The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do not Reply this message! Please send messages to address on bottom of the message or to kehilasmy@yahoo.com Cortesy of Congregation Anshe Emes, Los Angeles [ http://anshe.org ] The update of Jewish History of this week YAHRTZEITS Sunday, 20 Shvat - Birth and petira of Asher ben Yaakov Avinu (1565 BCE) - Rav Avraham Abba Freedman (1920-2002). He was sent from Brooklyn to Detroit in 1944 by his rebbe, Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz in order to help launch the day school that had been established there by Rav Simcha Wasserman. On his first Shavuos there, the only two people to stay up learning Torah were Rabbis Freedman and Wasserman. Rav Freedman is credited with the growth of Detroit into a Torah metropolis, including a yeshiva ketana, a mesivta, a Bais Yaakov, a beis medrash, and a kollel. - Rav Yosef of Yampoli (1812). Son of Rav Yechiel Michael HaMaggid of Zlotskov. - Rav Dr. Chaim Dovid Bernhard of Pietrokov, famed baal teshuva who became a Rebbe Monday, 21 Shvat - Rav Moshe Galante (Galanti) II of Yerushalayim (1620-1689), son of Rav Yehonasan, who was the son of Rav Moshe Galante the elder (1540-1614) who studied with Rav Yosef Karo. He wrote two halachic works, Elef HaMagen, which includes 1,000 responsa on various topics, Zevach Shelamim on the Talmud and Korban Chagigah on Tractate Chagigah. He strongly argued against the popularity of Shabsai Tzvi. His grandson was Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter of Ger, the Sfas Emes. Among his students were R' Chizkiyah De Silva, author of Pri Chadash (which is printed in the standard edition of the Shulchan Aruch), and R' Yaakov Chagiz and his son R' Moshe Chagiz. Refusing to accept the title of "Chief Rabbi" that was offered to him, he coined a new title-"Rishon Le'tzion." - Rav Yitzchak of Nezchizh (1868) - Rav Yechiel Meir Lifschitz (Lipschutz) of Gustinin [Gostynin; Gastinin] (1816-1888). He was a disciple of Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotsk and of Rav Yaakov Aryeh of Radzymin, after whose death he became chassidic leader in Gustinin. His teachings appear in Merom HaRim and Mei HaYam. - Rav Yaakov Weidenfeld of Tchebin, the Kochav MiYaakov (1894). His one volume of responsa, entitled Kochav MiYaakov, was a mere fraction of the thousands of responsa that he wrote, but which were lost in the two world wars. Rav Yaakovs glosses to Seder Taharos and Talmud Yerushalmi were written in one day, as is indicated by their original title, Hagahos Chad Yoma. - Rav Yechiel Yehoshua Rabinowitz, the Bialer Rebbe (1901-1982). Born in Biala, Poland, to Rav Yerachmiel Tzvi, the son of the Divrei Binah of Biala and a direct descendent of the Yid Hakadosh. The Divrei Binah passed away when Yechiel Yehoshua was only 4, and tragically, Rav Yerachmiel Tzvi passed away shortly thgereafter at the age of 26. In 1919, Rav Yechiel married Beila Chana Pesha, and in 1924, he was formally installed as Rebbe of Biala, and set up court in Shidlitz, with a population of 200,000 Jews. He was exiled to Siberia with his family in 1940. In 1947, he moved to Eretz Yisrael, living in Tel Aviv for 8 years before setting up his beis midrash and kollel in Zichron Moshe in Yerushalayim, where he remined for the next 27 years. He authored the sefer Chelkas Yehoshua. - Rav Yehoshua Heshel Brim, Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Yisrael of Ruzhin-Yerushalayim (1986) Tuesday, 22 Shvat - Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1859). Born in Goray, near Lublin, Poland, Rav Menachem Mendel received a thorough Torah education from his father, Leibush Morgenstern, a zealous opponent of Chasidus. After his marriage at 14, his father introduced him to the world of Chasidus. Thereafter, he became an ardent follower of the Chozeh of Lublin and Rav Simcha Bunam of Pshis'cha, whom he eventually succeeded. R' Menachem Mendel was a new type of chassid. If the Baal Shem Tov embodied chessed, Reb Mendel represented din. While the Baal Shem sought to reach all the people, Reb