Reb Yaakov Moshe Shurkin , Rosh Mesivta Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin (1963)

Bobover Rebbe - Reb Shlomo Halberstam, son of Reb Ben Zion (1874-1942), son of Reb Shlomo, founder of the Bobov dynasty and grandson of the illustrious Divrei Chaim of Sanz. At the outbreak of World War II, he and his father escaped to Lemberg. On the fourth of Av 1941 his father was killed, and Reb Shlomo escaped to the Bochnia Ghetto. In Bochnia, the Rebbe lost his Rebbetzin and two children. He managed to escape with his only surviving child, Naftali, to Budapest, and then to Bucharest. Reb Shlomo is believed to have been the last remaining Chassidic rabbi to have survived the Holocaust. Born in the Galicia region of central Europe, Rabbi Halberstam arrived in the United States in 1946, alone and indigent after his group was largely obliterated by the Nazis. During the war, Rabbi Halberstam dressed up as a nun in order to rescue other Jews, hiding them in the false bottom of a coal truck. Rabbi Halberstam is widely credited with rebuilding the Bobover community in the United States. (1908-2000)

Reb Moshe Stern, Av beis din Debrecin 5757 - 1997 Debreciner Rov, author of Beer Moshe

Reb Aharon Tumim (1630-1690). The Rov in Prague from 1659 to 1672, Reb Aharon became Rosh Yeshiva in Worms in 1672. He wrote Mateh Aharon on the Hagadah. In 1687, he accepted a position of Rov of Krakow, but because of political circumstances, he delayed his departure until 1690. Shortly after he left Worms, the city was destroyed by the troops of King Louis XIV. He served in Krakow four months before a Polish nobleman had him arrested; he died as a result of torture.

Reb Shmuel Salir, the "Shem Mishmuel"

The Skwere Rebbe's Zt”l Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Mordechu, the first Skveere Rebbe in America, buried in Long Island New York

Reb Menachem Azariah from Pano, Italian mekubal, known as Rema miPano 1620

Reb Benzion Halberstam of Bobov,(1874-1941). Great-grandson of Reb Chaim Halberstam, the Divrei Chaim. Was murdered with 20,000 Jews; survived by two sons - Reb Shlomo Halberstam, the Bobover Rebbe (d. 2000), and Reb Yecheczkel Dovid (d. 1978), as well as 7 daughters, the oldest of which was Devora Leah Twerski, of Milwaukee

Reb Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi from Tzefas, the ARI (1534-1572), born in Jerusalem, son of Reb Shlomo Luria Ashkenazi, who is believed to be descended from Reb Yechiel Luria, Av Beis Din of Brisk and author of "Chochmas Shlomo on Shas and the Yad Shel Shlomo. His father passed away shortly after his birth, and Reb Klominus taught him. He and his family moved to Egypt when Ran Klominus died. There he learned with Reb Dovid ben Zamra, the Radvaz from age 14. Among the other talmidim was Reb Betzaelel Ashkenazi, author of Shitas Mekubetzes. He moved to Tzfas at age 36, in the Same year that the Ramak, Reb Moshe Cordovero, was niftar. He was niftar 2 years later. Below is a Photo of Grave of the ARI in TZFAS

Reb Chaim Ozer Grodzensky of Vilna (1863-1940) see www.famousrabbis.com/Reb Chaim Ozer . Born in Ivye, a small town near Vilna where his father (a talmid of Reb Yisroel Salanter) was Rov for forty years, preceded by his grandfather who had also served as Rav there for forty years, Reb Chaim Ozer was gifted with an infallible memory - never experiencing "forgetting," as he himself remarked, until his old age. At 15 years of age, he went to the yeshiva of Volozhin and was immediately accepted in Reb Chaim Brisker's select group. He married the daughter of the Vilna dayan, Reb Lazer, son-in-law of Reb Yisrael Salanter at the age of 20. Two years later, his father-in-law died, and he took the position of dayan in Vilna, and over the next 55 years, he became the unofficial Rov of Vilna. His only child, a girl of seventeen, became ill, was bedridden for three years, and died at twenty. Reb Chaim Ozer was one of the founders of Agudath Israel and the pillar of the movement throughout his life. He authored Sheilos Utshuvos Achi’ezer. With his petira, the Jewish people lost three giants in 10 months: On 9 Cheshvan, we lost Reb Shimon Shkop, Rosh Yeshiva in Telshe for 25 years, and in Grodno. Reb Boruch Ber Levovitz of Kamenitz, died on 5 Kislev.

