Yahrtzeit

It’s 5:30 in the morning here. We were a half-hour from Meron when we heard the news. Without hesitation, we immediately turned around and headed back home, watching an endless stream of emergency vehicles rush past us in the other direction. I can’t sleep. I’m trying to work out my feelings, process different possible approaches…

3 Iyar is the yathrzeit of the legendary tzaddik, Reb Shayele Steiner of Kerestir – Reb Yeshaya ben Moshe zy”a, who was known for his unconditional ahavas Yisroel and the amazing power of his berachos. Because he passed away in 5685/1925, there are many people alive today who heard miraculous stories from people that witnessed…

IN THE BEGINNING of night on the fourteenth of Nissan, we check the places in our property where chametz may have been brought by the light of a candle (or, if one is unable, a flashlight – see Halichos Shlomo vol 1, 5:11 and Piskei Teshuvos 431:2). Tosafos and other Rishonim explain that while a…

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov was born on Shabbos Hachodesh/Rosh Chodesh Nissan. While one source suggests it was the year 5531, Reb Nosson says that it was the year 5532. (Chayei Moharan 104. In both years, Rosh Chodesh Nissan fell on Shabbos). There is an amazing remez to 5532 being the correct year, as this would…

29 Adar is the yahrzeit of the author of Tiferes Shlomo, Rav Shlomo (ben Dov Tzvi) HaKohen of Radomsk zy”a. Tiferes Shlomo, which consists of two volumes, one on Torah and one on Moadim, is considered one of the classics of Sifrei Chassidus. He was a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, Rav Meir of…

21 Adar is the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech (ben Eliezar Lipman) of Lizhensk zy”a, known as “The Rebbe of Rebbes” due to the many great tzaddikim that were counted among his disciples. He was one of the numerous great talmidim of the great Maggid of Mezeritch, together with his legendary brother, the Rebbe…

Rav Alexander Ziskind (ben Moshe) of Horodna zy”a, author of sefer Yesod Veshoresh Ha’avodah, left this world 18 Adar Beis 5554/1794. I would humbly suggest that one who seeks to attain an “inner feel” for the Yomim Tovim and davening should begin with this sefer. Although not a “chassid” in the colloquial sense, Rav Ziskind…

11 Adar Aleph is the yahrzeit of Rav Avrohom (ben Zev Nochum) Bornstein of Sochatchov zy”a, author of sefer Avnei Nezer (responsa) (by whose title he is bets known), and Eglei Tal (on the 39 melachos). His Rebbe and father-in-law, the Kotzker Rebbe, told his chassidim that the reason Reb Zev Nochum of Biala merited having a…

The Chida passed away Friday night of Shabbos Zachor, 11 Adar 5566/1806. Rav Chaim Yosef Dovid (ben Refael Yitzchok Zerachia) Azulai zy’a was a talmid of very great tzaddikim, including the Ohr Hachaim Hakodosh and Rav Sholom Sharabi. He was a great-great-grandson of the great Mekubal, Rav Avrohom Azulai, author of Chessed L’Avrahom. Originally interred…

Mishnas Chassidim Rav Immanuel Chai (ben Avrohom) Riki zy”a, H”yd was murdered on 1 Adar 5503/1743. He is the author of Mishnas Chassidim, the name he is best known by, and many other seforim. (I’ve seen the name Refael added before Immanuel, but don’t know why. None of his seforim I have seen include Refael,…