The update of Jewish History of this week

YAHRTZEITS

Sunday, 26 Elul

Rav Eliyahu Tzarfati, author of Eliyahu Zuta (1805)

Rav Chaim Pinto of Mogador (1758-1845). The famous Pinto family was dispersed worldwide primarily to Morocco, the Ottoman Empire, and Holland -- after 1497 when Portugal expelled its Jews. Rav Shlomo Pinto married his second wife, Chiyuna Beneviste, and moved to Agadir, Morocco. In 1758, Chiyuna gave birth to their son, Rav Chaim, whom they named after Rav Chaim Vital. Ten years later, Rav Shlomo passed away, leaving his son an orphan. The Sultan of Morocco, Sidi Mohammed, closed down the port of Agadir, replacing it with the new port of Mogador (or Essaquira) that he had completed 1765, far south on Morocco's west coast. Mogador's thriving businesses were jumpstarted by thirteen businessmen known as the toujiar el Sultan (the traders of the Sultan) - ten of them Jews and three of them Moslems - and thanks to them and others, Mogador helped open Morocco to Europe. Within twenty years, the Mogador Jews would comprise half or more of the town's 6,000 residents. Young Chaim moved to Mogador and learned in the yeshiva headed by the av beis din, Rav Yaakov Bibas. Over time, Rav Chaim became an accomplished mekubal and renowned for his ruach hakodesh. Rav Chaim was survived by his four distinguished sons, Rav Yehuda, Rav Yosef, Rav Yoshiyahu, and Rav Yaakov.

Rav Shmuel Abba Zikelinsky of Zichlin (1810-1879), an important disciple of Rav Simcha Bunim of Pshischah, and subsequently a Rebbe in his own right

Monday, 27 Elul

Rav Moshe Segal of Levov, known as Rosh Hagolah Umanhig Hamedinah (1719).

Rav Yitzchak Chiyus (Chayes), Rav in Skolya (1726). Author of of the Mishnah commentary, Zera Yitzchak.

Rav Nosson Adler, teacher of the Chasam Sofer, author of Mishnah DiRabi Nasan (1800)

Rav Yaakov Leib of Kvahl (1833)

Rav Shalom Rokeach of Belz (the Sar Shalom), founder of Belz Chassidus (1779-1855). Born in Brody and orphaned at a young age, he was brought up by his uncle, Rav Yissochar Ber, Rav of Skol (Sokohl). He was nurtured by his mentors, the Chozeh of Lublin and Rav Shlomo Lutzker, the Divras Shlomo. In 1817, he was appointed Rav of Belz, and he in 1843, the famed Belz Beis Hamedrash was completed. (It was entirely destroyed during World War II, but a replica was built in Yerushalayim years later). Among his early students was Rav Shlomo Kluger of Brody. Since the beginnings of the movement, the misnagdim had accused chasidim of devoting too much time to joyous celebrations in fellowship with their rebbes, at the expense of Torah study. By stressing the overriding importance of in-depth Torah study, the Belzer Rebbe removed the stigma of superficiality that had plagued Chasidism. He was succeeded by his son, Rav Yehoshua. In the 1940s, the Nazis all but wiped out the splendor that was Belz. After the war, the remnants of Belzer Chasidus - under the leadership of the surviving scion of the Belz dynasty, the young Rabbi Yisachar Dov - miraculously restored the former grandeur of Belz. Today the glorious new Belzer yeshivah building graces the Jerusalem skyline. Some of his teachings are recorded in the sefer, Dover Shalom.

Rav Binyamin Tzvi Auerbach (or Tzvi Binyamin Auerbach) (1808-1873). Born to Rav Avraham, a mohel in Strasburg, in France, he served as a rabbi in Darmstadt for ten years after earning semicha as well as a PhD in philosophy and Semitic languages. While living in Frankfurt, Rav Auerbach wrote the sefer Bris Avraham in memory of his father. He also spent much of his time editing the sefer Ha'Eshkol, written by the Raavad of Norvona. Years later, when he became the Rav of Halberstat, he published his work as a commentary named Nachal Eshkol.