Reb Gedalyah Chiyun (1750). Born in Turkey, he founded the Yeshivas Beis Kel (in 1732), which studied Kaballah according to the approach of the ARI. His teacher was the great mekubal, Reb Chaim Alfandari. His greatest student was Reb Shalom Sharabi (Rashash) of Yemen.

Reb Binyomin Paler (1908-2000), a Talmid Muvhak of the Brisker Rov . Reb Yitzchok Zev HaLevi Soloveitchik. His mother was a direct descendent of the Rema. Born in Brisk, Reb Binyomin studied in Toras Chessed of Reb Moshe Sokolovski, author of the Imrei Moshe. In 1931, he transferred to the yeshiva of Reb Velvel Soloveitchik, the Rov of Brisk. He traveled with the Mir yeshiva to Shanghai, where he drew close to the mashgiach, Reb Yechezkel Levenstein. After the war, he arrived in the United Sates and founded the Beis HaTalmud yeshiva in Brooklyn. Soon afterward he married the daughter of Reb Shmuel Ehrenfeld of Mattersdorf. In 1967, he founded the Mekor Chaim yeshiva, where he taught for over thirty years .

Reb Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld of Mattersdorf

Reb Shalom Noach Brazovsky, the Slonimer Rebbe (1911-2000). Born in Baranovich (today in Belarus), where his father, Reb Moshe Avrohom, was the Rosh Hakahal. Baranovich was the home of the Slonimer Rebbe, Reb Avrohom Weinberg, and his yeshiva, Toras Chessed. (Reb Weinberg, known as the "Bais Avraham," was a great-grandson and namesake of the first Slonimer Rebbe, known as the "Yesod Ha'avodah." Reb Brazovsky's mother was a granddaughter of Reb Hillel, a brother of the "Yesod Ha'avodah.") The future Reb Brazovsky studied in Yeshivas Toras Chessed under its rosh yeshiva, Reb Avrohom Shmuel Hirshovitz (a grandson of Reb Eliezer Gordon of Telz), and its mashgiach, Reb Moshe Midner (a grandson of the "Yesod Ha'avodah" and a student of Reb Chaim "Brisker" Soloveitchik). He thus absorbed Talmudic studies in the Lithuanian style with traditional chassidic teachings. Shortly before his own passing in 1933, the Bais Avraham recommended to his cousin, Reb Avrohom Weinberg of Teveryah that he take Reb Brazovsky as a son-in-law. (Reb Avrohom's brother was the father of Reb Yaakov Weinberg, the late rosh yeshiva of Ner Israel, and Reb Noach Weinberg, founder of Aish Hatorah.) On Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, 1941, Reb Brazovsky opened the Slonimer yeshiva in Yerushalayim. With the exception of the Yesod Ha'avodah, none of the Slonimer Rebbes or their predecessors, the rebbes of Lechovitch and Kobrin, committed their teachings to writing. As part of his effort to rejuvenate Slonimer chassidus, Reb Brazovsky was responsible for collecting the oral traditions ascribed to these leaders in works such as Divrei Shmuel and Toras Avos. Reb Brazovsky also authored many volumes of his own teachings, including the seven-volume Nesivos Shalom. Reb Brazovsky served as the Slonimer Rebbe from his father-in- law's death in 1981.

Reb Simcha Zissel Ziv (1824-1898) "The Alter from Kelm"; disciple of Reb Yisroel Salanter; head of a famous Mussar Yeshiva, the Talmud Torah of Kelm, Lithuania.

9 Av

9 Av

Reb Yaakov Yitzchak HaLevi Horowitz, the Chozeh of Lublin (1754-1815), 8th generation from the Shelah HaKodesh; student of Reb Shmelke at Shinova and Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk

Dr Leo Deutschlander: Father of the Bais Yaakov. He synthesized Western skills and dedication with Eastern scholarship and piety see www.famousrabbis.com/Dr Leo

Yissachor ben Yaakov Avinu

Rabbi Yitzchak Abarbanel , 1437-1508). Abrabanel was born in Lisbon, Portugal. In 1471, under the leadership of Abrabanel a huge ransom was provided to secure the release of 250 Jewish would-be slaves captured in North Africa by King Alfonso of Portugal. Abarbanel later served as treasurer to King Alfonso until he was forced to move to Castile (Spain) and eventually entered the service of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1484. Despite his political influence he was unable to prevent the expulsion in 1492 and refused the king’s offer to remain at his post, choosing instead to throw in his lot with his people. He then lived in Naples, Corfu and finally in Venice, where he died. Most of his writings were composed in his later years when he was free of governmental responsibilities.

