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 [ http://anshe.org ] Congregation Anshe Emes, Los Angeles The update of Jewish History of this week YAHRTZEITS Sunday, 6 Iyar * Rav Levi ben Gershon (Ralbag), philosopher, and commentator on Chumash. Though a distinguished Talmudist, Levi never held a rabbinical office. He earned a livelihood most probably by the practice of medicine. (1288-1344). * Rav Yosef Meir Weiss, Admor of Spinka, disciple of Rav Yitzchak Eizik of Ziditchov and of Rav Chaim of Sanz, author of Imrei Yosef (1838-1909) * Rav Dov Berish Zeitlyn of Vilna (1920) * Rav Yaakov Chaim Perlow of Stolin, buried in Detroit (1946) * Rav Menachem Mendel Halberstam of Stropkov, author of Divrei Menachem, uncle of Rav Yechezkel Shraga Lifshitz (1954). During the Holocaust, the Rebbe initially hid in Budapest, then, with the Nazi occupation of Hungary, was taken to Bratislava, Slovakia - along with his wife, a granddaughter, and one son. He lived in New York after the war, teaching at the Stropkover Yeshiva in Williamsburg. He authored the sefer Divrei Menachem. * Rav Raphael Binyomin Levine, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Aryeh-Yerushalayim * Rav Tzvi (Hersh) Tevel (1916-2006). Born in Dinov, Galicia, he began learning at Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin when he was 17 where his chavrusa was Rav Chaim Kreiswirth. At the age of 22, he became Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshiva Divrei Chaim in Cracow. After his father was murdered by the Nazis, Rav Tevel escaped to Russia with his mother and six siblings. After his marriage, his moved to Boro Park in 1951, establishing a shul - Siach Hasadeh - in 1966. For two years, he also ran a yeshiva, Zichron Yaakov. He authored several volumes of Tzion Lnefesh and another sefer called Gilyonei Tzvi. Monday, 7 Iyar * Rav Shlomo Ephraim of Luntchitz, author of Kli Yakar and Ololos Ephraim. Rav Shlomo Ephraim was born in Lunchitz in Poland. He was a disciple of Rav Shlomo Luria (Maharshal), the famous talmudist and author of Yam Shel Shlomo. After leading the yeshivah in Lvov, Rav Shlomo Ephraim was appointed Rav of Prague. He sat on the Beis Din of that city with Rav Yeshayah Horowitz (the "Shelah Ha'kadosh"). Among Rav Shlomo Ephraim's prominent students was Rav Yom Tov Lipman Heller, author of the Mishnah commentary Tosfos Yom Tov. The Kli Yakar died in Prague, Bohemia, (1550-1619). * Rav Chaim Moshe Reuven Elazary was a student of the Slobodka Yeshiva, first in Europe and then in Chevron. He began his rabbinic career in the Bronx, and also taught at a yeshiva in Brooklyn. After 1929, he succeeded his father-in-law, Rav Ephraim Pelcovitz, as rabbi of Congregation Agudas Achim in Canton, Ohio. (His father had been in Canton since 1914, and in 1929 moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut.) In 1972, Rav Elazary settled in Petach Tikva. He left numerous published and unpublished works and articles, many of them exhibiting the influence of Rav Nosson Zvi Finkel, the Alter of Slobodka. Rav Elazary's brothers, Rav Betzalel and Rav Yisrael, were among those murdered by Palestinian Arabs in the 1929 Chevron massacre. (1984) Tuesday, 8 Iyar * Rav Yerachmiel Rabinowitz of Peshischa (1831) * Rav Moshe Mordechai Twersky of Trisk (1943) * Rav Raphael Binyamin Levine, son of Rav Aryeh Levine. Rav Refael studied in the Eitz Chaim Talmud Torah, and was very close to its rosh yeshiva, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer. He continued his studies in the Chevron yeshiva in Yerushalayim and the Lomza yeshiva in Petach Tikvah, where he studied bechavrusa with Rav Reuven Katz, the rovof Petach Tikva. He married Channah Liba, daughter of Rav Chaim Shraga Feivel Frank, the rav of the Yemin Moshe neighborhood in Yerushalayim. After his marriage, he continued his studies in the Mirrer yeshiva under Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel. When the Beis Aryeh yeshiva opened, Rav Refael's father, Rav Aryeh Levine asked him to serve as its menahel ruchani, a position he occupied until his final day. He was also a dayan in the beis din tzeddek of the Ashkenaz-Perushim community founded by Rav Shmuel Salant. (1925-2002) Wednesday, 9 Iyar * Rav Moshe Hager, Rosh Yeshiva of Seret-Vizhnitz, Haifa (1999) Thursday, 10 Iyar * Eli Hakohen and his sons Chofni and Pinchas. The Bnei Yisrael were defeated by the Plishtim, 30,000 soldiers were slaughtered, the Aron Kodesh was taken into captivity, and Chofni and Pinchas, the two sons of Eli Kohen Gadol killed, 864 BCE. Eli dies at age 98 in shock on hearing the news. The Mishkan at Shilo was destroyed. * Rav Yitzchak Alfasi (RiF), codifier of the Gemara, author of Sefer Hahalachos (1013-1103). The period of the Geonim began in 589, and ended in 1038 with the petira of Rav Hai Gaon. Rav Chananel's father, Rav Chushiel Gaon, had set out from Bavel to collect funds for a needy bride and was seized by pirates. He