Rebbetzin Devorah Leah's Yahrtzeit

Today (Sivan 29) is the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe's mother, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, a"h. The Rebbe and his brothers, Reb Sheya and Reb Aron, along with a minyan of the chevra went out to her kever to recite Tehilim and write kevitlach. The taking of pictures ensued:

Yahrtzeit: Reb Zisha Tolmitcher (Sivan 2)

The becher of Reb Zisha Tolitcher, zy"a.

The 2nd of Sivan, is the yahrtzeit of Rav Meshulam Zisha Yitzchok, known as Reb Zisha Tolmitcher, ztz"l. He was a great-grandson of the first Reb Zisha of Anipoli and the father of the Rebbe Reb Motele of Hornosteiple.

"He was considered one of the tzadikim of his generation, even though he did not have chassidim of his own. When he would travel to Hornosteipel to visit his son, thousands of chassidim would stream to him." (Midor El Dor, page 75)

To read more about him, as well as about the Minchas Elazar whose yahrtzeit is the same day, go to LAST YEAR'S POST.

Yahrtzeit of the Divrei Chaim (Nisan 25)

Supposed portrait of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, zy"a.

 Click this link for a story as heard from the Rebbe, shlit"a (last year's post).

Yahrtzeit: The Rebbe Reb Zisha of Anipoli (Shvat 2)

Anipoli, Ukraine. At the bottom-left is the ohel.

 What can I possibly say about the Rebbe Reb Zisha? The ways I see it, he was the Rebbe of all the Rebbes. Not in the Rebbishe sense, rather everyone loved and admired him, spoke in awe of him. His simplicity touched every tzadik and every common man. The stories told about him cover a wide range; he was a colorful personality to say the least. He would become deliriously enraptured with G-dliness as soon as the Magid began speaking and came back to himself the instant the Magid concluded speaking. He couldn't fathom thanking Hashem for something bad - there was nothing bad. He was convinced that his brother, the Rebbe Reb Melech, was greater than he, even though he was older and the one responsible for introducing Reb Melech to Chassidus in the first place.

Reb Leibele, zy"a (Part 1)

B"H, I have been busy with a new baby and haven't had lots of time to write. Hence, this post is unfinished and late. However, we are told that the three days after a yahrtzeit are still connected to the yahrtzeit, so here it is.

The following is a meager compilation about Reb Leibele. (Sources include Midor el Dor, Malchus Shlomo, Kuntrus HaRo'eh Bashoshanim, Toldoseihem shel Tzadikim, and that which was heard directly from various family members. There is a ton more; this will be the first installment.)

Reb Leibele was born on Shabbos Chol Hamoed Sukkos, the 20th of Tishrei, 5628, third son to the Rebbe Reb Motele, zy"a. He was named after HaRav HaKadosh Rebbe Yehudah Leib Hakohen of Anipoli, the author of the Or Haganuz (from the talmidim of the Mezritcher Magid and a close friend of the Rebbe Reb Zisha of Anipoli). It is worthwhile mentioning that Reb Motele, who was known to be careful with his words and never praised someone excessively (according to his grandson, Reb Nachum of Tel Aviv), would refrain from calling the Or Haganuz by his name. Instead, when referring to this tzadik, he would rise to his feet and say, "Der Heiliger" - "The holy one".

The name "Bentzion" was added in1920 when Reb Leibele became ill will typhus in Kiev. The same outbreak claimed his son Reb Moshe Meshulem Zisha, "Zeesaleh".

Reb Leibele's Yahrtzeit on Monday

This coming Monday, the 28th of Teves, is the yahrtzeit of Rebbe Benzion Yehudah Leib Twerski, better known as the Rebbe Reb Leibele.

Together with Rav Efraim Twerski and his chevra, we will be going out to Reb Leibele's tziyun in Chicago at about 3:00 pm. Anyone interested in going should please contact me at twerskitorah@gmail.com.

