Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach (1894-2001). Born in Vaboilnick, Lithuania, and left for Ponevezh (38km away) at age 7. Learned at Slabodka under Rav Yechezkel Bernstein (Divrei Yechezkel), then under
the Alter (Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, and developed a close relationship with Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, whose niece Rav Shach eventually married. In 1927, he served as Rosh Mesivta at Kletzk under Rav Aharon Kotler, holding the same position at Novardok from 1932-34. In 1951, he started his career as Rosh Yeshiva at Ponevezh under Rav Yosef Kahanemen.
Rav Simcha Sheps, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas for over 50 years
Today in History – 16 Cheshvan
· Jews, with the exception of peddlers and petty traders, are granted civil rights in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, formerly part of the kingdom of Westphalia, 1833. Emancipation is granted to the remainder of German Jews nearly 40 years later.
· Ulysses S. Grant (future president of the U.S.A.) orders Jews barred from service under his command, during the civil war 1862.
· 1500 Jews of Kolomyya, Galicia and 15,000 Jews of Rowno, Poland massacred by the Nazis, 1941.
· Aliya of Yemenite Jews began, 1949. Operation Magic Carpet brings almost 40,000 Jews from Yemen to Israel.
· Reb Shlomo Carlebach, the foremost Jewish songwriter in the 2nd half of the 20th century, passes away, 1994.
{Anshe.org/Matzav.com Newscenter}
There was a closed meeting between the Gedolei Yisroel, headed by the Gadol HaDor Rav Chaim Oizer Grodzinsky. Shock and confusion permeated the room when all of a sudden the door bursts open. A young man, marches right up to Reb Chaim Oizer, gasping as if for his dear life. He exchanged a few rather intense arguments with Rav Chaim Oizer. The Rabbis got up to stop this apparently brazen young man shouting at Rabbi chaim Oizer, but he motioned to them to leave him alone. When this young man was satisfied with the Rabbi’s answer he marched right out as if nothing out of the ordinary had ever taken place.
When Reb Chaim Oizer saw the hurt and shock written all over their faces, he explained; this young man is such a pure soul immersed in torah to such an extent that it’s his blood life and oxygen and he has absolutely no idea what’s going on around him. When he comes across a difficulty and can’t understand what the gemara is saying he chokes up as if trying to catch his breath. Hence, this young man doesn’t have the slightest idea that there is a meeting taking place now in this room. Nor does he know for that matter that there’s a whole room filled with the most distinguish Rabbis currently in session. When I finally answered his question to his satisfaction it was as if he caught his breath and he was able to function again.
When the Stoliner Rebbe, who was present at the meeting heard that, he told Reb Chaim Oizer, a Torah scholar that has such a genuine burning desire for dvar Hashem, I want him as Rosh Yeshiva of my yeshiva. Hence the first official position of the Gadol who was later to become the Gadol HaDor Rav Elazar Menachem Shach zt”l, was as Rosh Yeshiva of Karlin Stolin.