Mendel knew that what he sought could only be attained by the elite. The Baal Shem lifted the people up, Reb Mendel rebuked them for their inadequacies and always demanded more. Reb Leibel Eiger was entranced by Kotzk, to the despair of his father, Rav Shlomo. Reb Mendel and Reb Mordechai Yosef of Ishbitz had been close friends and disciples of Reb Simcha Bunim of Pshischa. After Reb Bunims passing Reb Mendel became Rebbe. However, because of Reb Mendels extreme aloofness the two friends were traveling on a collision course. Finally, on the Simchas Torah of 1840 there was an irrevocable split between the two and Reb Mordechai Yosef left with his chassidim to form a new chassidus. Most prominent among his students were the Chidushei Harim of Ger and Rav Chanoch of Alexander. - Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib Eiger (1816-1888). A grandson of the renowned Rav Akiva Eiger, Rav Leibel was born in Warsaw. He learned under Rav Yitzchak Meir Alter, later known as the Chiddushei Harim in Warsaw. The Chiddushei Harim used to say, "True misnagdim don't really deserve to be punished, because they fight chassidus for the sake of heaven. Therefore, they are punished with a punishment that is not really a punishment - their sons become chassidim." At 20, he married and moved to Lublin where he davened at the Shul of the Chozeh. There, he befriended Rav Yisrael, the Chozehs son. He then moved to Kotzk. He became a rebbe after the Rebbe of Izbitza passed away in 1854. After his death his son, Rav Avraham, printed his sefarim "Toras Emes" and "Imrei Emes." - Rebbetzen Chaya Mushka Schneerson (1901-1991), wife of the last Lubavicher Rebbe. - Rav Yehuda Zev Segal, the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva (1910-1993). Born in Manchester to Rav Moshe Yitzchak Segal, the Rosh yeshiva and a former talmid of the Alter of Novardok, who received smicha from Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein, the Aruch Hashulchan. At the age of 20, Rav Yehuda Zev attended the Mir, where he learned with Rav Chaim Shmulevitz. He formed a close bond to Rav Yechezkel Levenstein, whom he referred to as "mori verabi." After he married in 1934, he learned at Gateshead, but moved to Manchester after the Germans bombed Gateshead in 1940. On April 16, 1950, he was officially inducted as Rosh Yeshiva by Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, supported by Dayan Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (the Minchas Yitzchak), then the Manchester Av Beis Din. - Rav Shalom Flam, Strettiner Rebbe (1929-2003). Born in Montreal, he was the fifth of eight children born to Rabbi Dovid Flam, the Olesker Rebbe, and his Rebbetzin Sarah, the daughter of Rabbi Moshe Langner, the Strettiner Rebbe of Toronto. Wednesday, 23 Shvat - Rav Aharon ben Chaim Avraham HaKohen Perachia (1627-1697). He was a wealthy man and was appointed chief rabbi of Salonika in 1688. He authored a responsa called Parach Mateh Aharon. - Rav Yehoshua (Shayale) Rokeach of Belz, fifth son and successor of Rav Shalom, the Sar Shalom, founder of the Belz dynasty (1825-1894). He married a granddaughter of the Oheiv Yisrael, the Apter Rav. After Rav Shalom was nifter in 1855, the Belz Chasidim had no leader for two years. Rav Yehoshua replaced his father two years later, in compliance with his fathers wishes, despite the fact that Rav Yehoshua had 4 older brothers. He led the Belz Chasidim for 39 years. He was also the founder of Machzikei HaDas, perhaps the first Orthodox Jewish organization to be involved in government politics. Some of his discourses are published in Ohel Yehoshua, a supplement to the book of his father's teachings, Dover Shalom. He was succeeded by his second son, Rav Yissachar Dov. - Rav Moshe Kliers (1874-1934). Born in Tzefas, he married the daughter of a prominent talmid chacham of the Slonim community in Teveria, and he went to live there. At the age of 26, in response to a request by Rav Shmuel, the Slonimer Rebbe, Rav Moshe founded a yeshiva (Ohr Torah) by the kever of Rav Meir Baal Haness by the