6 Teves
-Rav Yaakov Reischer, author of Minchas Yaakov, Chok Yaakov, Iyun Yaakov (peirush on Eyn Yaakov), and Shevus Yaakov (1661-1733). Born in Prague. Served as Rav in Reische, Worms, and Metz. [9 Shvat, according to some].
-Rav Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, the Shinover Rav (1815-1899). He was born in Rudnick, Galicia, eldest son of Rav Chaim of Sanz. He was an ardent follower of Rav Asher of Ropshitz, and a chossid of Rav Tzvi Hirsh of Rymanov, Rav Shalom of Belz, and Rav Meir of Premishlan. Tragically, he was married and widowed 5 times. His first wife was the grand-daughter of the Yismach Moshe, Rav Moshe Teitelbaum of Mujehly, Hungary. He is known as the Divrei Yechezkel.
-Rav Chaim Shlomo of Koson (1919)
-Rav Alter Yisrael Shimon Perlow of Novominsk (1873-1933). Author of Tiferes Ish. Scion of the dynasties of Ustila, Koidanov, Lehovitch, Karlin, Apt, Czernobyl and Berdichev, Rabbi Alter Yisrael Shimon settled in Warsaw in 1917. He knew the whole Mishna by heart and to the end of his life he reviewed eighteen chapters every day.
-Rav Chaim Meidanik (1954). Rav in Chicago and author of Mazkeres Chaim and Hegyonei Chaim.
-Rebbetzin Beila Morgenstern (1908-2006). First-born daughter of the Admor of Ozerov-Chenchin, Rav Moshe Yechiel Epstein, author of Aish Das and Be’er Moshe. She married Rav Tzvi Hershel Morgenstern, a descendent of the Kotzker Rebbe. Her husband served as a principal of the Bronx Bais Yaakov. She always recited the entire sefer tehillim on the yahrtzeit of every one of her noble forefathers and asked Hasehm that their merit should protect all of klal Yisrael. Among her grandchildren are Rav Dovid Altusky and Rav Yechiel Altusky.
7 Teves
-Rav Moshe Dovid Walli (Vally; Vali) (1697-1777). The foremost talmid of Ramchal in Padua, Italy, he practiced as a physician in Padova. When the Ramchal was forced to leave Italy, Rav Moshe Dovid was appointed head of the his academy in Padova. Also known as the Rama”d Vali, he wrote a commentary on commentary on Chumash (Ohr Olam on Breishis; Bris Olam on Shemos; Avodas Hakodesh on Vayikra; Shivtei Kah on Bamidbar; Mishna Lamelech on Devarim), Na”Ch, Likkutim.
-Rav Tzvi Hersh, son of the Baal Shem Tov (1779)
-Rav Raphael Shlomo Laniado (1740-1793). Originating from Spain through their progenitor, Rav Shmuel, the Laniado family was among the most famous and well-established in the Syrian city of Chaleb. Rav Raphael Shlomo Laniado was a prolific writer, and he is well-known for the several halachic works: HaMaalos LeShlomo, Beis Dino Shel Shlomo, Lechem Shlomo, and Kisei Shlomo.
-Rav Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Ishbitz (1800-1854 [1878, according to some), founder of the Chassidic Court at Ishbitz after leading a group of disciples from the court of Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. Born in Tomashov, Poland in 1800, he was a childhood friend of Reb Menachem Mendel Morgenstern, later to become the Kotzker Rebbe, and they studied together in the school of the Chasidic Master, Reb Simcha Bunim of Pshiske. His sefer. Mei HaShiloach, is considered a fundamental work of Izhbitz and Radziner chasidus. Among his talmidim were Rav Tzadok HaCohen miLublin and Rav Leibel Eiger.
-Rav Shalom Yosef Friedman of Husyatin (1879 [1851, according to Yated 2007]). Sone of the 1st Rebbe of Husyatin, Rav Mordechai Shraga (the youngest son of the Rizhiner Rebbe, who had moved to Husyatin in 1865 and was nifter in 1894. He was the father of Rav Moshe of Boyan-Cracow (“Reb Moshenu”).
-Rav Yosef Elyashiyov (2007). Born in the former Soviet Union to Rav Tzion, who was killed by the authorities for his efforts to promote Judaism, he moved from Samarkand to Tashkent after marrying; there he and his wife raised their seven children. While living in Tashkent he had to spend seven years away from home — four years in custody on suspicion of underground religious activity and three years hiding from the KGB, who had him under surveillance for his activities to promote Judaism. In 1971, he managed to secure an exit visa and left his home and his family, traveling to Eretz Yisroel. He opened the first Shaarei Tzion institutions in 1980, naming them after his father. He then started a kollel with the goal of drawing avreichim from Bukharan families as well as a school in Kiryat Ono for Bukharan immigrants. Today, a total of 4,500 students, from kindergartners to avreichim, study at Shaarei Tzion institutions.
Today in History – 6 Teves
· First edition of the Sefer Mitzvos HaGadol published in Soncino, Italy, 1488.
· Ku Klux Klan founded in Tennessee, 1865
· Founding of Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak by Rav Eizik Sher, son-in-law of Rav Nosson Nota Finkel, the Alter from Slabodka
· The U.S. embassy in Kuwait was bombed, killing six and wounding scores of others, 1983. The bombers were tied to al-Dawa, a terror organization backed by Iran
Today in History – 7 Teves
· Three leaders of Babylonian Jewry were arrested by Persian officials, sparking a wave of persecution of the Jews of Bavel, 468.
· Board of Deputies of British Jews was founded, 1760.
· Supposed liberties granted Russian Jews by the Czar Alexander Iin 1804, actually spelled economic ruin for much of the Jewish community.
· The Prussian government decreed that Jewish services must be conducted in strict adherence to Jewish Tradition, 1823. The decree was solicited by the religious Jewish community in order to fight against the new Reform movement.
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