This Day In History 7 Cheshvan/October 27

5639/1878, Jews began to prepare the ground at Petach Tikva for a new settlement.

In 5704/1943, Jewish children below the age of 12 were taken from Shavl, Lithuania, and executed. Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5562/1801, Harav Shimon Deutsch, Rav of Dobromil, zt”l, mechaber of Nachlas Shimon

5632/1871, Harav Tzvi Hersh Labl of Tomashov, zt”l, talmid of Harav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk

5666/1905, Harav Yerachmiel Tzvi, Rebbe of Biala-Shedlitz, zt”l

5690/1929, Harav Yosef Yehudah Leib Bloch, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Telshe

5693/1932, Harav Yehudah Meir Shapira, Rosh Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, zt”l

5626/1865, Harav Nosson Dovid Rabinowitz of Shidlovtza, Zt”l

Harav Nosson Dovid of Shidlovtza was born in 5574/1814 to Harav Yerachmiel Tzvi of Peshischa, zt”l. Rav Nosson Dovid was very private in his avodas Hashem. He tried his utmost not to stand out. His father was his role model: Rav Yerachmiel Tzvi worked for 14 years as a watchmaker, and Rav Nosson Dovid himself worked for some time as an engraver.

When his father was niftar on 8 Iyar 5594/1834, Rav Nosson Dovid was just 20 years old. He tried to avoid the limelight and refused to be named successor to his father. Eventually, though, the Gedolei Hador persuaded Rav Nosson Dovid to accept a leadership position. However, he accepted the post with a condition: he explicitly refused to accept pidyonos from the Chassidim.

Later he changed his mind, after he had a dream in which his grandfather, the Yehudi Hakadosh, came to him and told him that he should accept pidyonos from petitioners. From then on, Rav Nosson Dovid did so.

His close relationship with Harav Chaim of Sanz, the Divrei Chaim, zy”a, began in 5615/1855, when Rav Nosson Dovid’s third son, Harav Shraga Yair of Bialabrezik, married the daughter of the father-in-law of the Sanzer Rav, Harav Yekusiel Shmelka of Sassov. Rav Chaim was so impressed with Rav Nosson Dovid that he agreed to become his Chassid. But in his humility, Rav Nosson Dovid did not agree and instead Rav Nosson Dovid traveled to Sanz.

One Shabbos in Sanz, Rav Nosson Dovid was requested by Rav Chaim to say divrei Torah at the tisch. Rav Nosson Dovid refused, but after Rav Chaim implored him to address the assembled, he finally consented. He started with the passuk (Vayikra 10:20), “And Moshe listened, and it was good in his eyes.” He explained that Moshe Rabbeinu usually was the one who told Bnei Yisrael about the mitzvos; this time, Aharon was the one speaking, and this is what the passuk is saying, that Moshe was content with Aharon in the speaking role, rather than speaking himself. All present understood that Rav Nosson Dovid was expressing his preference to listen to the Sanzer Rav saying divrei Torah than do so himself.

On Erev Shabbos, 7 Cheshvan, 5626/1865, Rav Nosson Dovid was niftar, and he was buried in Shidlovtza.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Oct. 27

In 1787, the first of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays calling for ratification of the United States Constitution, was published.

In 1858, Roland Macy opened Macy’s Department Store in New York City. It was Macy’s eighth business adventure; the other seven failed.

In 1938, DuPont announced a name for its new synthetic yarn: “nylon.”

In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin were named winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their progress toward achieving a Middle East accord.