was sold as a slave in Africa, but was later redeemed by the members of its Jewish communities. From Africa, he headed to Kairuan, where he became a rosh yeshiva. His son, Chananel, was born in Kairuan. A young student from the Algerian city of Kal'a asked to be admitted to Rav Chananels yeshiva. His name was Yitzchak Hakohen. As Rav Yitzchak advanced in his studies, he became keenly aware of the fact that many people were unable to elucidate the halacha from the Gemara due to the vast amount of material it contains. As a result, he conceived of the idea of compiling a comprehensive and extensive halachic work that would present all of the halachos and the practical conclusions of the Gemara in a clear, definitive manner. To achieve this goal, he retreated to his father-in-law's attic, where he worked on his sefer for 10 consecutive years. During this period, however, a Moslem tyrant gained control of Tunisia, and persecuted all those who did not accept his faith, especially the Jews of Kairuan. As a result, all of the city's Jewish residents fled to places controlled by the Elmuhides, who were more tolerant of the Jews. Among the fugitives was Rav Yitzchak who, with his wife and two children, moved to the Moroccan city of Fez. Rav Yitzchak remained in Fez for 40 years, during which time he completed his Sefer Ha'halachos, which is considered the first fundamental work in halachic literature. Eventually, he became known as Rav Yitzchak Alfasi, or the Rif. Rav Yitzchak was niftar at the age of 90 in 1103. He was succeeded by the Ri mi'Gaash.[some say 11 Iyar] * Rav Yosef Teumim, author of Pri Megadim, on the Shulchan Aruch (1727-1792). Born in Szczerzec, a small town near Lemberg (Lvov) to Rav Meir, a grandson of Rav Yonah Teumim, Rav of Meitz and author of Kikayon DeYonah. In 1755, he Reb Yosef married the daughter of Rav Elyakam of Kamorna and lived there for ten years. In 1767, he moved to Berlin on the invitation of a wealthy Jew named Rav Daniel Yaffe, who offered to support him fully as well as a beis midrash in his home when talmidei chachamim could learn. In 1774, he moved to Lemberg, to succeed his father as Rav and Dayan. And in 1781, he was appointed Rav of Frankfurt-on-the-Oder. His most well-known sefer is the Pri Magadin on Orach Chaim and on Yoreh Deah. Both are actually two sections: Pri Megadim on Yoreh Deah consists of Mishbetzos Zahav on the Taz and Sifsei Daas on the Shach. Pri Megadim on Orach Chaim consists of Mishbetzos Zahav on the Taz and Aishel Avraham on the Magen Avraham. He also wrote a commentary on the Torah entitled Rav Peninim, Poras Yosef (chidushim on masechtos Yevamos and Kesubos, as well as 14 important rules in learning and understanding sugyos properly), Rosh Yosef (chidushim on various mesechtos in Seder Moed as well as meseches Chullin), Noam Megadim (explanations and minhagim on tefillah), Sefer Hamagid (commentary to Chumash and Haftorah), Ginnas Veradim (70 rules for understanding gemara), and many others.(some say 2 or 11 Iyar). * Rav Yitzchak Yehuda Yechiel Eizik of Komarna, author of Shulchan Hatahor (1806-1874) * Rav Dovid Twersky of Tolna (1808-1882), son of Rav Mordechai of Chernobyl. His works include Magen Dovid. There is a Tolner Shul in Tzefas even today. * Rav Hillel Lichtenstein of Kalamei, in the Ukraine(1814-1891). Born near Pressburg (present-day Bratislava, Slovakia), he became one of the leading students of the Chasam Sofer. After his marriage, R' Lichtenstein studied in Galante, Hungary. His rabbinic career in 1846, first as rabbi of Margareten, Hungary, then as rabbi of Klausenberg (today, Cluj, Romania). Eventually, he became rabbi of Kolmyya, Galicia (today in Ukraine). He was among the fiercest opponents of the Haskalah and a strong supporter of settlement in Eretz Yisrael. He helped his son-in-law, R' Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, buy up land for what became the city of Petach Tikva. He wrote numerous books including Avkas Rochel (mussar), Beis Hillel (letters regarding strengthening observance), Maskil El Dal (derashos), Teshuvos Beis Hillel (responsa), and others. Friday, 11 Iyar * Rav Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz, author of Ayalah Sheluchah and Zera Kodesh, (1760-1827). When R' Naftali decided to join the chassidic movement he chose Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk as his mentor. He subsequently became a dedicated chasid of the Chozeh of Lublin, the Maggid of Koznitz, and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rymanov. Foremost among his talmidim is Rav Chaim of Sanz. His son, Rav Yaakov, was the author of the sefer Zerah Yaakov. * Rav Aaron Pfeffer, rav in South Africa * Rav Yitzchak of Radwill, son of Rav Yechiel Michel, the Zlotchover Maggid (1832) Shabbos, 12 Iyar * Rav Yehuda Tzvi Eichenstein of Dolima (1909) JEWISH HISTORY Sunday, 6 Iyar * Many Jews of Cordova, Spain, massacred by the soldiers of Suleiman ibn Al-Hakim, 