Rav Moshe Nota Yungreis, the Menuchas Asher (1889). [this may be an error; Asher Anshel Jungreisz is the mechanber of Menuchas Asher].

Tuesday, 28 Elul

Shaul Hamelech and his three sons, 878 BCE

Rav Saadya, father-in-law of Rav Chaim Vital (1574).

Rav Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach, co-founder and rosh yeshiva of Shaar Hashomayim, father of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1954). The yeshiva came to occupy its current premises on Rechov Rashi in the Mekor Boruch neighborhood. Among the yeshiva's first talmidim in the Old City was Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank. It remained there until 1948, when fighting broke out prior to the departure of the British. Haganah fighters took up a position on the roof of the yeshiva from where they were able to fire on the Jordanians. When the Old City fell to the Jordanians shortly thereafter, the conquering Jordanians set fire to the building with all the seforim and furniture inside. One of Rav Chaim Leib's sons, Rav Refoel Auerbach, assumed leadership of the yeshiva after his father's petira. Rav Chaim was also author of Chacham Lev.

Rav Aryeh Carmell (1917-2006) was born in England Reb Avraham Chaim, a prominent member of the London kehilloh. At the age of 16 Aryeh was sent to study under Rav Eliyohu Eliezer Dessler and became his talmid muvhok. Rav Carmell began to compile Rav Dessler's teachings under his guidance. After the war he married, making his home in London. He would spend the morning hours learning bechavrusa with some of London's leading rabbanim. In the afternoon he would go to his office to work for a few hours, setting aside time every day to organize chessed and outreach activities. He was among the first to become involved in Jewish outreach over 50 years ago. Following Rav Dessler's petiroh he started Yad Eliyahu in London, where children who studied at public schools were taught ahavas Torah and yiras Shomayim. He published Michtav MeEliyohu, a compilation of Rav Dessler's teachings. The first three volumes were edited with Rav Alter Halperin and Rav Chaim Friedlander, while Rav Carmell edited the fourth and fifth volumes by himself. He also adapted parts of the work into a book in English called Strive for Truth. He also co-edited Challenge: Torah Views on Science and its Problems and wrote an important booklet called Aid to Talmud Study. When the wave of Russian aliya began he wrote a book called Masterplan. Based on Rav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch's Chorev, it also presented reasons behind the mitzvos. Moving to Eretz Yisrael in 1972, Carmell settled in Jerusalem's Bayit Vegan neighborhood and helped Rav Boruch Horowitz found Yeshivas Dvar Yerushalayim, Jerusalem's first yeshiva for baalei teshuvoh. He gave shiurim on gemora, hashkofoh and Mussar.

Wednesday, 29 Elul

Rav Yaakov Halevi Lipschitz, author of Zichron Yaakov and secretary of Rav Yitzchak Elchonon Spector (1922).

Rav Naftali Hertz, Rav of Pintchov (1733)

Rav Rafael Landau, son of Rav Avraham of Tchechenov (1894)

Rav Yerachmiel Yeshaya Minzberg, Rav of Likova (1905)

Rav Eliezer Deutsch of Bonihad [or Bonyhad] (1914). Author of Pri Hasadeh, Duda-ei Hasadeh. Bonihad is a small town in Tolna County in Hungary. The first document on the Jews of Bonyhd is a tax conscritption from 1741, although on the testimony of a few tombstones in the cemetery, Jews had already settled earlier, in the first decades of the century. 1802, there were 400 Jewish families and an impressive synagogue and yeshivah. The population of about 6,500 in 1930 consisted of about 15% Jews, the largest number of Jews in Tolna County. With the German occupation in 1944, 1,180 Jews were deported to Pecs and then to Auschwitz. All but 50 perished. In 1963, 4 Jewish families remain in Bonyhad.

