๐๏ธ Today in Jewish History โ 2nd Elul
๐ฏ๏ธ Purim de los Cristianos-Bombas
Among the local Purims observed by certain Sephardic communities was Purim de los Cristianos-Bombas, commemorating a miraculous salvation from danger and persecution.
The event is recorded in communal traditions and in later historical compilations of local Jewish festivals established to give thanks to Hashem for deliverance from enemies.
Like many such local Purims, it served as an annual reminder of Divine protection during difficult periods of exile.
๐๏ธ Todayโs Yartzite โ 2nd Elul
๐ฏ๏ธ 1408 โ Yahrzeit of Rabbeinu Yitzchak bar Sheshet (the Rivash)
In the year ืงืกโื (1408) passed away Rabbeinu Yitzchak ben Sheshet Perfet, universally known as the Rivash (ืจืืโืฉ), ืืืโื.
Born in Spain and later serving in Algiers, the Rivash was one of the greatest halachic authorities of the late Rishonim. Having studied under the leading sages of Spain, including disciples of the Ran, he became one of the principal transmitters of the Sephardic halachic tradition after the upheavals that befell Spanish Jewry.
His monumental collection of responsa, ืฉืโืช ืืจืืโืฉ, became a cornerstone of halachic literature and is frequently cited by:
- The Beis Yosef
- The Shulchan Aruch
- The Rema
- Later Sephardic and Ashkenazic authorities
Through his rulings, the Rivash exerted enormous influence on practical halachah for generations.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1874 โ The Passing of Rabbi Pinchas Yosef Shapiro of Kosov
In the year ืชืจืโื (1874) passed away the holy Rabbi Pinchas Yosef ben Rabbi Yissachar Dov Ber Shapiro of Kosov ืืฆโื.
A descendant of the illustrious Kosover dynasty, Rabbi Pinchas Yosef continued the Chassidic traditions established by the great masters of Kosov. He was known for his holiness, devotion to prayer, and dedication to strengthening the spiritual lives of his followers.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1941 โ The Martyrdom of Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Friedman of Boyan-Lemberg
In the year ืชืฉโื (1941) was murdered ืขื ืงืืืืฉ ืืฉื the holy Rabbi Avraham Yaakov ben Rabbi Yitzchak of Boyan-Lemberg, author of ื ืืืช ืืขืงื, ืืฆโื ืืโื.
A member of the royal House of Ruzhin and one of the leaders of Boyan Chassidus, he guided his community through the difficult years preceding the Holocaust. His murder was part of the destruction that engulfed the great Jewish communities of Galicia and Eastern Europe.
His sefer Nachalas Yaakov preserves Torah teachings that continue to be studied by descendants and followers of the Boyaner tradition.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1946 โ The Passing of Rabbi Eliezer Hager of Vizhnitz
In the year ืชืฉโื (1946) passed away the holy Rabbi Eliezer ben Rabbi Yisrael Hager of Vizhnitz, author of ืืืฉืง ืืืืขืืจ, ืืฆโื.
Rabbi Eliezer was one of the outstanding sons of the Ahavas Yisrael of Vizhnitz and a respected Chassidic leader in his own right. His sefer Damesek Eliezer contains Torah and Chassidic teachings reflecting the warmth, ahavas Yisrael, and spiritual depth for which the Vizhnitz dynasty became renowned.
His passing occurred shortly after the Holocaust, during the difficult period when surviving chassidim were beginning the task of rebuilding the devastated world of Hungarian and Romanian Chassidus.