Today’s Yahrtzeits and History – 27 Elul

Rav Moshe Segal of Lvov, known as Rosh Hagolah Umanhig Hamedinah (1719).

Rav Yitzchak Chiyus, Rav in Skolya (1726). Author of of the Mishnah commentary, Zera Yitzchak

Rav Nosson Adler, teacher of the Chasam Sofer, author of Mishnah DiRabi Nasan (1800)

Rav Yaakov Leib of Kvahl (1833)

Rav Shalom Rokeach of Belz (the Sar Shalom), founder of Belz Chassidus (1779-1855). Born in Brody and orphaned at a young age, he was brought up by his uncle, Rav Yissachar Ber, Rav of Skol (Sokohl). He was nurtured by his mentors, the Chozeh of Lublin and Rav Shlomo Lutzker, the Divras Shlomo. In 1817, he was appointed Rav of Belz, and he in 1843, the famed Belz Beis Hamedrash was completed. (It was entirely destroyed during World War II, but a replica was built in Yerushalayim years later). Among his early students was Rav Shlomo Kluger of Brody. Since the beginnings of the movement, the misnagdim had accused chasidim of devoting too much time to joyous celebrations in fellowship with their rebbes, at the expense of Torah study. By stressing the overriding importance of in-depth Torah study, the Belzer Rebbe removed the stigma of superficiality that had plagued Chasidism. He was succeeded by his son, Rav Yehoshua. In the 1940s, the Nazis all but wiped out the splendor that was Belz. After the war, the remnants of Belzer Chasidus – under the leadership of the surviving scion of the Belz dynasty, the young Rabbi Yissachar Dov – miraculously restored the former grandeur of Belz. Today the glorious new Belzer yeshivah building graces the Jerusalem skyline. Some of his teachings are recorded in the sefer, Dover Shalom.

Rav Binyamin Tzvi Auerbach (1808-1873).. Born to Rav Avraham, a mohel in Strasburg, in France, he served as a rabbi in Darmstadt for ten years after earning semicha as well as a PhD in philosophy and Semitic languages. While living in Frankfurt, Rav Auerbach wrote the sefer Bris Avraham in memory of his father. He also spent much of his time editing the sefer Ha’Eshkol, written by the Raavad of Norvona. Years later, when he became the Rav of Halberstat, he published his work as a commentary named Nachal Eshkol.

Rav Moshe Nota Yungreis, the Menuchas Asher (1889). [this may be an error; Asher Anshel Jungreisz is the mechaber of Menuchas Asher].

Today in History – 27 Elul

· Expulsion of Jews from Frankfurt, commemorated as a Taanis Tzibur, 1614
· Jews of New York barred from voting, 1737.
· First Jew known to have settled in Canada, 1760.
· Kiev fell to Germany, 1941.
· Rabin signed the Oslo Accords with PLO terrorist leader Arafat, 1993. A historic handshake is made between Prime Minister Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat on the White House lawn.

{Yahrtzeits licensed to Matzav.com by Manny Saltiel and Anshe.org/Matzav.com Newscenter}