๐๏ธ Today In Jewish History โ 21st Tishreiy
๐ฏ๏ธ Birth of Yosef HaTzaddik
According to the Midrash Tadsheh, Yosef HaTzaddik was born on 21st Tishrei.
The beloved son of Yaakov Avinu and Rachel Imeinu, Yosef would become the provider and sustainer of his family during the years of famine and would eventually save the future Jewish nation from destruction.
Many of the central themes of Yosefโs life, including faith in adversity, Divine providence, and redemption, continue to inspire the Jewish people throughout the generations.
๐ฏ๏ธ Yosef HaTzaddik remains the model of spiritual strength, purity, and trust in Hashem.
๐ฏ๏ธ Completion of the Fourteen-Day Celebration of the First Beis HaMikdash
On 21st Tishrei, the great celebration held by Shlomo HaMelech upon the completion and dedication of the First Beis HaMikdash came to its conclusion.
The celebration consisted of:
- Seven days of the Chanukas HaBayis.
- Seven days of the Festival of Sukkos.
As the verse states:
โAnd Shlomo held the festival at that time, and all Israel with himโฆ seven days and seven days, fourteen days.โ
The entire Jewish people gathered in Jerusalem and rejoiced before Hashem as the permanent House of Hashem began its sacred role at the center of Jewish life.
๐ฏ๏ธ These fourteen days were among the greatest periods of national joy ever experienced by the Jewish people.
๐ฏ๏ธ 353 BCE โ The Prophecy of Chaggai Encouraging the Builders of the Second Beis HaMikdash
On 21 Tishrei, during the reign of Daryavesh, the prophet Chaggai delivered a prophecy to:
- Zerubavel ben Shealtiel, governor of Judah.
- Yehoshua ben Yehotzadak, the Kohen Gadol.
The Jewish people had become discouraged during the rebuilding of the Second Beis HaMikdash. Chaggai therefore strengthened and encouraged them to continue their work.
He proclaimed:
โGreater shall be the glory of this latter House than that of the former.โ
Although the Second Beis HaMikdash lacked certain miracles that existed in the First Temple, it surpassed it in other respects. Chazal note that it stood for a longer period of time, approximately 420 years, whereas the First Beis HaMikdash stood for 410 years.
๐ฏ๏ธ Chaggaiโs prophecy restored hope to the nation and helped inspire the completion of the Second Beis HaMikdash.
๐๏ธ Todayโs Yartzites โ 21st Tishreiy
๐ฏ๏ธ 1771 โ The Passing of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Premishlan
In the year ืชืงืโื (1771) passed away the holy Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Premishlan, author of:
ืืจืื ืืฉืจืื
One of the early Chassidic masters and a disciple of the circle of the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Menachem Mendel was renowned for his holiness, humility, and extraordinary love for every Jew.
His teachings emphasized simplicity, faith, joy, and sincere attachment to Hashem.
๐ฏ๏ธ He is remembered as one of the saintly figures who helped spread the light of early Chassidus throughout Eastern Europe.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1804 โ The Passing of Rabbi Ber Dayan of Travis
In the year ืชืงืกโื (1804) passed away the gaon Rabbi Ber ben Rabbi Yehudah, Dayan of Travis, author of:
ืจืืื ืืืื
Rabbi Ber was recognized as a distinguished Torah scholar and dayan whose halachic rulings and Torah insights earned him the respect of the rabbinic leaders of his generation. His sefer Ravid HaZahav reflects broad knowledge of Torah literature and careful analysis of halachic subjects.
๐ฏ๏ธ He is remembered among the outstanding rabbinic scholars of his era.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1820 โ The Passing of Rabbi Moshe of Dolina
In the year ืชืงโืฃ (1820) passed away the holy Rabbi Moshe ben Rabbi Dan of Dolina, author of:
ืืืจื ืืฉื
Rabbi Moshe was one of the respected Chassidic leaders of Galicia. His teachings, later published in Divrei Moshe, emphasize sincere avodas Hashem, attachment to tzaddikim, and growth in faith and character.
His words were valued by later generations of Chassidim and continue to be studied by ืชืืืืื ืืืืื and seekers of Chassidic thought.
๐ฏ๏ธ His memory endures through his teachings and ืชืืืืืื.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1904 โ The Passing of Rabbi Dovid Moshe of Chortkov
In the year ืชืจืกโื (1904) passed away the holy Rabbi Dovid Moshe Friedman of Chortkov, son of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, one of the most prominent heirs of the Ruzhin dynasty.
Known for his regal bearing, profound wisdom, and exceptional leadership, Rabbi Dovid Moshe transformed Chortkov into one of the major centers of Chassidic life in Galicia. Thousands of chassidim traveled to him for guidance, blessing, and inspiration.
He combined the majestic dignity characteristic of the House of Ruzhin with deep humility, warmth, and concern for every Jew. His influence extended far beyond his own court and helped shape much of Galician Chassidus in the late nineteenth century.
๐ฏ๏ธ With his passing, the Chassidic world lost one of the greatest leaders of the Ruzhin-Chortkov dynasty.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1943 โ The Martyrdom of Rabbi Dovid Aharon of Trisk-Zurik
In the year ืชืฉโื (1943) was murdered al kiddush Hashem Rabbi Dovid Aharon, son of Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh of Trisk-Zurik, ืืโื, in Ostroh.
A descendant of one of the great dynasties of Volhynian Chassidus, Rabbi Dovid Aharon remained steadfast in Torah and faith during the difficult years of the Holocaust.
He perished together with countless other ืงืืืฉื ืืฉืจืื during the destruction of European Jewry.
๐ฏ๏ธ His memory is forever preserved among the holy martyrs of that generation.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1959 โ The Passing of Rabbi Shmuel Gedaliah Neiman
In the year ืชืฉืโื (1959) passed away the gaon Rabbi Shmuel Gedaliah ben Rabbi Yosef Neiman, author of:
ืืืืืื ืฉืืืื
Rabbi Neiman was a distinguished Torah scholar, educator, and communal leader who devoted his life to Torah study and teaching. His sefer Gidulei Shmuel contains valuable Torah insights and halachic discussions that reflect his breadth of knowledge and clarity of thought.
He was known for his dedication to strengthening Torah learning and for the lasting influence he had upon his students and community.
๐ฏ๏ธ Through his writings and ืชืืืืืื, his Torah legacy continues to inspire future generations.