This Day In History 12 Tishrei/October 2

In 2048/1714 B.C.E., today was shelishi lemilah 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 came to be mevaker choleh and saw how desperate Avraham Avinu was for guests, He sent three malachim in the form of humans. One of the malachim was Raphael, who healed Avraham Avinu; another brought Sarah Imeinu the good tidings that she would give birth to Yitzchak within the year.

Yahrtzeiten

5615/1854, Harav Yechiel Mechel of Zhvill, zy”a

5537/1776, Harav Avraham Hamalach, Zy”a

Son of the Maggid of Mezeritch, Rav Avraham was born in 5501/1741. The “Malach” was known by this unique title because of his exceptional level of holiness. He had virtually no connection with the material world.

The late Kopycyznitzer Rebbe, Harav Moshe Mordechai, zy”a, a descendant of the Malach, once told the following story, which he heard from his father:

The Malach was married to the daughter of Harav Feivish of Kremenitz, zt”l, mechaber of Mishnas Chachamim. Rav Feivish was so devoted to his Torah studies that he did not attend his own daughter’s wedding for fear of the bitul Torah involved.

Later, however, when he heard of the greatness of his son-in-law’s father, the Great Maggid, he decided to pay him a visit. He arrived on a Friday afternoon, hoping to be invited to the home of his illustrious mechutan for the Shabbos meals. The Maggid, however, instructed his son the Malach to invite his father-in-law for the Friday-night seudah.

As the Malach entered the house with his father-in-law, Rav Feivish, he began singing Shalom Aleichem, welcoming the malachim who escort Yidden home from shul on Friday evening. As the Malach recited the words of Shalom Aleichem, his father-in-law suddenly fainted. After he was revived, the Malach turned to him and said, “You saw your malachim! …”

About half a year before his petirah, the Malach accepted the position of Maggid in the kehillah of Chovastov. He did so because of the influence of the Meor Einayim of Chernobyl, but he rarely revealed himself to the public eye.

Many tzaddikim of the generation traveled to bask in the presence of the Malach. Among them were Harav Boruch of Mezhibuzh and the Meor Einayim of Chernobyl.

The Malach was niftar at a very young age, 36, leaving two sons, Harav Yisrael Chaim of Ludmir and Harav Shalom Shachna of Prohobitch, who was the father of Harav Yisrael of Ruzhin.

Zechusam yagen aleinu.

October 2

In 1492, King Henry VII of England invaded France.

In 1870, Rome was made the capital of Italy.

In 1967, Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African-American member of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2001, the U.S. Postmaster unveiled the “Tribute to America” stamp.

In 2001, NATO, for the first time, invoked a treaty clause that stated that an attack on one member is an attack on all members, in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.