Eliyahu Hanavi went up to heaven on day after Shabbos Nachamu . See www.eliyahuhanavi.org

HaRav Shimon Ziat, one of the rabbonim of the Aram Tzova (Aleppo) community in Eretz Israel (1905-2000). When he was very young, his father passed away and, at the age of 14, he fled to Mexico City due to the hunger which prevailed in Syria after the First World War. His mentor was the mekubal HaRav Mordechai Attias. In 1961, he moved to Eretz Yisroel with his entire family, settling in Bnei Brak where his sons founded Torah institutions and taught Torah.

Reb Aharon, the Stoliner Rebbe

Reb Yitzchok Blazer, author of Pri Tzadik , 1837-1907). One of the leading disciples of Rov Yisrael Salanter, Reb Yitzchok was born in Vilna, married at the age of 15, and moved to Kovno. At the age of 15, he became the Rabbi of St. Petersburg (hence his “other” name, Reb Itzele Peterberg), a position he held for 16 years. He spent the last 3 years of his life in Yerushalayim.

Reb Mordechai Banet of Nikolsburg, Hungary, author of Parashas Mordechai (1753-1829)

Reb Tzvi Hirsch of Liska, Hungary (1798-1874)

Reb Yitzchak Friedman, the Bohusher Rebbe (1992)

Professor Dr Tadeusz Reichstein, nobel prize for chemistry for discovery of chemical formula for Vitamin C and Cortozone, respectable member of Basel Gemeinde Synagogue, Switzerland. ( 1st August 1996) buried in Basel friedhof Theodore Herzl Strasse Switzerland.

Reb Yosef Greenwald of Pupa

19 Av

20 Av

Reb Menachem Nachum of Boyan (1868-1936)

Reb Levi Yitzchok Schneerson (1878-1944). Born to Reb Boruch Schneur, the oldest of the 7 sons of the 3rd Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel (the "Tzemach Tzedek"). He was a devoted chasid of Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber Schneerson, the 5th Lubavitcher Rebbe (also known as the Rebbe Rashab.) After the Rebbe Rashab passed away, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok became equally dedicated to his successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok, or the Rebbe Rayatz. Reb Levi Yitzchok and Rebbitzen Chana had 3 sons. The oldest, Reb Menachem Mendel, became the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe. Photo above is the Grave - Tomb, inside the border are thousands of "kvitlech" - prayer requests.

Reb Eliezer of Azipalle, youngest son of Reb Yehuda Tzvi of Stretn and grandson of Reb Uri of Strelisk (1865)

First published edition of the Zohar, 1558 Please see Zohar

Reb Chaim Soleveitchik, Volozhin and Brisk (1853-1918), see www.famousrabbis.com/ Brisker Rov for life story of Reb Chaim Brisker , Reb Chaim Soleveitchik of Volozhin and Brisk (1853-1918). Son of the Beis Halevi, Reb Yosef Dov Soleveitchik, Reb Chaim was chosen to lead the yeshiva in Volozhin in 1880. In 1892, following the closing of the Volozhin yeshivah, Reb Chaim moved to Brisk where he succeeded his father as the community Rov. His oldest son was Reb Moshe, who was the father of Reb Yosef Dov and Reb Aharon Soleveitchik.

Reb Aharon Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe; known to many as Reb Arele , one of the greatest Rebbes of our generation, it was said that his feet were on earth , his head in heaven , He made aliyah in 1944 (1880-1957) buried on Har Menuchos - Reb Moshe Feinstein and Reb Yaakov Kameneztky nearby .

Reb Mordechai ben Hillel, the author known as the "Mordechai"commentary on Talmud...murdered. The "Mordechai" (1240-1298). A descendent of the Ravyah, he was a principle disciple of the Maharam miRottenberg. The Mordechai cites views of French and German authorities and brings the piskei halacha of the Tosefos without the discussion. He and his entire family were massacred during the Rindfleisch pogroms, when over 100,000 Jews in Bavaria and Austria were murdered and well over 100 communities disappeared.

