This Day in History – 12 Elul/September 12

12 Elul

In 5492/1732, the pope renewed anti-Jewish restrictions on the Roman Jewish community.

Yahrtzeiten

5102/1342, Rabbeinu Shimon of Toledo, zt”l, son of the Rosh

5587/1827, Harav Simchah Bunim Bonihart of Peshischa, zy”a

5625/1865, Harav Elazar Shapiro of Lanczut, zy”a

5643/1883, Harav Shalom Moshe Chai-Gagin, zt”l, author of Samei’ach Nefesh

5670/1910, Harav Avraham Aharon of Kolbosov, zt”l

5674/1914, Harav Shraga Feivel Danziger of Radom, zy”a

5687/1927, Harav Yisrael Abba Citron of Petach Tikvah, zt”l

5588/1828

Harav Moshe Elyakim Briyah Hopstein of Kozhnitz, Zy”a, The Be’er Moshe

Harav Moshe Elyakim Briyah was the second son of Harav Yisrael, the Kozhnitzer Maggid, zy”a.

He was the son-in-law of Harav Yehudah Leib of Anipoli, mechaber of Ohr Haganuz; his zivug sheini was the daughter of Harav Elazar of Lizhensk.

In his early years, he took pains to conceal his avodas Hashem. The Chassidim were not aware of his great level, so when his father was niftar, they wanted to appoint a son-in-law, Harav Avi Ezra Zelig of Grenitz, as his successor. However, when they asked the Chozeh of Lublin, he said that Reb Moshe Elyakim Briyah should become the new Rebbe. He said he learned this from a passuk: “Vayehi binso’a haaron, vayomer Moshe — As the aron [of his father, the Kozhnitzer Maggid] moved on, Moshe [a reference to Reb Moshe] said.”

After being appointed Rebbe, his true stature became evident. Great Rebbes attested to it, and among his Chassidim were many of Poland’s leading Torah personalities.

Reb Moshe Elyakim wrote many sefarim. The most famous is Be’er Moshe on the Torah (Be’er alluding to his name, Elyakim Briyah), Vayechal Moshe on Tehillim, Matteh Moshe on Haggadah shel Pesach, and Koheles Moshe, also on the Torah.

Reb Moshe Elyakim was niftar on 12 Elul 5588/1828 and buried in the ohel in Kozhnitz near his father.

His son from his zivug sheini, Rav Elazar, was his successor as Rebbe in Kozhnitz.

From his zivug rishon he had a son named Rav Yissachar. His sons-in-law were Rav Yaakov Yoel, son of Rav Mordechai (son-in-law of the Ohev Yisrael of Apta); Harav Yosef Unger, the Dombrover Rebbe; Harav Shmuel Zanvil Bindiger of Bardiov, who later settled in Tzfas; Harav Yitzchak Shlomo Goldberg, Rebbe in Zelichov; and Harav Mordechai Zev Horowitz, a grandson of the Chozeh of Lublin.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Sept. 12

In 1609, Explorer Henry Hudson sailed into New York harbor and discovered Manhattan Island and the Hudson River.

In 1883, the mail chute was patented by James Cutler. The new device was first used in the Elwood Building in Rochester, N.Y.

In 1959, Congress passed a bill authorizing the creation of food stamps.

In 1992, the space shuttle Endeavour blasted off, carrying with it Mark Lee and Jan Davis, the first married couple in space; Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space; and Mamoru Mohri, the first Japanese national to fly on a U.S. spaceship.