This Day in History – 10 Teves/December 18

10 Teves

In 3336, Nevuchadnetzar, the Babylonian emperor, began the siege of Yerushalayim.

In 5701/1941, 3,000 Jews were killed in Bucharest riots. Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

3442, Zechariah Hanavi and Malachi Hanavi (some say 3448). According to the Midrash, Malachi is the same person as Ezra Hasofer.

5371/1610, Harav Yehudah Eilenberg, zt”l, mechaber of Minchas Yehudah

5605/1844, Harav Nosson Sternhartz of Breslav, zy”a, mechaber of Likutei Halachos

5750/1990, Harav Avraham Abba Leifer, zy”a, the Pittsburgher Rebbe

5718/1957

Harav Meir Chaim Ungar, Zt”l, Rav of Lakenbach

Harav Meir Chaim Ungar was born in 5665/1905 in Tzehlem.

His father, Rav Yaakov, was renowned for his acts of tzedakah and chessed; his home was always open to guests, especially the talmidim of the yeshivah in Tzehlem.

Within a few short years, Rav Meir Chaim became fluent in most of the masechtos of Nashim and Nezikin, as well as in Shulchan Aruch, notably Yoreh Deah.

Rav Meir Chaim married the daughter of Harav Yehudah Krausz, zt”l, Rav of Lakenbach. Lakenbach was one of the famous seven Jewish communities, the Sheva Kehillos, in Burgenland, Hungary (now Austria).

A few years after he settled in Lakenbach, in 5695/1935, his father-in-law moved to Eretz Yisrael and Rav Meir Chaim was appointed Rav in Lakenbach. He led the city with great devotion.

Alas, the good years were not to last; the Nazi regime raised its evil head, forcing Rav Meir Chaim to flee. He settled in Yerushalayim, where Harav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, zt”l, appointed him to serve as a Rav.

Rav Meir Chaim devoted most of his time to Torah, learning alone from the early morning hours until Shacharis and then delivering a host of shiurim through the day.

Rav Meir Chaim helped people in many ways, collecting tzedakah for them, advising them about shalom bayis, visiting the ill and the like.

In the winter of 5718/1957, Rav Meir Chaim became ill. When he was able, he continued to learn and do chessed.

On 10 Teves, Reb Meir Chaim was niftar at the age of 53.

Rav Meir Chaim was survived by his only daughter, who was married to Hagaon Harav Nosson Gestetner, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Panim Me’iros. Harav Gestetner published the sefarim of his father-in-law under the name Me’or HaChaim.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

Dec. 18

In 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the Constitution.

In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was declared in effect by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

In 1917, Congress passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” and sent it to the states for ratification.

In 1940, Adolf Hitler signed a secret directive ordering preparations for a Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Operation Barbarossa was launched in June 1941.

In 1957, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went on line. It was taken out of service in 1982.