shores of the Kineret. He was involved in the Teshuva Campaign of 1914. Rav Moshe authored the sefer Toras HaEretz. - Rav Asher Eliach (1952-2004). Born in Yerushalayim's Shaarei Chessed neighborhood, he learned at Yeshivas Kol Torah, where he cleaved to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Later, he studied at Yeshivas Ponovezh under Rav Shach, Rav Povarksky and Rav Rozovsky, He learned maseches Eruvin with all of the Rishonim and Acharonim over 20 times, becoming an expert on the subject, and numerous chareidi communities consulted with him. He was involved in the setup of eruvin in every part of Eretz Yisrael, For the last 5 years of his life, he served as mashgiach at yeshivas Rabbenu Chaim Ozer. Tragically, he died suddently of a heart attack during a melava Malka. - Rav Avraham Lopes Cardozo (1914-2006). Born in Amsterdam, Holland, the great-grandson of the Chief Rabbi of the Sephardim in Amsterdam, he attended Yeshiva Etz Haim in Amsterdam. In 1939 he was appointed by Queen Wilhemina to be rabbi of the Sephardic congregation in Paramaribo, capital of Surinam. He married Irma Robles of Surinam in 1951. He was appointed Chazan of the Portuguese Spanish Synagogue, Shearith Israel, in New York, in 1946, a position he kept for 40 years. On June 7, 2000, he was knighted by Queen Beatrix of Holland. He was the father of Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo. Thursday, 24 Shvat - Rav Shaul Halevi Mortorah (Mortira), Av Beis Din of Amsterdam, author of Givat Shaul (1660) - Rav Avraham Yechiel of Halberstadt, author of Nezer Hakodesh (1730) - Rav Shlomo Margulies, Rav of Zelitschek, a close talmid of the Baal Shem Tov (1733-1805). - Rav Shabtai Shaltiel, Rav in Yerushalayim (1846). Friday, 25 Shvat - Rav Yisrael Lipkin Salanter (1810-1883), founder and spiritual father of the Mussar movement. Born in Zager (near Kovno), Lithuania, to Rav Zeev Wolf Lipkin, a descendent of the Vilna Gaon, Rav Yisrael became a close talmid Rav Zundel of Salant, who introduced him to the classic works of mussar. In 1840, he became rosh yeshiva of the Rameillas Yeshiva in Vilna, and later opened a yeshiva in Kovno. A compilation of his thoughts were recorded in a sefer, Or Yisrael, written by one of his closest talmidim, Rav Yitzchak Blazer of Petersburg.Among his other close disciples are Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv of Kelm, Rav Yosef Yozel Hurwitz of Novardok - Rav Mordechai Pogramansky, the Iluy from Telz (1950) - Reb Shabsai, father of Rav Israel of Koshnitz (1761) - Rav Ephraim Zelaznik, born to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. In 1956, he became one of the first talmidim in Brisk, under Rav Yosef Dov Soloveichik. He taught at Yeshiva Eretz Tzvi for most of his life (1931-2005) - Rav Zalman Ury (1924-2006). A great-great-grandson of Rav Dovid Teveli, author of Nachalas Dovid, Rav Ury was born in Stolpce, Poland, and studied at Yeshiva Etz Hayim in Kletzk under Rav Aharon Kotler from 1934-1941. At the start of World War II, he was interned in a Siberian Concentration Camp, while his parents and siblings died at the hands of the Nazis. He spent the remainder of the war in Samarkand, Uzbekistan where he met his wife, Eva. They married soon after the war ended and emigrated to the United States in 1947, where he received his semicha at Lakewood. Rav Zalman received his B.S. from Washington University, St. Louis, then moved to Los Angeles in 1957. He earned his M.A. in Education from Loyola University and his Doctor of Education at UCLA. For 47 years, Rav Ury worked with the Bureau of Jewish Education, building and nurturing the yeshiva day school system. Under his direction, yeshiva enrollment in Los Angeles increased from less than 1,000 talmidim to more than 5,500, and the number of schools increased from five in 1960 to 21 by the time of his passing. He wrote over 100 articles and educational materials for journals and books, and authored the books, "The Musar Movement," and "The Story of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter." In 2001, he