Asher by Yaakov Avinu (1562-1439 B.C.E.)
Rav Yisrael Charif from Stanov, author of Tiferes Yisrael, disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.
Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov (1745-1807). Moshe Leib was a student of Shmuel Shmelke of Nickolsburg, Dov Baer (the Maggid of Mezhirech), and Elimelekh of Lezhynsk. His teachings are contained in the books, Likutei RaMal, Toras ReMaL Hashalem, and Chidushei RaMal.

Rav Yosef Katz, brother-in-law of the Rema and author of She’eris Yosef (1591). Note: the Admor of Desh, Rav Tzvi Meir Panet (1923-2003) also authored a sefer called Shearis Yosef.
Rav Yosef Rakover, Rav of  Eibeshetz, author of Mirkeves Hamishna (1703)
Rav Pinchas of Plotzk, talmid of the Vilna Gaon, and author of Maggid Tzedek (1823)

Asher ben Yaakov Avinu
Rav Menachem Mendel Krochmahl of Nikolsburg, the Tzemach Tzedek (~1600-1661). He learned in Krakowat the yeshiva of the Bach, his rebbi muvhak and had a close relationship with the Taz. In 1631, he fled Krakow because of the uprisings of the Cossacks and settled in Moravia, becoming Rav in Krezmir. He later became Rav in Prosnitz, then in 1648 of Nikolsburg. There is a sefer called Pi Tzadik which has been attributed to him, but research has determined that the author is his son, Rav Aryeh Yehuda Leib.
Rav Meshulam Zusha (Rebbe Reb Zusha) from Anapoli (1718-1800). Disciple of Magid of Mezritch; younger brother of the Noam Elimelech.

Rav Nota of Chelm, the Neta Shaahuim (1812)

Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin (1818-1898), the Rav of Brisk, Yerushalayim leader, son of Rav Binyamin Diskin, Rav of Volkovisk. He was born in Horodno. Reb Yehoshua Leib was engaged before his bar mitzvaand at the age of fourteen he married the daughter of Rav Brode and lived with his father-in-law in Wolkowitz. He became rov in various cities such as Lomza, Mezritch, Kovno, Shklov, and finally in Brisk. Moved to Eretz Yisrael after Yom Kippur in 1876.

Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (1808-1888). His father, Rav Raphael Aryeh (1777-1857), who changed the family name to Hirsch, was the son of Rav Menachem Mendel Frankfurter of Altuna (1742-1823). Rav Menachem Mendel was a talmid of Rav Yonasan Eibeshitz and was the Rav of three communities of Altuna, Hamburg, and Wandsbeck (“AHU”). At the age of 18, Rav Shamshon Raphael went to Mannheim to learn at the yeshiva of Rav Yaakov Ettlinger, author of Aruch La’ner. Rav Hirsch received smicha from Rav Ettlinger after learning there for a year. Thereafter, he attended the University of Bonn. That education would serve him well later in life as he combated the forces of Reform with eloquence.

Rabbeinu Avraham bar Dovid miPosquires (Ra’avad), author of Hasagos on the Rambam and the Rif
Rav Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov, author of Orach LeChaim and P’ri Chaim (1816).
Today in History – 26 Teves
· Jews of Sicily required to wear a special badge, 1369.
· Barcelonagranted the right to exclude Jews for all time, 1424.
· A riot ensued in In Aix-en-Provence when a crowd felt that a Jew who insulted a holy saint received too light a sentence, 1436.
· Phillip II of Spain orders the establishment of the inquisition in the New World, 1569. The first Inquisition Tribunal opened in Mexico five years later.

Rav Yechiel Michel Tukatchinsky, mashgiach of Slabodka in Bnai Brak, and founder of Yeshivas Mekor Chaim in Yerushalayim. In 1925, he published a sefer called Tekufas Hachamoh Uvirchosoh, in preparation for the bracha made when the sun returns to the point at which it began upon Creation. He wrote a sefer called Bein Hashmoshos, published in 1929, which dealt with the International Date Line. In 1941, he changed his mind altogether, as documented in his sefer, Hayomam Bekadur Haaretz.

{Yahrtzeits licensed to Matzav.com by Manny Saltiel and Anshe.org/Matzav.com Newscenter}

Rav Naftali Katz, author of Semichas Chachomim (1660-1719), descendent of the Maharal. Born in Ostracha, Ukraine and died in Istanbul. His father, Yitzchak, a Rav in Stefan and a darshan in Prague, died in 1670. Reb Naftali married Esther Sheindl, daughter of Shmuel Shmelke Zak of Ostraha, and headed the Yeshiva that his father-in-law built for him. After Rabbi Shmuel died he succeeded him as Rabbi and Av Beis Din. In 1704 he became Rav of Frankfurt until 1711, when a fire broke out in his home and spread from there burning down several hundred homes. Rav Naftali was jailed and accused of setting the fire. When he was released, he left for Prague and Breslau and stayed with Zvi Ashkenazi (the Chacham Zvi).

Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib HaLavi Epstein, know as Reb Leibush of Ople (1837). Orphaned of his father, Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein, and hismother at a young age, Reb Leibush and his two younger brothers were supported by a simple Jew of Ostrovsta. He was a chasid of the Yid Hakadosh and the Chozeh of Lublin. He became Rav of Ozerov in 1812. His most famous descendent was Rav Moshe Yechiel Michel Halevi Epstein, the Aish Daas of Ozerov.