For those who cannot join us, feel free to send in names for kvittelach, and I will bring them along, bl"n.

Info regarding the location of the tziyun and directions on how to find it are here (be sure to see the last comment there).

"He is the Rebbe's son!"

Ordinary Ruach Hakodesh...

 

Yahrtzeit: The Maor Einayim (Cheshvan 11)

Today is the yahrtzeit of the Maor Einayim, Rebbe Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, the founder of Chernobyler Chassidus and thereby the forefather of all of its various offshoots, including Cherkass and Hornosteipel.

Go to the TWERSKI AUDIO tab above and look for two shiurim from the Rebbe about the life and teachings of the Maor Einayim.

The Maor Einayim himself says (in Yismach Lev, Shabbos - click for PDF, the main part is the paragraph starting ובדורות האחרונים) that learning the words of a tzadik is like being there at the kever and connecting with the tzadik in a very profound way. For those of us who are not in Chernobyl physically, we can still be there by learning from the holy sefer and we can then daven as if we are there.

Zechuso yagen aleinu v'al kol Yisroel!

Video: Elul 22 5771 and Havdala Bereishis 5772

Here are some YouTube links:

Havdala Motzei Shabbos Bereishis 5772

Singing on Elul 22 5771 (Reb Motele's yahrtzeit)

Thanks to Ben Vineburg for posting these.
Yasher Koach!

Yahrtzeit Highlights (Elul 22 5771)

The Rebbe Reb Motele Hornosteipeler, zy"a

The oilam got together at the home of Rav Bentzion for a seudah in honor of the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe Reb Motele, zy"a. (Pictures in the extended article.)

Saved at the Mikveh (from Heichal Hanegina)

Story number three (see the other two in the two most previous posts), culled from the vast archives of stories on Heichal Hanegina. Adapted from "Not Just Stories" and "HaAdmorim L'Beit Sanz" by "yitz" of Heichal Hanegina.

SAVED AT THE MIKVA

Young Mordechai Dov seems to have been fascinated with mikvaot. Already thoroughly learned in the entire Talmud, at the tender age of eighteen he wrote his first sefer, "Chibur LeTahara" ["Connection / Author's Work of Purity"] on the Laws of Mikvaot and Netilat Yadayim, ritual immersion and washing of the hands. Even earlier, on the evening of his wedding [at age 15!], the Mechutanim, Rebbe Chaim of Sanz and Rebbe Yaakov Yisrael of Cherkasse, accompanied young Mordechai Dov to the mikva to watch him tovel [immerse in the water], remarking, "A tevila like this we've never seen!" However, the following event happened even earlier, but first we need an introduction, from Rabbi Avraham Twerski [a descendant of the Hornesteipel Rebbe]:

A Look of Teshuva (from Heichal Hanegina)

Again, in lieu of my own posts and my fear of misrepresenting this great tzadik's message, I bring you a few posts from Heichal Hanegina.

A LOOK OF TESHUVA

(from The Zeide Reb Motele, by Rabbi A.J. Twerski, MD)

Yahrtzeit: The Rebbe Reb Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel (Elul 22)

As usual, I don't feel adequate to writing something about the Rebbe Reb Motele, especially without the appropriate amount of time for such an undertaking. But, we are in luck. Here is an edited transcript of the Rebbe's remarks at the yahrtzeit seudah on Elul 22, 5766 (2006). Very, very worthwhile!

Yahrtzeit: HaRav Mordechai Dov Ber Twerski (Elul 15)

The following piece originally appeared in Turning Pages (pg. 197-198):

The Big Blizzard and The World Without Motty

Written by the Rebbe, Harav Michel Twerski, shlit"a

There is something awe-inspiring in a blizzard. I was reminded of its magnitude during this past winter's most major snowstorm as I watched the interplay of wind and snow from the comfort of my living room window.

