🕯️ Today’s Yartzite 11th Elul
🕯️ 1851 – The Passing of Rabbi Shalom Yosef Friedman of Ruzhin-Leipzig
In the year תרי”א (1851) passed away the holy Rabbi Shalom Yosef Friedman of Ruzhin-Leipzig זצ״ל, one of the illustrious sons of the Ruzhiner Rebbe, Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin.
Rabbi Shalom Yosef was renowned for his nobility of character, refinement, and devotion to the path of the House of Ruzhin. Although he passed away at a relatively young age, he left a lasting impression upon the chassidim who knew him and upon later generations of the Ruzhin dynasty.
🕯️ 1883 – The Passing of Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura
In the year תרמ”ג (1883) passed away the holy Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Friedman of Sadigura זצ״ל, son of the holy Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, and author of אמת ליעקב.
Rabbi Avraham Yaakov was one of the central figures responsible for establishing and strengthening the Sadigura court after the passing of his father. His leadership helped preserve the unique character of Ruzhin Chassidus, combining royal dignity with profound spirituality and devotion to the Jewish people.
His sefer Emes L’Yaakov contains Torah and Chassidic teachings that continue to be studied by followers of the Ruzhin-Sadigura tradition.
Chassidim observed an interesting tradition that the yahrzeits of:
- Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura (11 Elul),
- Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl (20 Av),
- and Rabbi Avraham Menachem of Shtefanesht (21 Tammuz),
often fall on the same weekday as Yom Kippur, alluding to the teaching of Chazal that “the passing of the righteous brings atonement.”
🕯️ 1889 – The Passing of Rabbi Yaakov Yehudah Leib Levy
In the year תרמ”ט (1889) passed away the gaon Rabbi Yaakov Yehudah Leib ben Rabbi Avraham Levy זצ״ל, Av Beis Din of Jerusalem.
He was among the prominent rabbinic figures of the Old Yishuv and devoted his life to strengthening Torah learning and communal life in Jerusalem during a period of significant growth and challenge.
🕯️ 1890 – The Passing of Rabbi Moshe Zev Kitai
In the year תר”נ (1890) passed away the gaon Rabbi Moshe Zev Kitai of Piatra Neamț זצ״ל.
A respected Torah scholar and rabbinic leader, he was known for his devotion to Torah learning and service of the Jewish communities of Romania.
🕯️ 1891 – The Passing of Rabbi Zev Wolf Landau of Strikov
In the year תרנ”א (1891) passed away the holy Rabbi Zev Wolf (“the Razav”) of Strikov, son of Rabbi Avraham Landau of Ciechanów, זצ״ל, author of זר זהב.
One of the leading figures of Polish Chassidus, Rabbi Zev Wolf combined scholarship, holiness, and profound humility. His sefer Zer Zahav reflects the spiritual depth and penetrating insights characteristic of the Strikov tradition.
🕯️ 1932 – The Passing of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Freund
On 11 Elul תרצ”ב (1932) passed away the gaon Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua ben Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Freund, Av Beis Din of Năsăud, זצ״ל.
A respected Hungarian rabbinic authority, he was known for his Torah scholarship, leadership, and his efforts to strengthen traditional Jewish life during a period of rapid change in Europe.
🕯️ 1970 – The Passing of Rabbi Yaakov ben Rabbi Avraham Levy
In the year תש”ל (1970) passed away the gaon Rabbi Yaakov ben Rabbi Avraham Levy זצ״ל.
He is buried near the southern side of the Ohel of the Aleksander Rebbes in Bnei Brak. He was respected for his dedication to Torah and his close association with leading Chassidic and rabbinic circles.
🕯️ Today in Chabad History 10th Elul
🕯️ 11 Elul, 5635 (1875) – The Wedding of the Rebbe Rashab and Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah
One of the most significant family celebrations in Chabad history took place on 11 Elul 5635 (1875), when Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn, later the Rebbe Rashab, married Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, daughter of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Ovrutch, a grandson of the Tzemach Tzedek.
The wedding took place in Ovrutch on Motzaei Shabbos, 11 Elul. Initially, the Rebbe Maharash wished the wedding to be held in Lubavitch, while the bride’s father wanted it celebrated in Ovrutch. Eventually it was agreed that the wedding would take place in the bride’s hometown.
🕯️ The Rebbe Maharash’s Farewell to the Chassan
For various reasons, the Rebbe Maharash did not attend the wedding personally. The groom was accompanied by his mother, Rebbetzin Rivkah.
Before the journey, the Rebbe Maharash escorted his son for part of the way. The Rebbe Rashab later recounted that when they stopped in a village there was only a single small bench. Since both father and son needed a place to sit, a young chassid bent down and offered his back as a seat for the groom.
At that moment the Rebbe Maharash delivered words of Chassidus and explained:
“At present, the revelation is from the level of Mochin d’Imma, therefore your mother travels with you. In the future, when the revelation will be from Mochin d’Abba, I myself will be there.”
This statement was remembered as one of the profound spiritual teachings connected with the wedding.
🕯️ The Feathered Hat
During the journey, gifts for the bride were being transported, including a special hat decorated with an elegant feather. Seeing the package, the Rebbe Maharash asked what it contained. When shown the hat, he removed the decorative plume.
This incident later became well known among Chassidim as reflecting the simplicity and refinement that characterized the household of the Rebbeim.
🕯️ Seven Days of Rejoicing
The wedding celebrations lasted throughout the entire week of Sheva Berachos.
Although the Rebbe Maharash remained in Lubavitch and did not attend the wedding itself, he was in an unusually joyous mood throughout the festivities. During those days he delivered thirty-two maamarim of Chassidus.
When the Rebbe Rashab returned to Lubavitch on 19 Elul, the Rebbe Maharash greeted him with great joy and said:
“I have regards for you from my father, from grandfather, and from great-grandfather, together with a ‘Lev Meivin’ (an understanding heart).”
Chassidim connected this statement with the thirty-two maamarim delivered during the wedding week, corresponding to the numerical value of לב (32).
🕯️ Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah’s Recollection
Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah later related that when she arrived in Lubavitch as the daughter-in-law of the Rebbe Maharash, she felt discouraged. The members of the Rebbe’s family were notably tall, while she was of smaller stature.
Sensing her discomfort, the Rebbe Maharash comforted her and said:
“Do not be discouraged. It is well known that shorter trees produce finer fruit.”
The remark remained one of the cherished memories preserved by the family and reflected the warmth and sensitivity of the Rebbe Maharash.
🕯️ Historical Significance
The marriage of the Rebbe Rashab and Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah united two branches of the family of the Tzemach Tzedek and laid the foundation for the next generation of Chabad leadership.
From this home would emerge Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, and through it the continuity of Chabad leadership into the modern era.
🕯️ The wedding of 11 Elul 5635 is remembered not merely as a family celebration, but as a landmark event in the history of Chabad-Lubavitch, linking the generations of the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and those who would carry the movement forward in the decades to come.