Rav Yisrael Rabinowitz of Skolya-Kishinev (1975)

Thursday, 1 Tishrei

Birth and yahrtzeit of Sarah Imeinu (1803-1676 BCE) (or 1801-1674)(and Akeidas Yitzchak)

Rav Shefatia, author of the selicha, "Yisrael Nosha BaHashem," (886)

Rav Amnon of Mainz, who died al Kidush HaShem, while composing the Rosh Hashanah prayer, "Unesaneh Tokef" (1011)

Rav Yehuda Ayas, Rav of Algiers and later in Yerushalayim, author of Beis Yehuda (1760)

Rav Aharon Moshiach Katzenelebogen of Belz (1816)

Rav Meir Yeudah Leibush ben Yechiel Michel (Malbim). (1809-1879). He was born in Volhynia and was still a child when his father died. He studied in his native town until the age of 13. He then went to Warsaw where he was known as the iluy from Volhynia. From 1838 to 1845 he was rabbi of Wreschen, district of Posen, and in the latter year was called to the rabbinate of Kempen, where he remained until 1860; he was thereafter known as "der Kempener." In 1860 Malbim became chief rabbi of Bucharest, Rumania. But he could not agree with the rich German Jews there who wished to introduce the Reform rite and even threatened violence in the pursuit of their aims. By intrigues they succeeded in throwing him into prison, and though he was liberated through the intervention of Sir Moses Montefiore, it was upon the condition that he leave Rumania. He became Rav of Moghilef, on the Dnieper in 1870, but his lack of subservience provoked the resentment of the richer Jews, who denounced him as a political criminal. The governor of Moghilef ordered him to leave town. Malbim then went to Knigsberg as chief rabbi of the Polish community, but there he fared no better than in Bucharest and Moghilef; he was continually harassed by the German Jews. His fame and immense popularity rests upon his widely esteemed commentary to Tanach, in which he details the close relationship between the Oral and the Written Law.

Rav Yaakov Dovid ben Zeev Wilovsky of Slutzk, Chicago and Tzefas, the Ridbaz, one of the great European scholars to come to America. As a consequence of the halachic standards of kashrus that he attempted to impose in Chicago, he eventually had to flee for his life. (1845-1913)

Rav Yitzchak Cohen of Djerba, Tunisia (1918).

Rav Yitzchak Meir of Kopycznitz (Kupishnitz) (1931 or 1935). Succeed as Rebbe by his son, Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel.

Rav Ezriel Yehuda Lebowitz, Viener Rav (1991).

Rav Shmuel Halevi Shechter (1915-1999). Born in Montreal, Canada, he was only five years old, when his mother passed away. During his years at Rabbi Isaac Elchonon Theological Seminary, he shared a dormitory room with Rav Avigdor Miller. Later, he traveled to Poland to learn at the Mirrer Yeshiva under Rav Yeruchom. After his marriage, he learned at Kelm. When he returned to America, he learned with Rav Aharon Kotler, first at White Plains, NY, then at Lakewood. Years later, he settled in Eretz Yisrael.

Friday, 2 Tishrei

Gedaliah ben Achikam, assasinated by Yishmael ben Nesanya. Gedaliah was appointed as governor over the Jews by Nebuchadnetzer after the destruction of the Temple (422 or 3 BCE) or 419 BCE (Yated 2006)

Reb Alexander Susskind Wimpfen, who gave away his entire fortune to ransom the body of Rav Meir of Rottenberg (1307). Both graves miraculously escaped Nazi ravaging of the cemetery.