"Kiruv, Rebuke and Tefila" and The Rebbe/Chassid Dynamic (audio)

In this morning's shiur, the Rebbe spoke about the three responses we must have to fellow Jews who are not yet Torah observant. The discussion turned towards the nature of the Rebbe/Chassid relationship and ended with a particularly moving story from the Belzer Rav whose yahrtzeit is today.

Rav Aaron Rokeach of Belz in Marienbad

Yahrtzeit: Reb Meir Nosson (Av 15)

On the 15th of Av was the yahrtzeit of Reb Meir Nosson, son of the Divrei Chaim and the father of the first Rebbe of Bobov, Reb Shloime. As we are told, the hashpaos of a yahrtzeit extend for three days so it is still relevant. In my humble opinion, this is not to be missed!

Motzei Tisha B'Av Yahrtzeit Seudah in Yerushalayim

As every year, the einiklech and chevra in Eretz Yisroel got together at Reb Mordechai's house to make a seudah for the Rebbe Reb Yaakov Yisroel's yahrtzeit. Yankel (Reb Bentzion's) made a siyum on Bava Kama by the seudah.
Eliezer Kwass spoke about his and other Milwaukeans' connection with the Rebbe, ztz"l, and Twerski family.

Yud Menachem Av 5771 Highlights (with pictures and audio)

Last night, the Rebbe davened Maariv from the amud. He broke his fast at the home of his son, Rav Bentzion, with a fleishigeh seduah at which the Rebbe made a siyum on Masechtas Rosh Hashanah (l'ilui nishmas his father, ztz"l). Afterward the Rebbe sang Reb Sheya's "A Freilichen Tisha B'Av" and his own Lev Tahor.

Yahrtzeit: Rebbe Yitzchak Yoel of Kantikuziva (Tamuz 24)

Yesterday (Tamuz 24) was the yahrtzeit of Rebbe Yitzchak Yoel Rabinowitz of Kantikuziva, the Rebbe Reb Leibele's father-in-law. Born on Shvat 16, 5600 (1840) to Rebbe Gadalya Aahron, the son of Reb Yitzchak Yoel, the son of Rebbe Gadalya of Linitz, the author of Tshuos Chein and a talmid of the Baal Shem Hakadosh. His maternal grandfather was Reb Shmuel Avrohom Abba, son of Reb Moshe of Slavita, the son of the famed Rebbe Pinchas of Koritz.

Yahrtzeit: Rebbe Eluzer Twersky of Faltichan (Tamuz 21)

Click to enlarge.

This past Shabbos (Tamuz 21) was the yahrtzeit of the Faltichaner Rebbe, Rav Eluzer Twersky.

Rebbe Yitzchak of Skver (one of the Chernobyler Magid's eight sons) had a son named Reb Dovid who had a son named Reb Shlomo. This Reb Shlomo married the daughter of Rebbe Aryeh Leibish Rokeach of Magrov, a son of Reb Sheya'leh Belzer. Rav Eluzer of Faltitchan was the son of Reb Shlomo. Hence, he was a direct descendant (ben achar ben) from Skver, and living until his chassunah with his uncle, Rebbe Yissachar Dov Belzer, he became heavily influenced by Belz.

Reb Eluzer had a daughter named Sarah who eventually married Rav Avrohom Stein. The names are familiar because Rav Avrohom and Rebbetzin Sarah Stein were our Rebbetzin's parents.

Yahrtzeit: Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Twerski, a"h

The 29th of Sivan 29 is the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe's mother, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, a"h. 

On the shul website there is a page dedicated to the Rebbetzin's memory. It has the hespedim from her children, articles about her life and a picture gallery. Click here to be transferred.

On the yahrtzeit in 5767, the chaburah in Eretz Yisroel asked the Rebbe to speak about his mother, the Rebbetzin, a"h. At the end of the chaburah, the Rebbe did so briefly. Here is the recording from then. Sorry for the poor quality; the Rebbe was speaking over the phone and I recorded it from the speaker. Better than nothing, I guess. Enjoy!

6 minutes, 2.7 MB