - R' Shmuel Tzvi ben R' Yechiel Danziger of Alexander, the Tiferes Shmuel (1923)
29 Tishrei - Don Yitzchok Abarbanel (1519)
29 Tishrei - R' Meir beb R' Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev
 
30 Tishrei - R' Tzvi Hirsch Chayos - Maharatz Chiyos (1856)