Rav Yisrael Perlow, the Yanuka of Stolin (1868-1921). The Karlin dynasty had its beginnings with Rav Aharon HaGodol of Karlin (1736-1772), a talmid of the Maggid of Mezritch. At that time, Karlin was located in Lithuania, so Karliners are known as "Lithuanian chassidim." It was Rav Aharons son and successor, Rav Asher the First, who moved the court to Stolin. Rav Aharons great-grandson, Rav Asher the Second, was childless for many years. In 1869, they were blessed with a boy, whom they named Yisrael. Reb Yisrael was only 4 years old when his father was nifter in the town of Drohobich (Galicia). The Karlin chasidim proclaimed the Yenuka [Child] Yisrael to be their Rebbe. Rav Yisrael died in Hamburg, Germany and was buried in Frankfurt-on-Main. After his petira, his son Rav Moshe led the court in Stolin, where he opened the yeshivah, Beis Yisrael in 1922. Another son, Rav Avraham Elimelech, became rebbe in Karlin, while Rav Yochanan, his youngest son, became rebbe in Lutzk. The Nazis destroyed the Stolin community in Elul 1942. Thanks to his surviving sons, Karlin-Stolin communities now thrive in Eretz Yisrael and America. These sons were Rav Yaakov, who had moved to America in 1923, and lived in Williamsburg before moving to Detroit where he passed away in 1946. The second surviving son was Rav Yochanan, Karlin-Stolin Rebbe in America in 1948, and passed away in 1956.

Rav Shemaryahu [or Shmuel] Greineman, who printed the sefer "Chazon Ish" (1980)

Rav Ephraim Oshry (1908-2003). Born in Kopishak, Lithuania, he learned in Ponevezh, Talmud Torah Kelm and Slabodka. He was also a talmid of the Chofetz Chaim in Radin. While he was still quite young, he was appointed Rav of the Abba Yechezkel Kloiz in Slabodka. During World War II, he lived in the Kovno ghetto from June, 1941 until August 1, 1944. It was there that he recorded the gripping shaylos he received, publishing them later in five volumes of She'eilos Uteshuvos Mima'amakim. After the liberation, he was the only surviving Rav of Kovno. He worked diligently to restore Yiddishkeit and was especially active in rescuing children left with non-Jews. He then fled to Austria, where he founded a yeshiva in Welsh, a small town near Salzburg. He was then called upon to take over the leadership of the Meor Hagoloh yeshiva in Rome. He later went to America, where he served as Rav of the Beis Hamedrash Hagodol on the Lower East Side of New York City. He published Divrei Ephraim in 1949. He also published chiddushei Torah on many areas, including Imrei Ephraim on Nezikin and other subjects. He also wrote Yahadus Lita which appeared in Yiddish, about his recollections of pre-War Europe.

Shabbos, 3 Tishrei

Rav Yitzchak Zekel Leib Wormeiser (Wormer), also known as the Baal Shem of Michaelstadt (1768-1847). At the age of 17, he left home to learn at the yeshivah gedolah of Frankfurt, headed by Rav Pinchas Horowitz, the Baal HaFla'ah. He also became close to Rav Nosson Adler, the Chasam Sofer's rebbi. After his marriage at the age of 22, he moved to Michelstat, where he founded a yeshiva.

Rav Yisrael Lipshitz of Danzig, author of Tiferes Yisrael, a popular commentary on the Mishnayos (1782-1860). He also authored Shevilei D'rakiya, an introduction to the principles of Rabbinical astronomy and determining the Molad; it appears in the beginning of Seder Mo'ed in the "Tiferes Yisrael" sets of Mishnayos. Additionally, he wroted Derush Ohr HaChaim" (Homily on the Light of Life) which debates the eternality of the soul.

Rav Shimon Nosson Nota Biderman, the Lelover Rebbe (1929)

