๐ฏ๏ธ Today in Jewish History โ 26th Elul
๐ฏ๏ธ The Second Day of Creation
According to the opinion that the world was created beginning on 25 Elul, the day of 26 Elul corresponds to the Second Day of Creation.
On this day Hashem created the Rakiah (Firmament) and separated the upper waters from the lower waters:
โืืื ืจืงืืข ืืชืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืโ
โLet there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide between waters and waters.โ
Chazal note a unique feature of the second day. Unlike the other days of Creation, the Torah does not say โืื ืืืโ on this day. The Midrash explains that since separation was introduced into creation on that day, the complete expression of goodness was deferred until the third day.
๐ฏ๏ธ Gehinom and the Second Day
Bereishis Rabbah teaches that Gehinom is associated with the second day of Creation.
The Gemara states that Gehinom was among the things created before the world, while later sources explain that the fire of Gehinom was revealed on the second day, whereas its spiritual reality preceded creation itself.
Kabbalistic works explain that this reflects the concept of ืืื (judgment) emerging within creation. The second day therefore emphasizes responsibility, accountability, and the consequences of oneโs actions.
As Elul progresses toward Rosh Hashanah, these themes become especially significant.
๐ฏ๏ธ Todayโs Yartzite 26th Elul
๐ฏ๏ธ 1805 โ The Passing of Rabbi Eliyahu Tzarfati of Fez
In the year ืชืงืกโื (1805) passed away the gaon Rabbi Eliyahu Tzarfati, dayan and halachic authority of Fez, Morocco, ืืฆโื.
Among his works are:
- ืืืืื ืืืื
- Other halachic writings
Rabbi Eliyahu belonged to the long line of great Moroccan sages who preserved and transmitted Sephardic Torah traditions through centuries of exile. He was respected as a posek, dayan, and teacher whose influence extended throughout the communities of Morocco.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1879 โ The Passing of Rabbi Shmuel Abba of Zichlin
In the year ืชืจืโื (1879) passed away the holy Rabbi Shmuel Abba ben Ezra Lige of Zichlin ืืฆโื, author of:
ืืื ืืฉ
Rabbi Shmuel Abba was one of the respected Chassidic leaders of Poland. His sefer Lehav Eish reflects the fiery devotion to Torah and avodas Hashem that characterized much of Polish Chassidus.
His followers remembered him for his warmth, sincerity, and spiritual intensity.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1897 โ The Passing of Rabbi Aharon of Koidanov
In the year ืชืจื โื (1897) passed away the holy Rabbi Aharon ben Rabbi Baruch Mordechai of Koidanov ืืฆโื.
A descendant of the distinguished Koidanov dynasty, Rabbi Aharon continued the traditions of Chassidic leadership established by his illustrious forebears. He was known for his holiness, humility, and dedication to his chassidim.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1907 โ The Passing of Rabbi Amram Blau, Author of Beis Sheโarim
In the year ืชืจืกโื (1907) passed away the gaon Rabbi Amram ben Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Blau, Av Beis Din of Ujfeherto, ืืฆโื.
Author of:
ืฉืโืช ืืืช ืฉืขืจืื
The Beis Sheโarim is one of the important responsa works of Hungarian Jewry and contains extensive discussions across many areas of halachah.
Rabbi Amram was recognized as one of the significant halachic authorities of his generation.
๐ฏ๏ธ Yahrzeit of Rabbi Abba Elbaz of Sefrou
The calendar notes the yahrzeit of the gaon Rabbi Abba ben Rabbi Amram Elbaz, Av Beis Din of Sefrou, Morocco, author of:
ืืืื ืืืื
Rabbi Elbaz belonged to the famous Elbaz rabbinic family, one of the great Torah families of Moroccan Jewry. His writings and leadership left a lasting mark on the Jewish communities of North Africa.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1947 โ The Passing of Rabbi Chaim Wilshansky
In the year ืชืฉโื (1947) passed away Rabbi Chaim ben Rabbi Zalman Wilshansky of Jerusalem ืืฆโื.
Author of:
ืืื ืืืฉื ื
Rabbi Chaim devoted his life to Torah study and education in Jerusalem and was known for making the study of Mishnah accessible to a broad audience.
๐ฏ๏ธ 2004 โ The Passing of Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Horowitz
In the year ืชืฉืกโื (2004) passed away the gaon Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi Yisrael Menachem HaLevi Horowitz ืืฆโื.
Among his works are:
- ืืืจ ืืืื
- ืืจืืืช ืจืื ื
His sefarim preserve the traditions, practices, and Torah insights of the great Lithuanian yeshivah world and have become valuable resources for understanding the conduct of the gedolim of recent generations.
๐ฏ๏ธ Today in Halacha โ 26th Elul
The 26th of Elul:
It is proper for every person to increase in Teshuvah within the four days prior to Rosh Hashanah.[1] This is similar to a Karban which must be separated four days prior to its slaughter in order to verify that it is free from blemish. Similarly, we must free ourselves from blemish four days prior to Rosh Hashanah as on Rosh Hashanah it is considered that we are the sacrifice as opposed to other holidays where the animal is the sacrifice.[2]
[1] Kaf Hachaim 581:29
[2] Elya Raba 581:8; Ateres Zekeinim 581 based on Yerushalmi Rosh Hashanah 4:8 in expounding why by the sacrifices of Rosh Hashanah the verse states โVeasisemโ as opposed to โVehikravtemโ.