1013. * A Church synod meeting in Vienna ordered distinctive garb for Jews, 1267. * Council of Hanover ordered the severance of all business connections between Jews and Christians, 1588. * Widespread pogroms broke out in Kiev, Russia, in 1881, and spread throughout the Russian empire. Many downtrodden Jews began feeling that they would be safe only if they had their own homeland. This led to the formation in 1882 of Chovevei Zion, the first organized modern Zionist movement. * Beginning of Englands 28-year mandate over Eretz Yisrael, 1920. This date became known as San Remo Day. * The British mandate over Eretz Yisrael came to an end, 1948, exactly 28 years after it began. * The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon invaded Israel, 1948. * The Arab Legion captured Neveh Yaakov, the last Jewish settlement north of Yerushalayim, 1948. Monday, 7 Iyar * Dedication of the walls around Yerushalayim, built by Nechemia, 443 BCE (or 370 BCE) * Beginning of the Rindfleisch massacres in Rottingen, 1298. The Jews were accused of profaning the Christians' 'holy' wafer, and pogroms led by the anti-Semitic Rindfleish broke out in Reutlingen against the Jews. Within half a year, 150 Jewish communities throughout Germany and Austria were destroyed and thousands of Jews martyred. * After a battle of almost two years Asser Levy, one of the original 23 settlers of New Amsterdam (New York), was allowed to serve on guard duty, 1657. Levy, who was the town shochet, opened his slaughterhouse on what is now Wall Street. * In Palma Majorca, after 150 years of freedom from the Inquisition, an investigation led to the conviction of 219 people, 1691. All agreed to be reconciled with the Church, but after some tried to flee the island and were caught, 37 were burned to death for relapsing to heresy. Among them were Raphael Benito and his sister Catalina, who jumped into the flames rather than be baptized. * Jordanannexes West Bank, including East Yerushalayim, in 1948. * After 16 days of bloodshed, Hizbullah terrorists pledsged to end the worst fighting in the Mideast in three years, agreeing to a US-brokered truce with Israel, 1996. Tuesday, 8 Iyar * Jewish community of Speyer was massacred in the First Crusade, 1096, commemorated in the Kinah "Mi Yitein Roshi Mayim", we say on Tisha B'Av. (Yated 2007 states this occurred on 2 Iyar) * Venicebecame the first city in the world where the term ghetto was associated with the Jewish quarter, when the Jews were compelled to move into a restricted area, 1516. The first official document which uses the word ghetto to describe an area restricted to the residence of Jews exclusively was a papal edict from 1562. * Many Jews perished in anti-Jewish riots in Lemberg (Lvov), 1667. The anniversary was proclaimed a fast-day. * The Venetian armies' attack on Aegean Island, which had a sizeable number of Jews, was beaten off, 1669. In commemoration, the local Jews instituted an annual celebration. * The last illegal refugee boats "For Victory" and "Israel" which departed from Italy reach the Tel Aviv coast, 1948. During 1934-1948, illegal boats brought 110,000 European refugees to Israel. * Israelcaptured Acco, 1948. Wednesday, 9 Iyar * Jews of England were thrown into prison on charges of coining, 1278. * End of a three-month period of grace, given by the Portuguese to the Jews of Brazil to leave the country, 1654. Those who remained after this deadline were surrendered to the Inquisition. * Jews of Corfu were granted the right to practice law, 1680. Thursday, 10 Iyar * The Warsaw Ghetto was reduced to ashes and the uprising came to an end after an active resistance of four weeks, 1943. * Anti-Jewish riots broke out in Shpola and Ananyev, Russia, 1881. Friday, 11 Iyar * The first printed edition of Mishnayos with Rambam's commentary was published in Naples, 1492. * 1,500 Hebrew books and manuscripts were seized in Frankfort, Germany, 1510. * The Judenordnung provided for the abolition of discriminatory laws enacted against the Jews of Galicia, Austria, 1789. * Anti-Jewish riots broke out in Wasilkow and Konotop, Russia, 1881. * The famous Tolmatsky Synagogue of Warsaw was dynamited by order of General Jurgen Stroop, 1943. It marked the last German "major operation" in the liquidation of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. * The Syrian army, which had advanced to Deganya, was halted and repulsed, 1948. The defeat of the Syrians was Israel's first significant victory in the 1948 war. Shabbos, 12 Iyar * Tel Aviv was ravaged by Arabs and Djemal Pasha announced that it was the intention of the Turkish government to purge Eretz Yisrael of its Jewish population, 1917. * Israel admitted as the 59th member of the UN, 1949, on the anniversary of Turkey's declaration in 1917, of its intention to expel the entire Jewish population from Eretz Yisrael. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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