24 Av

25 Av

Reb Efraim Zalman Margulies, author of Olelos Efraim (1762-1828)

Reb Yaakov Yisroel Kanievsky, the Steipler Gaon, author of Kehillas Yaakov (1899-1985) , see www.famousrabbis.com/the Steipler , Reb Yaakov Yisroel Kanievsky, the Steipler Gaon, author of Kehillas Yaakov (1899-1985). His father, Reb Chaim Peretz, was a shochet in Horensteipel. When Reb Chaim Peretz was 60 years old, his wife died, leaving him with three daughters. He asked his rebbe, Reb Mordechai Dov, the son-in-law of Reb Chaim Sanzer, whether he should remarry. On the latter’s recommendation, he married a young woman, and he fathered three sons. The oldest was Reb Yaakov Yisroel. At the age of 11, Reb Yaakov Yisroel was recruited to learn with Reb Yosef Yosel Hurvitz at Novardock. At 19, he was sent by the Alter of Novardock to head a yeshiva at Rogatshov. After a stint in the Russian army, he was appointed rosh yeshiva of Novardock at Pinsk. The Chazon Ish saught him as a husband for his sister. He authored many works, most notably Kehillas Yaakov. His son, Reb Chaim Kanievsky, is a leading Torah authority in Yisrael. For those of us that remembered his funeral in Bnei Brak on that hot sunday in August 1985 , suddenly and very strangely it rained . Many said at the time , the heavens were crying .

Reb Yoel Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe , author of V'yoel Moshe, Divrei Yoel (1887-1979). see www.famousrabbis.com / Satmar Rebbe ,

Reb Yoel Teitelbaum of Sighet, the Satmar Rebber. A descendent of the Yismach Moshe (Reb Moshe Teitelbaum of Ujhely), “Reb Yoilish” traced his ancestry to the Maharsha and the Rema. He received his early training from his father, Reb Yomtov Lipa Teitelbaum, Reb of Sighet and author of Kedushas Yomtov. He then became a chasid of Reb Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam in Shinava (the Divrei Yechezkel). At the age of 17, he was appointed Rebbe of Musza in Czechoslovakia. After appointments at Orshova and Kroli, he became Rebbe of Satmar from 1935 to 1944. He was one of 1684 Hungarian Jews saved from the Nazi killing machine as a result of the negotiations of Reb Michoel Ber Weissmandl with Adolf Eichmann. In 1946, he arrived in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and rebuilt to Satmer community. He authored V'yoel Moshe and Divrei Yoel (1888-1979). Anyone who met him , will never forget his radiant face of kindness , a glow of Godliness of a true Tzaddik .

Reb Eliyahu Baruch Goldschmidt (1935-2000). Reb Elya was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his parents had moved in 1938, along with their three-year-old son, in flight from Nazi Germany. Reb Elya moved to Lakewood in 1960 and drew close to Reb Aharon Kotler. He spent 20 years at Lakewood, followed by another 20 years as mashgiach ruchani at Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg. Reb Elya was suddenly niftar Sunday 26 Av in the midst of working on a new sefer on sholom bayis entitled Dear Son, planned as a counterpart to his best- selling Dear Daughter on the same subject.

Reb Yehuda Fatiyah, the foremost student of the Ben Ish Chai, said that he was the reincarnation of the “Noda B'Yehuda.” He said that he had to come back to the earth for although in his last lifetime, he was a tzaddik, he did not fulfill his Torah obligation to study Kabbalah. So in this life, the study of Kabbalah was his main focus and tikkun. Born in Baghdad, he eventually moved to Eretz Yisrael, where he was nifter. His most famous sefer, Minchas Yehudah, is one of the most revelatory works about demons, how they act and deceive people. He was an expert in exposing these demons and casting them out. (1859-1942)

Rov of Shanghai, Rav Meir Ashkenazi zt'l, (August 25, 1954). Please see www.famousrabbis.com/ for a full history .

