Rav Shimshon ben Pesach of Ostropol was murdered on the 25th of Tammuz (July 15, 1648) at Polonnoye, Volhynia, during the Khmelnytsky Uprising.
When the Cossacks laid siege to Polonnoye, Rav Shimshon, with three-hundred of his followers, wearing their talleisim (prayer shawls) went to the synagogue and stood there praying until the Ukranians came and butchered them all. To this day a statue and monument stands in Kiev honoring the mass murderer of Jews during this uprising, Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
Rav Shimshon Ostropoli wrote a commentary on the kabalistic work Ḳarnayim and on the Zohar HaKodesh. His most famous work is ‘Maamar Sod Eztba Elokim’ (The Secret of The Finger of G-d) about the ten plagues in Egypt. He assures blessings of success and protection from harm to all those that study it. Traditionally, it is said on Erev Pesach, but can be said at any time.
This letter can be found in the commentary on Orach Chaim of the Ben Ish Chai.
