This Day In History 21 Teves/January 8

21 Teves

Yahrtzeiten

2075, Shimon, son of Yaakov Avinu. He was also born today in 2195 (according to some, the date is the 28th of the month).

5436/1676, Harav Shmuel Segal of Brodi, zt”l

5551/1790, Harav Shmuel, zt”l, Av Beis Din of Vilna

5610/1850, Harav Yisroel Dov Ber, the Viledniker Rebbe, zy”a, the She’eris Yisrael

5731/1971, Harav Matzliach Mazuz of Djerba, Tunisia, Hy”d, mechaber of Ish Matzliach. (He was killed al kiddush Hashem.)

5574/1814

Harav Yisrael Avraham, Rav of Tcharni-Ostraha, Zy”a

Harav Yisrael Avraham was born in 5534/1774. His father was Harav Meshulam Zusha, zy”a, the Rebbe Reb Zusha of Anipoli. He was born in the later years of his father’s life —Reb Zusha was over 50 at the time — and he commented that his son had the neshamah of Chizkiyahu Hamelech.

When he became of age, Harav Yisrael Avraham married the daughter of Harav Zev Wolf, Rav of Tcharni-Ostroha, zt”l. Following his marriage, he settled near his father-in-law.

When his father-in-law moved to Eretz Yisrael in 5550/1790, Harav Yisrael Avraham was appointed Rav of Tcharni-Ostroha in his stead. He was all of 26 at the time.

Following the petirah of his father, on 2 Shvat 5560/1800, Harav Yisrael Avraham served as Rebbe.

Harav Yisrael Avraham was famed for his humility, and was forever demanding more and deeper avodas Hashem.

He did not lead as Rebbe for a long time; Harav Yisrael Avraham was niftar on 21 Teves 5574/1814.

His Rebbetzin later moved to Eretz Yisrael, where her parents had earlier moved, settling in Tzfas. She was killed in the earthquake of 5597/1837.

Harav Yisrael Avraham was survived by four sons, none of whom succeeded him as Rebbe. His son-in-law was Harav Dovid, Rebbe of Tolna, zy”a, the son of Harav Mordechai of Chernobyl, zy”a.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Jan. 8

In 1790, President George Washington delivered his first State of the Union address to Congress in New York.

In 1867, the U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate in overriding President Andrew Johnson’s veto of the District of Columbia Suffrage Bill, giving black men in the nation’s capital the right to vote.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson outlined his Fourteen Points for lasting peace after World War I. Mississippi became the first state to ratify the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which established Prohibition.

In 1987, for the first time, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 2,000, ending the day at 2,002.25.