๐๏ธ Today in Jewish History โ 15th Tishreiy
๐ฏ๏ธ 15 Tishrei โ The Angels Arrive in Sodom
The Torah relates:
โAnd the two angels came to Sodom in the evening.โ
These were the two angels who had departed from Avraham Avinu after announcing the future birth of Yitzchak. They now arrived in Sodom to rescue Lot and carry out the Divine decree against the cities of the plain.
According to the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua, these events took place on 15 Nissan, while according to Rabbi Eliezer, who maintains that the world was created in Tishrei, these events are associated with 15 Tishrei.
๐ฏ๏ธ The arrival of the angels in Sodom marked the beginning of the final chapter before the destruction of Sodom and the rescue of Lot and his family.
๐ฏ๏ธ The Passing of Yaakov Avinu
According to one tradition, Yaakov Avinu, the chosen of the Patriarchs, passed away on 15 Tishrei at the age of 147 years.
Other sources maintain that his passing occurred earlier and that on this day his sons completed the journey from Egypt and brought him to Meโaras HaMachpelah for burial.
The funeral procession of Yaakov Avinu was one of the most majestic in history. Accompanied by his sons, Egyptian dignitaries, and multitudes of mourners, he was brought to Chevron and buried alongside Avraham, Sarah, Yitzchak, Rivkah, and Leah.
๐ฏ๏ธ Yaakov Avinuโs life embodied Torah, truth, perseverance, and faith, and his legacy continues through all of Klal Yisrael.
๐๏ธ Todayโs Yartzites โ 15th Tishreiy
๐ฏ๏ธ 1656 โ The Passing of Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Delmedigo
In the year ืชืโื (1656) passed away the gaon Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Delmedigo, known as the Yashar of Candia, ืืฆโื.
Born in Crete, Rabbi Delmedigo was one of the most remarkable Jewish scholars of his era. He combined mastery of Torah with expertise in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy.
His writings earned him a reputation as one of the great intellectual figures of seventeenth-century Jewry.
๐ฏ๏ธ He remains a unique example of a Torah scholar who excelled both in Torah and the sciences.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1704 โ The Passing of Rabbi Aviad Sar Shalom Basilea
In the year ืชืกโื (1704) passed away the gaon Rabbi Aviad Sar Shalom Basilea, author of:
ืืืื ืช ืืืืื
One of the leading rabbis of Italy, Rabbi Basilea devoted himself to defending the authority of Chazal and the Mesorah against contemporary challenges.
His sefer Emunas Chachamim became a classic work affirming faith in the Sages and the transmission of Torah Shebeโal Peh.
๐ฏ๏ธ The sefer remains widely quoted in discussions concerning Torah authority and tradition.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1788 โ The Passing of Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac HaKohen of Koritz
In the year ืชืงืโื (1788) passed away the holy Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac HaKohen of Koritz, son of Rabbi Yoel HaKohen, author of:
ืืจืืช ืืืื ืช ืขืืื
He was among the outstanding Chassidic leaders of the generation following the Baal Shem Tov and was renowned for his holiness, humility, and profound teachings.
๐ฏ๏ธ His Torah insights and Chassidic guidance influenced many disciples and later leaders.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1788 โ The Passing of Rabbi Meshulam Katz
In the same year, ืชืงืโื (1788), passed away the gaon Rabbi Meshulam Katz, author of:
ืขืืงืจื ืชืืกืคืืช ืืื ืืื
A distinguished Torah scholar, Rabbi Meshulamโs writings helped clarify and explain the teachings of the Tosafos Yom Tov and became valued additions to Torah literature.
๐ฏ๏ธ His works continue to be studied by ืชืืืืื ืืืืื.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1821 โ The Passing of Rabbi Betzalel Ronsburg
In the year ืชืงืคโื (1821) passed away the gaon Rabbi Betzalel ben Rabbi Yoel Ronsburg, author of:
- ืืืจื ืืืจ
- His famous glosses on Shas
Rabbi Ronsburg was among the leading Torah scholars of Prague and one of the outstanding Talmudists of his generation.
His annotations on the Talmud are still printed in many editions of Shas and remain valuable tools for serious learners.
๐ฏ๏ธ His analytical brilliance and dedication to precise Torah scholarship secured him a lasting place among the great Acharonim.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1895 โ The Passing of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna
In the year ืชืจื โื (1895) passed away the holy Rabbi Mordechai ben Rabbi Yissachar Ber Leifer of Nadvorna, ืืฆโื.
Rabbi Mordechai was among the outstanding leaders of the Nadvorna dynasty and was revered for his holiness, humility, and deep attachment to Hashem. Thousands sought his guidance and blessing, and he became known as a tzaddik whose entire life was devoted to avodas Hashem and the welfare of his fellow Jews.
A famous saying attributed to him shortly before his passing was:
โHow does the Holy One, blessed be He, fulfill the mitzvah of taking an esrog? He takes a tzaddik and smells him.โ
Those present understood these words only afterwards, realizing that he was alluding to his own imminent passing. The statement reflects the teaching of Chazal that the righteous are compared to fragrant spices whose influence continues long after they depart from this world.
