🗓️ Today in Jewish History – 9th Tishreiy
🕯️ 9 Tishrei – Hashem Says: “I Have Forgiven, As You Requested”
According to the interpretation of the Vilna Gaon on Seder Olam Rabbah, it was on 9 Tishrei that Hashem finally became fully reconciled with the Jewish people following the sin of the Golden Calf.
This explains why, on the eve of Yom Kippur, we recite:
“וַיֹּאמֶר ה’ סָלַחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶךָ”
“And Hashem said: I have forgiven, according to your word.”
Although Moshe Rabbeinu descended from Har Sinai only on Yom Kippur itself after completing the final forty days, the Divine forgiveness had already been granted on the preceding day. The Jewish people, however, would not learn of this until the following day.
This also sheds light on the custom of eating festive foods, including kreplach, on Erev Yom Kippur. The forgiveness was already in place, but it remained “covered” and unrevealed until Yom Kippur. The joy, therefore, existed beneath the surface, awaiting its full revelation.
🕯️ Thus, 9 Tishrei marks the day on which the heavenly decree against Israel was transformed into Divine mercy and forgiveness.
🕯️ Burial of Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon in Meiron
According to tradition, on this day Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon, son of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, was brought to rest in the cave of his father in Meiron.
One of the greatest Tannaim of his generation, Rabbi Elazar combined profound Torah scholarship with extraordinary holiness. His teachings are found throughout the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash.
🕯️ Generations of Jews have visited Meiron to pray at the resting places of both father and son, whose influence continues to illuminate the Torah world.
🗓️ Today’s Yartzites – 9th Tishreiy
🕯️ 1520 – The Passing of Rabbi Avraham Saba
In the year ר”פ (1520) passed away the gaon Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi Yaakov Saba, author of:
צרור המור
אשכול הכופר
A survivor of the Expulsion from Spain, Rabbi Saba endured immense suffering for his faith and Torah observance.
His masterpiece, Tzeror HaMor, is one of the classic commentaries on the Chumash, combining peshat, Midrash, ethics, and Kabbalistic insight.
🕯️ His writings became a source of inspiration for generations of Torah scholars throughout the Sephardic and Ashkenazic worlds.
🕯️ 1713 – The Passing of Rabbi Yonah Landsofer
In the year תע”ג (1713) passed away the gaon Rabbi Yonah Landsofer of Prague, author of the celebrated responsa:
מעיל צדקה
Rabbi Landsofer was one of the foremost halachic authorities of Central Europe. His responsa dealt with many of the difficult communal and halachic questions of his era and remain cited by later poskim.
🕯️ The Me’il Tzedakah occupies an honored place in the literature of the Acharonim.
🕯️ 1898 – The Passing of Rabbi Naftali Hertzka Silberman
In the year תרנ”ח (1898) passed away the holy Rabbi Naftali Hertzka ben Rabbi Yaakov Peretz HaLevi Silberman of Raczpert, זצ”ל.
Known for his piety and devotion to avodas Hashem, he was revered among the Chassidim of Hungary and Galicia.
🕯️ His memory continued to be cherished among those who knew him and his teachings.
🕯️ 1903 – The Passing of Rabbi Eliezer Zusman Sofer
In the year תרס”ג (1903) passed away the gaon Rabbi Eliezer Zusman ben Rabbi Mordechai Ephraim Fishel Sofer of Paks, author of:
עט סופר
A distinguished member of the illustrious Sofer family, he was among the leading rabbinic authorities of Hungarian Jewry and carried forward the legacy of the Chasam Sofer.
🕯️ His writings continue to be studied by תלמידי חכמים and rabbinic scholars.
🕯️ 1906 – The Passing of Rabbi Yitzchak Yehudah Shmelkes
In the year תרס”ו (1906) passed away the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Yehudah Shmelkes of Lvov, author of:
בית יצחק
The Beis Yitzchak became one of the great responsa works of the nineteenth century, cited extensively by later halachic authorities.
Rabbi Shmelkes served as one of the leading rabbanim of Galicia and was renowned for his brilliance, broad scholarship, and practical halachic guidance.
🕯️ His responsa remain foundational in many areas of Jewish law.
🕯️ 1960 – The Passing of the Brisker Rav
In the year תש”ך (1960) passed away the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik, the Brisker Rav, in Jerusalem.
The son of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, he was one of the greatest Torah leaders of the twentieth century and the foremost heir to the Brisker method of Talmudic analysis.
Fleeing Europe during the Holocaust, he settled in Jerusalem, where he became the spiritual leader of thousands and one of the most respected Torah authorities of his generation.
His meticulous adherence to halachah became legendary. Every detail of mitzvah observance was performed with precision and awe.
One of his well-known teachings concerning Yom Kippur was:
Chazal teach, “עיצומו של יום מכפר” — “The very essence of the day atones.”
The Brisker Rav explained that Yom Kippur possesses an intrinsic power of atonement, comparable to the atonement brought through a sin-offering or guilt-offering. Just as a korban effects atonement through Divine decree, so too the holiness of Yom Kippur itself carries a unique power of purification.
🕯️ The Brisker Rav’s influence on Torah learning, halachic thought, and reverence for mitzvos continues to shape the yeshivah world to this day.