This Shabbos is the Yahrtzeit of the Tzadik of Radomsk Zt"l.
His popular Sefer "Tiferes Shlomo" is a master work of Chassidus in it's great warmth.
He would often visit the Apte Rebbe Zt"l and Reb Simcha Bunim of Pashischa Zt"l and he would visit the Divrei Chaim of Zanz Zt"l infrequently.
The Teffilos of the "Radomsker" were known to bring all those around him to great Hisorerus.
Yehi Zichro Baruch!
This month we all commemorate the Yartzeit of the two Manhegei Hador, Maran Harav Yaakov Kaminetsky & Maran the Posek Hador Harav Moshe Feinstein, Zichronom l'virocho.
These two Gedolim led Klal Yisroel and the Olam Hatorah for 4 decades if not more.
Rav Aharon Kotler Zt"l, once declared that the Pashtus of Rav Yaakov belies his greatness in Torah.
Maran Harav Moshe Zt"l, the Posek Hador whose Halachic genius has not seen such parallel in America, wWas also the Gadol of "Midos" in America.
Yehi Zichrom Baruch!
This Wednesday nite begins the Yahrtzeit of the Great Gaon and Tzadik - Harav Leibel'e Aiger Zy"a.
Rav Leibel'e Aiger was a grandson of the Gaon of his "Dor", Rav Akiva Aiger zt"l.
He was also a Talmid of the Cheidushei Hari'm zt"l.
Rav Leibe'le married a woman from Lublin where he set up residence. Lublin was a city considered a metropolis of Chassidus. The spirit of the "Choze" Of Lublin hovered over the city.
Rav Leibe'le davened in the Bais Medrash of the "Choze".
Subsequently he became close to the Kodosh Rav M. Mendel of Kotzk Zt"l. Eventually his grandfather, Rav Akiva Aiger zt"l embraced his grandson realizing that he truly was a great person.
In the "Kotzker" Rebbe's surroundings he met the "Ishbetzer" Zy"a. He became very devoted to the "Ishbetzer".
Rav Leibel'e Aiger was Niftar on the same day of the month as his Rebbe, The "Kotzker".
YEHI ZICHRO BARUCH!!!
The twenty first day of Kislev will be fifty years since the Petira of Rav Tzvi (Hersh) Pesach Frank, zt"l the "Yerushalayimer Rav".
Born in Kovna to his father Rav Yehuda Leib Frank, Zt"l . In this town of Kovna the great Rav Leibele Kovner, Zt"l served as Rav of the city. In Kovna there were great Rabbonim such as Maran Rav Yehoshua Leib, zt"l, Maran Harav Yitzchok Elchonon & Maran Harav Yisroel Salanter, zt"l.
At a very young age he made a decision to focus on Ruchniyus only. While others played he learned.
His mother once shared a story about her young Son's priorities. When she once gave him spending money she discovered that he put the money in the Shul Tzadaka box.
For a short period of time he learned under the Gaon Harav Aharon Walkin, zt"l known as the "Zkan Aharon".
He finally decided to cross the river and learn in the great Bais Medrash of Slabodka. The Rosh Yeshiva at that time was "Rav Itzel of Ponovez", Zt"l.
Rav Itzel, Zt"l conquered the Yeshiva world with his creative Torah thoughts.
Rav Tzvi Pesach was 17 years of age when he was accepted into Slabodka. The Rosh Yeshiva had genuine admiration for this young boy.
(To be Cont'd)
This coming Sunday, 21 kislev marks the Yohrtzeit of one of the surviving Rebbes from pre holocaust, who managed to re-build an empire of Torah and chassidus. Despite his frail body, and his many different illnesses, the ADMU"R Reb Yochonon of Karlin Stolin was determined in his mission to secure the continuity of this holy dynasty and the legacy and derech in avodah of his forefathers.
Reb Yochonon was the youngest son of Stoliner Rebbe, Reb Yisroel. Soon after his father's passing in 1921, he moved to the city of his In Laws Olik. Later, upon the request of Stoliner Chassidim in Lutzk (a.k.a. Loitzk), the Rebbe opened his court there. The Rebbe also established a Yeshiva there where he demanded from the bochurim to toil in Torah and farther themselves from "havlei olam". The avodas hatfilah and simcha shel mitzvah were evident on all those who remained in the Rebbe's court.
Before world war 2 broke out, the Rebbe traveled to E"Y to shake the Heavens and beg mercy for Polish Jewry. In the Yeshiva the Rebbe kept telling the bochurim "hot rachmonis un toot Tshuva". He mentioned that black clouds were evident over European Jewry.
