This Day In History 12 Tishrei/October 14

In 2048/1714 B.C.E., this date was shlishi l’milah of Avraham Avinu, according to Pirkei D’Rabi Eliezer.

As we are taught in the beginning of Parashas Vayeira, Hashem took the sun out of its sheath, causing it to shine very intensely so that Avraham Avinu, who was recovering from his bris, would not be troubled with guests. When Hashem Himself came to be mevaker choleh and saw how desperate Avraham Avinu was for guests, He sent three malachim in the form of humans. One was Refael, who healed Avraham Avinu; another brought Sarah Imeinu the good tidings that she would give birth to Yitzchak within the year; the third went from there to overturn Sedom and Amorah.

Yahrtzeiten

5537/1776, Harav Avraham Hamalach, zt”l

5615/1853, Harav Yechiel Michel Goldman of Zhvil, zt”l

Harav Yechiel Michel Goldman, born in 5548/1787, was the son of Rav Moshe of Zhvil. The family were descendants of the Zlotchov dynasty, and he was named after Harav Yechiel Michel, the Zlotchover Maggid.

Reb Yechiel Michel married the daughter of Harav Yisrael Chaim of Ludmir, who was the son of Harav Avraham Hamalach, son of the Maggid of Mezeritch.

Following the petirah of his father on 10 Iyar 5591/1831, Reb Yechiel Michel was named Rebbe in Zhvil.

Reb Yechiel Michel was renowned for his ahavas Yisrael, his love and concern for every Jew, and most of his divrei Torah were on the topic of ahavas Yisrael. He worked hard on behalf of those who were in trouble with the government (pidyon shevuyim).

Reb Yechiel Michel was niftar on 12 Tishrei (the yahrtzeit of his wife’s grandfather, Harav Avraham Hamalach; see above), and buried in Zhvil. His sons were Rav Mordechai of Zhvil, Rav Yitzchak Shlomo of Zelichov and Rav Moshe. His son-in-law was Rav Yaakov Mordechai, Rav of Valkobisk.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Oct. 14

In 1947, Air Force test pilot Charles E. (“Chuck”) Yeager broke the sound barrier as he flew the experimental Bell XS-1 (later X-1) rocket plane over Muroc Dry Lake in California.

In 1960, Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy suggested the idea of a Peace Corps while addressing an audience of students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

In 1986, Holocaust survivor and human rights advocate Elie Wiesel was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.