This Day in History – 1 Cheshvan/October 10

In 2936, the building of the first Beis Hamikdash was completed. Shlomo Hamelech put off the Chanukas Habayis until the eighth of Tishrei a year later.

In 5031/1270, the seventh and last of the Crusades ended


Yahrtzeiten

5421/1660, Harav Menachem Mendel Krochmal, zt”l, mechaber of Tzemach Tzedek (the first)

5551/1790, Harav Dovid Chazan, zt”l, mechaber of Chikrei Lev

5609/1848, Harav Zev Wolf Frenkel, zt”l, Rav of Pshevorsk

5680/1919, Harav Yosef Engel, zt”l, mechaber of Asvan D’Oraisa

5750/1989, Harav Yisrael Shapira, zy”a, the Bluzhever Rebbe


5679/1918, Harav Akiva Meir Tornheim of Lukeve, Zy”a

Harav Akiva Meir Hakohen Turnheim was born to Harav Yissachar Berish of Velbrozh, zy”a, in 5603/1843.

He once explained the reason for his name: his father’s tefillah was that in the end (ekev, heel) he should enlighten (meir) Klal Yisrael.

Rav Akiva Meir had numerous daily shiurim with his father. He would learn 18 perakim of Mishnayos and 18 dapim of Gemara every day.

He was exalted in kedushah and taharah. He toveled three times a day, before every tefillah, for extra kedushah.

After the petirah of his father on 1 Cheshvan 5678/1877, Rav Akiva Meir journeyed to the court of Harav Yaakov Tzvi of Porisov, zy”a, as a regular Chassid, even after his Rebbe pleaded with him to accept leadership. It was only after the petirah of the Porisover Rebbe that Rav Akiva Meir acquiesced to become a Rebbe. He settled in Michov.

When a fire broke out in Michov and destroyed his house, Rav Akiva Meir moved to Lukeve, where he continued to hold court.

From the pidyonos that he received from the Chassidim, he sent tzedakah to the poor in Eretz Yisrael.

He was held in high esteem by many of the generation’s other Rebbes.

World War I and the many tribulations it caused for Klal Yisrael were too much for Rav Akiva Meir to bear. He fell ill and was niftar on the second day of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, 5679/1918 — the day of his father’s yahrtzeit and at the same age as his father, 76.

Rav Akiva Meir left a commentary on Tehillim called Divrei Haam. He wrote in his tzavaah to his children that profits from selling his sefer should be given to the poor.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.


D. R. Walker
The Achille Lauro

Oct. 10

In 1911, Chinese revolutionaries launched an uprising which led to the collapse of the Manchu Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.

In 1967, the Outer Space Treaty, prohibiting the placing of weapons of mass destruction on the moon or elsewhere in space, entered into force.

In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, accused of accepting bribes, pleaded no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion, and resigned his office.

In 1981, funeral services were held in Cairo for Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat, who had been assassinated by Muslim terrorists.

In 1985, U.S. fighter jets forced an Egyptian plane carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro to land in Italy, where the Palestinian terrorists were taken into custody.

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