As the war broke out the Rebbe promised that him and the Deutch will not meet up, and so it was throughout the war. The Rebbe fled from Lutzk and wherever he came they discovered that the Germans had just enterd their previous haven. So it was, until the Rebbe reached the city of Frunza. The Rebbe settled there disclosed as an ordinary Jew with his Rebbetzin and 2 daughters. Also accompanying the Rebbe was a gabbai, who was later arrested by the communists, survived the war and immigrated to Israel many years later. A short time after the Rebbe arrived to Frunza his Rebbetzin and daughter passed away of food poisoning, leaving the Rebbe alone with just one daughter in this difficult time. The Rebbe however, did not compromise his hamodoh b'Torah and dikduk bmitzvohs.
Immediately after the war the Rebbe arrived (miracuously) back to Feldefing Germany in the DP Camps he maintained his disguise, and didn't reveal to anyone his identity, despite the fact that it may have offered him preferential treatment by the other survivors. Everyone who was with him including the Bluzhever Rebbe, Reb Hershale of Spinka and others felt that this was a holy man, but he kept to himself. In the mean time his Brother, the Stoliner Rebbe of Brooklyn (later niftar in Detroit), made efforts to get R' Yochonon documents to migrate to E"Y/US.
On 6 Iyar, 5706, the Rebbe got on a boat for E"Y. On that day his brother was niftar in the US. The Rebbe was now the only surviving brother from the holy dynasty of Karlin Stolin.
Immediately when he came off the boat in Cheifa, he said to the Chassidim "we were considering settling in Eretz Yisroel as an ordinary citizen, but now that we have undertaken the leadership, we will lead with our last drop of blood". The Rebbe immediately began working with the youth, being mekarev bochurim and demanding the highest standards of limud Hatorah and avodah. The Rebbe settled in Cheifa and occasionally visited the chasidim in Yerusholayim, Tel Aviv, Tverya and Tzfas.
Several years later the Rebbe, upon the request of the Stoliner chassidim in the US, and due to the Rebbe's health deterioration the Rebbe came to Brooklyn, NY. Immediately after his arrival, the Rebbe founded a Yeshiva and began building up a Chabura of Bochurim, bnei aliya.
After Yisurim noiroim, which the Rebbe suffered, not for him, but rather for the Klal,as he stated, the Rebbe passed on to the coming world, on 21 Kislev, 5716.
The Rebbe was buried in NJ on condition, that they may move him later. The Rabbonim in E"Y (Tchebiner Rov and Reb Hersh Pesach Frank) paskened that the guf kadosh be brought to E"Y, being that it was his ratzon. The body was removed 16 months after the petirah and in the words of the Chevra Kadisha of Tverya, the body was complete, like the day he was niftar. Rima lo shalta bei.
Zchuso Yogein Oleinu!
Karlin Stolin continues to be a well known Empire of Torah and chasidus under the guidance and leadership of the ADMU"R of Karlin Stolin, the oldest son of the previous Rebbe's dughter.
The great Gaon, Maran Harav Hutner, Zt"l was and IS STILL the Rebbe of thousands in Eretz Yisroel and in Chutz L'aretz.
He contributed a new depth to Mussar and Machshava. That depth was part of his inner being and not a strategy for inspiring students.
His Seforim "Pachad Yitzchok" are textbooks of riveting concepts in Machshava. But more important he was a text "Person" of the depth of his thought.
But his depth did not limit itself to Machshava and Mussar. His concern for his Talmidim, his understanding of people was so unique, so profound .... that when a person would speak to him they would feel the piercing perception of a Gadol B'yisroel.
His Yartzeit is on the twentieth of Kislev.
Known as the "Iluy of Warsaw" Maran Harav Hutner, zt"l wrote his first Sefer on Rambam Hilchos Neziros which was decorated by an unusual Haskama from Maran Harav Chaim Ozer, zt"l who declared "Ashrei Yoladeto".
(To be cont'd)
On the 17th of Kislev is the Yartzeit of Rav Yosef Yozel, zt"l known as the Alter of Novardok.
Born in the Lithuanian city of Plunigan, Rav Yozel was blessed with great talents as a young child.
His depth of conviction was noticed early on in his youth. He was a great Masmid with a sharp mind. At the age of 17 he wrote a Chibur on the "Ketzos Hachoshen".
For a short while, Rav Yozel was a successful business man. He made more than a living.