Rav Naftali Trop, Rosh Yeshiva Radin (1871-1930). Born in Grodno, he studied with his father, Rav Moshe Trop, who was Rosh Yeshiva of a local yeshiva. At 14, he left for Kelm, then Solodka, then Telz, where he became close to Rav Eliezer Gordon. In 1889, he returned to Slobodka, when Rav Yaakov Yitzchak (Itzel) Rabinowitz was appointed Rosh Yeshiva. There, he became his close talmid. In 1890, Rav Hirshel Levitan appointed him Rosh Yeshiva of Or HaChaim in Slobodka. In 1903, he replaced Rav Moshe Landinski as Rosh Yeshiva in Radin, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Rav Dovid Rapaport (1890-1941). Born in Minsk, his mother was a descendant of the Gaon of Vilna while his father, Rav Akiva, was the grandson of Rav Akiva Eiger. When he was still a young man, he enrolled in Ponovezh, having already written his sefer, Tzemach Dovid, on the chiddushim and halachic responsa of his grandfather. From Ponovezh, Rav Dovid went on to study in Kollel Beis Yisrael of Slabodka. After his marriage, he and his wife were supported by his father-in-law, during which period Rav Dovid was able to compile his second major work, Mikdash Dovid, which focuses on the tractates of Kodshim, Taharos, Bechoros and Sanhedrin. Then, during World War One, Rav Dovid had to flee and found refuge in Vilna. Later on, Rav Elchanan Wasserman invited Rav Dovid to deliver shiurim in Yeshivas Ohel Torah in Baranovich.This yeshivah was founded in 1907 at the initiative of Rav Yosef Yozel Horowitz, the Alter of Novhardok. During the outbreak of World War Two, Rav Dovid remained in Ohel Torah, joining the yeshivah on its treks to Vilna and, from there, to Turkey and Smilishuk. On the 19th of Sivan, 1941, an NKVD agent burst into the yeshivah and arrested him. After his trial, Rav Dovid was sent to a forced labor camp in a distant village, near Finland.

Rav Aharon Yechiel (Reb Ahrele) Hopstein of Kuzhnitz (1889-1942). Reb Ahrele was a direct descendent of the Maggid Kozhnitz, who along with the Chozeh of Lublin, Rav Mendel of Riminov, and the Oheiv Israel of Opt were the greatest talmidim of Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk and who were primarily responsible for the spready of Chassidus throughout Europe. Rav Aharon Yechiels father, Rav Yerachmiel Moshe, was the 6th Kuzhnitzer Rebbe, was niftar in 1909. Another son of Rav Yerachmiel Moshe, Rav Yisrael Elazar, moved to Eretz Yisrael in 1923 and helped found Kfar Chassidim and Kfar Ata.

Rav Chizkiyahu Yosef Mishkofsky of Krinki (1946 or 1949). He was the son-in-law of Rav Yitzchak Blazer, and a member of the Vaad Hatzalah.

Rav Shlomo Rottenberg, Jewish historian and author of Toldos Am Olam (2001)

JEWISH HISTORY

Sunday, 26 Elul

• Jews of Zurich accused of causing the Black Plague; some were burned, others expelled, 1348.
• Peter Stuyvesant barred Jews from military service in the American colonies, 1655.
• Hodel, daughter of Moshe Kikinish of Lemberg, was martyred after falsely confessing to blood-ritual charges in order to save the lives of other Jews, 1710.
• The Congress for the Safeguarding of Non-Jewish Interests, which opened in Dresden, Germany was the first international assembly to promote anti-Semitism, 1882.
• The Jewish community of Shirvint, Lithuania, was massacred by the Nazis, 1941.
• Eleven Israeli athletes are murdered at the Munich Olympic Games, 1972.

Monday, 27 Elul

• Cornelio da Montalcino, a Franciscan Friar who converted to Judaism, was burned alive in Rome , 1554.
• Expulsion of Jews from Frankfurt, commemorated as a Taanis Tzibur, 1614
• Jews of New York barred from voting, 1737.
• First Jew known to have settled in Canada, 1760.
• Kiev fell to Germany, 1941.
• Rabin signed the Oslo Accords with PLO terrorist leader Arafat, 1993. A historic handshake is made between Prime Minister Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat on the White House lawn.

Tuesday, 28 Elul

• The infamous inquisitor of Aragon Pedro Arbues was slain, 1485. Appointed by Torquemada, he was zealous in finding lapsed "new Christians" to bring before the Inquisition and have them burned alive. He was murdered in church by a group of Marranos in retaliation for his actions against their families. The perpetrators were caught, had their hands cut off, and were then beheaded and quartered. Other leaders such as Francisco de Santa Fe committed suicide, or fled to France. Arbues was canonized by the Vatican in 1867.
• Peter the Great ordered 13 of his soldiers who participated in anti-Jewish riots hanged, 1708.
• French Jews granted full citizenship for the first time since the Roman Empire, 1791.
• First shul in South Africa, Tikvas Yisrael, was dedicated in Cape Town, 1849.
• Gedera attacked by Arabs, 1901.
• U.S. President Warren G. Harding signed a joint resolution of Congress approving the establishment in Palestine of a Jewish homeland, 1922.