published Kedushas Avraham, a two-volume work containing chidushei Torah, mussar teachings and correspondences with gedolei Yisrael, includingRav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Henkin and Rav Simcha Wassermann, as well as an essay on his rebbe Rav Yosef Aryeh Leib Nanedik hy"d - the mashgiach at Yeshiva Etz Chaim. For many years he served as Rav of Young Israel Congregation of Beverly Hills. Shabbos, 26 Shvat - Rav Dovid Halevi Segal, author of Turei Zahav (the Taz) (1586-1667), son-in-law of the Bach. Born in Cracow. Unofficial Rabbi of Posen 1619-~1640. Headed famous yeshiva at Ostro from 1643, escaped Cossacks 1648-49 to Lublin, then Moravia. Settled in Lemberg (Lvov). Lost 2 sons to violent deaths in Spring of 1664. Sent his son Yeshaya and son-in-law Aryeh Leib (later to be the Shaagas Aryeh) to investigate Shabsai Tzvi. He also wrote Divrei Dovid on Rashi al HaTorah. - Rav Mordechai Yosef Elazar Leiner (Lainer) (1929), Rebbe of Radzin, son of the Baal Hatecheiles and great-grandson of Mordechai Yosef of Izhbitz. He was the author of Tiferes Yosef. He was succeeded by his son, Rav Shmuel Shlomo, and then by his son-in-law, Rav Avraham Yissachar Engrand. - Rav Shaul Broch of Kashau (1940). - Rav Yaakov Landau, Rav of Bnei Brak (1986) - Rav Ephraim Nachum Borodiansky of Yeshiva Kol Torah (1990). Rav Yaakov Schneidman (1995). Co-founder (with Rav Chaim Bressler) and Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Moshe in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and founder and Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Zion. JEWISH HISTORY Sunday, 20 Shvat - Thirty Jews, including two talmidim of Rabbeinu Tam, were burnt alive at the stake as a result of a blood libel in the French city of Blois, the first such libel in Jewish history. Rabbeinu Tam decreed a public fast for communities of France, England, and Germany. Almost 500 years later, in the wake of the pogroms of Tach vtat, the Shach decreed that this day should be a fast day for all Jews of Eastern Europe as well. - The first printed edition of Tzror HaMor, commentary on Chumash by Rav Avraham Sebag, 1523, was released. Rav Sebag fled Spain for Portugal, where his two sons were taken from him and forcibly baptized. He buried his manuscripts to save them from confiscation and destruction. After release from prison, he made his way to Africa where he managed to rewrite his works. - Jewish physicians of Galicia granted permission to treat Christian patients, 1782. Monday, 21 Shvat - Roman Emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus (whom the Christians call "Julian the Apostate") gave permission to the Jews to start rebuilding the Bais Hamikdash, 363. His death in June 26, 363 in a war with the Persians put an end to the plan. - Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, gives a residence permit to one Jew, Luis Carvajal, 1657. - Jewish homes on the outskirts of Warsaw, in a settlement known as "New Yerushalayim", were demolished and the Jews of Warsaw were expelled, 1775. - Pope Pius VI (1717-99, pope (1775-99)) reinforces all existing anti-Jewish legislation as part of his campaign against liberalism in his Editto Sopra Gli Ebrei, 1775. The 44 clauses included prohibitions against possessing talmudic writings and erection of grave stones. They also forbade Jews from passing the night outside the ghetto under pain of death. The regulations were in effect until the arrival of Napoleon's army 25 years later. - The Palestine Post (known today as The Jerusalem Post) building in Yerushalayim was bombed, in 1948, resulting in the loss of many lives. Tuesday, 22 Shvat - Caius Caligula was assassinated, 41 CE, a day observed as a holiday, since his decree to put pagan images in the Beis HaMikdash was voided upon his death. - Byzantine Emperor Heraclius dies, 641. Among his crimes, he massacred the Jews of Yerushalayim, despirte their assistance in helping him conquer the city from the Persians, he forced conversion on North African Jews, and he supported riots against Constantinople Jews. - Emperor