When he met Maran R' Yisroel Salanter, zy"a, His life turned around.
He established the 80 branches of Novardok thru-out Russia.
Navardok had great students such as Rav Avrohom Yaffen, zt"l , the Steipler, zt"l , R' Binyomin Silber, zt"l etc...
The distinct approach to Mussar was difficult for some but proved to cultivate great Baalei Mussar who led the Mussar movement years later.
Yehi Zichro Baruch!!!
The name 'Modzitz' to most is synonomous with "Nigun".
The Modzitzer Rebbe, Reb Yisroel Zt"l was one who had the unique power of Kiruv thru song.
On Yomim Tovim thousands would come to Modzitz to hear the Niggunim song in the Beis Medrash of Modzitz.
The Rebbe zt"l published his sefer Divrei Yisroel during his lifetime.
The Rebbe zt"l used to say "When I hear one singing I could determine where he is holding in Yiras Shomayim".
His Yahrtzeit is on the thirteenth of Kislev.
Yehi Zichro Baruch!
A Talmid of Volozin. He was known as the "Genius from Bakst". At the age of 8 he was versed in most of Shas. At his Bar Mitzva he was considered a "Charif" and very knowledgable in all of Shulchan Aruch.
Before he was thirty he was appointed Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka and his brother in law, Maran Harav Isser Z. Meltzer, zt"l joined him very soon after.
When he was close to sixty he moved the Yeshiva to Chevron in Eretz Yisroel. A year later he travelled thru Eretz Yisroel to give Chizuk to those living in Eretz Yisroel. He was joined by Maran Harav Kook and Maran Harav Isser Zalman Mektzer Zt"l.
After the tragic slaughter in Chevron, where 24 Talmidim were killed. He moved the yeshiva to Yerushalayim.
He is the author of the popular sefer "Levush Mordechai".
YEHI ZICHRO BARUCH!!
This Erev Shabbos is the Yartzeit of the Kaminetzer Rosh Yeshiva, zt"l at the early age of 16 he became a Talmid Muvhak of Rav Chaim of Brisk, zt"l.
His legendary Hasmada and enthusiastic style of learning made an indelible impression on his Talmidim.
He was Rosh Yeshiva of Kaminetz for 18 years.
The Lakewood Mashgiach, zt"l repeated the words of the Kaminetzer Rosh Yeshiva, zt"l that the measure of Ahavas Hashem is based upon a persons disdain for evil, "Ohavey Hashem Sinou Ra"
Yehi Zichro Baruch!
Klal Yisroel celebrates the Yom Zikoron of Maran Harav A. Kotler, zt"l founder and Rosh Yeshivas Beis Midrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.
HaRav Kotler, zt"l Rebuilt torah to a way that it was Familiar to Lithuanian Yeshivos.
HaRav Kotler was a child prodigy who was one of the most creative minds amongst Talmedei Chachomim.
Today Lakewood boasts an enrollment of nearly 6,000 students.
Yehi Zichro Baruch
The Yarhtzeit of the great Tzadik is on the 30th of Cheshvon.
He was the Talmid Muvhak of the Tzadik, R' Mendel Rimonover, zy"a.
Lengthy stories are told & passed on about his simplicity in his greatness.
One great Chassidic Rebbe, zt"l wrote about him that "It is an inspiring sight to watch R' Hershel zt"l take his 3 steps back at the end of Shmoneh Esre, as one can see how he feels so humble in front of his creator"
ZECHUSO YAGEN ALAYNU!!!
The son of Hadmor of Rozin, zt'l the Tzotkever Rebbe, zt'l attracted thru his torah & avoda, thousands of followers.
Currently there are numerous Seforim from the Rebbe, zt'l.
The seforim are rich in content and talk to the mind and heart.
The Tzotkever Rebbe, zt'l was the son in law of the Tchenobler Rebbe, zt'l.
The Gaon of his Generation, Harav Meir Arik, zt'l consistently praised the great Tzortkever Rebbe, zt'l.
Yehi Zichro Baruch!
The 14th of Cheshvon is a tearful memory of the murder of The Kadosh, H'Admor R' A Elimelech of Karlin, zt'l.
At the age of 21 he assumed the leadership of Chasedei Stolin despite his reticence to do so.
His salient virtue was his Midas Ha'Anivus which was tangible in all his Avodas Hashem.
He was zoche to visit Eretz Yisroel a few times. The last just 4 years before he was murdered.
Yehi zichro baruch!