Wednesday, 29 Elul

• The false prophet Chananya ben Azur died within the year, as Yirmiyahu had foretold, 459 B.C.E.. Chananya prophesied the Jews victory over Babylonia within two years and the return of Golus Yechonya and the keilim of the Beis Hamikdash instead of the total conquest by Nevuzaradan that Yirmiyahu prophesied and which took place several years later.
• Many leading Jews of Posen, Poland were imprisoned and tortured following a blood libel, 1736.
• Birthday of R. Menachem Mendel ben Shalom Shachne, third Lubavitcher Rebbe, "The Tzemach Tzedek," in Liozna (1786-1866)
• First organized attack by Nazi storm troopers, Berlin, 1931.
• Germany occupies Miclec, Poland and killed its entire Jewsih population, 1939.
• Between 8000 and 11,000 Jews of the Stolin ghetto were murdered in Stasino, about 3 miles outside the ghetto, 1942.

Thursday, 1 Tishrei

• Ezra read the Torah to the people and made a new covenant with them, c. 360 BCE
• Zerubavel brought the first Korban on the new Mizbeiach, 352 BCE
• Cardinal Caraffa (later to be Pope Paul IV), with the backing of Pope Julius III, publically burns sefarim in Rome, 1553 (or 1554)
• Jews of Mogilev, Russia were attacked during Tashlich, 1645.
• First shul services in Manhattan, 1654 and in St. Louis, 1836.
• Birth of Rav Yisrael Abuchatzeira, the Baba Sali (1890-1984)
• Daf Yomi study was instituted by Reb Meir Shapiro of Lublin, 1923.
• Free-Poland & Belgium asked Pope to condemn Nazi-war crimes, 1942. He did not.

Friday, 2 Tishrei

• The kedoshim Reb Tuvia and Reb Yisroel were murdered in a blood libel in Razino, 1660.
• In the wake of the French capture of Mainz (1792) the gates of the ghetto were torn down in 1798. The Jews of Mainz remained French citizens until the end of the occupation in 1814.
• Privileges granted the Jews of Sweden were revoked by the Swedish government, 1838.
• Refugee Jews in France deprived of civil rights, 1940.
• 40 Rabbanim of the Lodz Ghetto were killed by the Nazis, 1942.

Shabbos, 3 Tishrei

• After the assassination of Gedalyah, the autonomous governor of Judea, the remnant of the Jewish population in Eretz Yisroel went into exile to Egypt.
• The Chachamim cancelled the Chashmonaims decision to write Hashems Name on business documents because of their concern that the documents would end up in the trash. The Chashmonaim had instituted this decision in reaction to the Greek prohibition to mention Hashems Name. This day was like a Yom Tov (Rosh Hashanah 18b)
• The governor of New York was petitioned to allow the Jews to exercise their religion in public, 1695. (The Charter of Liberties granted by James I of England in 1683 applied only to Christians.) The governor declined the petition.
• The foundation stone for the Jewish refuge of Ararat was laid in Buffalo, New York by Mordechai Emmanuel Noah in 1825. Located on Grand Island in the Niagra River, the 2,500 acre Ararat was to be a city of refuge for displaced Jews. Few people took Noah up on his dream and the plan soon disintegrated.
• The Jewish Brigade Group was formed by the British high command, 1944. After a long battle by Chaim Weizmann and Moshe Sharett, the British agreed to the establishment of a Jewish army to fight alongside British troops. In all, over 5000 people from pre-state Israel including many who had fled from Europe enlisted, 700 of them lost their lives. After the war they formed the moving force for illegal immigration to Israel

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