๐ฏ๏ธ His memory remains cherished among the Chassidim of Nadvorna and throughout the Chassidic world.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1926 โ The Passing of Rabbi Meir Arik
In the year ืชืจืคโื (1926) passed away the gaon Rabbi Meir ben Rabbi Aharon Yehudah Arik, one of the greatest halachic authorities of Galicia.
He served as Rav in a number of important communities, including Butchatch and Tarnรณw, and was considered one of the foremost poskim of his generation.
Among his major works are:
- ืืืจื ืืืฉืจ
- ืื ืชืืจื
- ืื ืืช ืคืชืื
- ืงื ืืช ืกืืคืจืื
Rabbi Meir Arik was renowned for his phenomenal memory, brilliant analysis, and mastery of all areas of Torah. Leading rabbanim of his time consulted him on the most difficult halachic questions, and his responsa continue to be cited extensively in contemporary halachic literature.
๐ฏ๏ธ He is remembered as one of the towering Torah scholars of pre-war Galicia.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1943 โ The Martyrdom of Rabbi Chanoch Henich Gad of Pilz
In the year ืชืฉโื (1943) was murdered al kiddush Hashem Rabbi Chanoch Henich Gad, son of Rabbi Pinchas Menachem, Admor of Pilz and Av Beis Din of Wielun, ืืโื.
During the Holocaust, he was deported to Treblinka, where he was murdered together with countless other kedoshim.
A descendant of a distinguished Chassidic lineage, Rabbi Chanoch Henich Gad devoted his life to Torah, Chassidus, and the spiritual leadership of his followers until the terrible destruction of European Jewry.
๐ฏ๏ธ His memory remains part of the sacred legacy of the martyrs of Poland.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1986 โ The Passing of Rabbi Shmuel Shmelka Teubenfeld
In the year ืชืฉืโื (1986) passed away the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Shmuel Shmelka Yissachar Dov Teubenfeld, author of:
- ืืืจืื ืงืืืฉืช ืฉืืืื
- Other Torah works
Rabbi Teubenfeld was known as an exceptional talmid chacham, educator, and disseminator of Torah. His writings preserve both halachic scholarship and the traditions of earlier generations.
๐ฏ๏ธ His sefarim continue to be studied by those seeking the wisdom and heritage of the great rabbinic scholars of Hungary.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1987 โ The Passing of Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Alter
In the year ืชืฉืโื (1987) passed away the gaon Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh ben Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter, author of:
- ืคืจื ืืืืืจืื
- ืืจื ืืืกืชืจืื
A distinguished member of the Gur dynasty and a gifted Torah scholar, Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh was admired for his scholarship, refinement, and devotion to Torah learning.
His published works reveal broad knowledge of both revealed and Chassidic Torah and continue to be appreciated by ืชืืืืื ืืืืื.
๐ฏ๏ธ He is remembered as one of the notable Torah personalities associated with the house of Gur.
๐ฏ๏ธ1998 โ Ten Years Since the Passing of Rabbi Avraham Elkana Shapira
The yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham Elkana Kahana Shapira, former Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Merkaz HaRav and former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel.
Rabbi Shapira was one of the leading Religious Zionist Torah authorities of the twentieth century. As Rosh Yeshivah of Merkaz HaRav, he educated generations of rabbanim, roshei yeshivah, dayanim, and communal leaders.
Known for his vast Torah scholarship and deep love of Eretz Yisrael, he authored numerous halachic responsa and Torah teachings and played a major role in shaping modern Torah leadership in Israel.
๐ฏ๏ธ His influence continues through his ืชืืืืืื, institutions, and published Torah works.
๐๏ธ Today in Chabad History โ 15th Tishreiy
๐ฏ๏ธ 15 Tishrei, 5695 (1934) โ The Passing of Rabbi Moshe Leib Ginzburg, Son-in-Law of the Rebbe Maharash
On the first day of Sukkos, 15 Tishrei 5695 (1934), passed away the chassid Rabbi Moshe Leib Ginzburg, son-in-law of the Rebbe Maharash, Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn.
In the year 5632 (1872), Rabbi Moshe Leib married Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, the eldest daughter of the Rebbe Maharash. Following their marriage, they settled in the city of Vitebsk, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Rabbi Moshe Leib was known among Chassidim as a devoted and refined chassid, deeply connected to the Rebbeim of Chabad. His home in Vitebsk became a center of Chassidic life and a gathering place for visitors and family members.
The Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, frequently recalled his visits to the home of his uncle and aunt in Vitebsk. In his talks, he described the warm Chassidic atmosphere that permeated their household and the many stories and traditions he heard there concerning the Rebbeim and the early generations of Chabad.
Rabbi Moshe Leib passed away on the first day of Sukkos and, because of the sanctity of the festival, was brought to burial on the second day of Sukkos.
๐ฏ๏ธ He was laid to rest in Malakhovka, near Moscow, where his resting place remains a remembrance of one of the distinguished members of the family of the Rebbe Maharash and a devoted Chassid of the House of Chabad.