Henry IV of Germany issued a charter to the Jews and a decree against forced baptism, 1095. He also permitted forcibly baptized Jews to return to Judaism and attempted to protect Jews during the Crusades. He was criticized by the Church for his "liberal" views. - Nazis raided the Jewish community of Amsterdam and seized 429 young Jews for deportation, 1941. - The National Commission of Inquiry into the disappearance of Yemenite children between 1948-1954 (the third commission of inquiry in 18 years) was appointed in 1995 by High Court president Meir Shamgar. Its findings again exonerated the government of all wrongdoing in the disappearance of at least 1,700 children. Wednesday, 23 Shvat - Taanis Tzadikim in memory of the 40,000 Binyaminites who were killed in the Civil War over the Pilegesh Begiva incident. (Shoftim 20:1), 1188 BCE - Henry III of England orders that Jewish worship in Synagogues must be held quietly so that Christians should not have their prayers when passing by, 1253. He also ordered that Jews may not employ Christian nurses or maids, nor may any Jew prevent another Jew from converting to Christianity. - Jews of Silesia (now Poland) were ordered to wear a special cap in public, 1267. - Polish Jews were barred from using public transportation by the Nazis, 1941. - First transport of Jews to concentration camps, 1941. Thurday, 24 Shvat - Ritual murder libel of the daughter of the Rav of Speyer, 1195. Although there was no proof of any wrongdoing, she was dismembered and her body was hanged in the market place for a few days. The Rav, along with many others, were killed and their houses burned. - New Christians (Conversos) especially the wealthy, were attacked in Toledo during a revolt against taxation, 1449. Three hundred citizens banded together to defend themselves and during one attack a Christian was killed. In response, 22 Marranos were murdered and numerous houses burnt. - Leopold I ordered Jews to be expelled from Vienna within a few months, 1670, having been persuaded to do so by Margaret, the daughter of the Spanish Regent Phillip IV, who blamed the death of her firstborn on the tolerance shown to the Jews. - Local duke granted Jews right of residence in Stuttgart, Germany, 1779. - First shul in Madrid dedicated after 425 years, 1917. Friday, 25 Shvat - In Aragon, an apostate Joshua Lorki (Geronimo de Santa Fe ), known to the Jews as Hamegadef (the blasphemer), convinced anti-Pope Benedict XIII to stage a disputation at Tortosa, beginning February 7, 1413. Presided over by the Pope himself, its sixty-nine sessions lasted until November, 1414. The Jews were led by Rav Vidal Benvenisti and Rav Yosef Albo, the author of Sefer HaIkkarim. As the disputations failed to result in the conversion of the Jews, the pope issued a bill in which he interdicted the learning of Gemara by the Jews, and ordered that gemaras be confiscated and destroyed. - Charles II of England ordered the Attorney General in 1673 to desist from prosecuting Jewish "offenders" of the Conventicle Act of 1664, which considered as seditious any prayer meeting of more the five persons that was not according to the Book of Common Prayer. - The French government under Louis Philippe gave financial support to Jewish institutions on par with Christian institutions, 1831. - First ship with "illegal" immigrants broke through the British blockade, 1934. - Last of 378 flights which comprised Operation Magic Carpet, which brought over 40,000 Yemenite immigrants to Israel, 1950. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Please visit our web page http://www.kehilasmy.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SHIDDUCHIM for RUSSIAN BAALEY TESHUVAH Worldwide in Russian http://www.toldot.ru/shiduchim ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books with 10% off from Artscroll and Artscroll will donate us 5% of your purchase: http://artscroll.com/linker/kehilasmy/home -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=lit.kmymembers&email=e@mail http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com