Reb Yehoshua Charif of Cracow, author of Maginei Shlomo, an attempt to resolve the questions of the Baalei Tosefos against Rashi; great-grandfather of the Pnei Yehoshua; born in Vilna at end of 16th century; arrived in Cracow in 1640 as Rosh Yeshiva; replaced Reb Yoel Sirkis (the Bach) as Rov few months later, until Reb Yom Tov Lipman Heller (Tosefos Yom Tov) became Rov in 1643; among his talmidim was Reb Shabsai Cohen (the Shach); 1648.

Rabbi Avrohom Mordechai Alter -son of the Chidushei Harim and father of the Sefas Emes

Reb Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, the Netziv, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin, author of Haamek Davar (1817-1893) see www.famousrabbis.com/The Netziv , Reb Naftoli Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, the Netziv, (1817-1893). He was born in Mir, the son-in-law of Reb Isaac, son of Reb Chaim of Volozhin (1749-1821) he married the granddaughter of Reb Chaim Volozhiner when he was 14 years old. In 1849, upon the petira of Reb Yitzchak, the father-in-law of the Nertziv, Reb Yitzchak was succeeded by his older son-in-law, Reb Eliezer Yitzchak. However, he died five years later, and the Netziv was appointed Rosh Yeshiva, a position he held for 40 years. Volozhin was forcibly closed by the Russians in 1893. He wrote Haamek Davar, a commentary on the Chumash, Haamek She’elah on the She’eltos of Rav Achai Gaon, and Meshiv Davar, a collection of his responsa. Among his children were Rabbi Chaim Berlin and Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan (born to two different mothers).

Reb Avrohom Yaakov Pam, talmid of Reb Dovid Leibowitz , (1913-2001). Reb Pam’s father, Reb Meir, was a product of Soloboka and Radin. As a child, Reb Pam studied in Kovna. His family later moved to the United States, where his father was appointed to the faculty of Rabbenu Chaim Berlin yeshiva. The thirteen-year-old began to study in Torah VoDaas. He became very close with the rosh yeshiva, Reb Dovid Lebowitz, and Shraga Feivel Mendelowitz. After his marriage, he taught at Torah VoDaas for 60 years. After the petirah of Reb Moshe Feinstein, he was appointed president of Chinuch Atzmai in the United States. He was also a member of the presidium of the largest Torah organization in America, Torah Umesorah. He founded the Shuvu organization for the chinuch of Russian children in Eretz Yisroel.

Reb Moshe Finkel, born in Mir to Reb Eliezer Yehuda Finkel. He grew up with his great-grandfather, Reb Baruch Kamai, the Rov of Mir. He learned at Slobodka under his grandfather, Reb Nosson Zvi Finkel, the Alter of Slobodka, then at Kelm, where he learned bechavrusa with Reb Povarsky, then at Branovitch, under Reb Elchonon Wasserman and Reb Shlomo Heiman. Shortly before WW2, he immigrated to Yerushalyim and married the daughter of Reb Mordechai Davod Levin, author of Darchei David. There, he worked diligently under his father for the Mir Yeshiva (1909-2004).

Reb Avrohom Ades (1848-1925). He was born in Halab (Aram Soba), Syria, among the most ancient Jewish communities in the world. According to tradition, Jews lived there even before the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash. As a youngster, Reb Avrohom studied in yeshivos headed by such gedolim as Reb Mordechai Abadi and Reb Ezra Tawill Hakohen. At the age of 20, he married the daughter of Reb Moshe Swed, rov of Aram Soba. In 1896, Reb Avrohom immigrated to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Yerushalayim. Soon after his arrival, Reb Avrohom founded Rechovot Hanahar, a kabbala yeshiva in the Bucharian neighborhood. Among his students were Reb Yosef Yedid Halevi, Reb Shlomo Laniado, Reb Ezra Chamawi, Reb Ezra Attia (later to become the renowned rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef), and Reb Yaakov Katzin.

Reb Eliezer Zusia Portugal, the Skulener Rebbe , Reb Eliezer Zusia Portugal, the Skulener Rebbe (1886-1982), from a small town, Sculeni, in what was then northeastern Romania (now Ukraine). Toward the end of World War II, in March of 1945, he found himself, along with other holocaust survivors and displaced persons, in the Russian-governed town of Czernovitz, Bukovina. Reb Eliezer Portugal was particularly known for his work on behalf of Holocaust orphans and for his spiritual resistance against Romania's communist government.