This Day in History – 14 Tishrei/October 8

In 2936/826 B.C.E., Shlomo Hamelech completed Chanukas Habayis festivities for the first Beis Hamikdash.

Yahrtzeiten

5563/1802, Harav Shalom Shachna of Prohobich, zt”l, father of Harav Yisrael of Ruzhin

5567/1806, Harav Yehudah Leib of Anipole, zt”l, mechaber of Ohr Haganuz

5575/1814, Harav Yisrael of Kozhnitz, zt”l, the Kozhnitzer Maggid, mechaber of Avodas Yisrael

5661/1900, Harav Mordechai of Zhvill, zt”l

5678/1917, Harav Shalom Halevi Segal of Podheits, zt”l

5703/1942, Harav Chanoch Heinich Gad Justman of Piltz, Hy”d

5746/1985, Harav Chaim Elazar Bentzion Bruk, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Novardok-Yerushalayim

5709/1948, Harav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, zt”l, Gaavad of Yerushalayim

Harav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky was born on 25 Tammuz 5627/1867 in Paks, Hungary, to Harav Yisrael Dushinsky.

He was a prized talmid of Harav Simchah Bunim Sofer (the Shevet Sofer, son of the Ksav Sofer), and of Harav Moshe Pollack, Rav of Bonyhad.

After his marriage to the daughter of Harav Mordechai Yehudah Leib Winkler, Rav of Mahd and mechaber of Levushei Mordechai, Reb Yosef Tzvi was appointed Rav in Galanta, Slovakia.

His first wife passed away in an epidemic during World War I, leaving no children. He later married the daughter of Harav Yoel Tzvi Neuhaus.

Relocating to the town of Chust, he assumed the position of Rav. He founded a yeshivah in Chust that was one of the leading yeshivos in Hungary.

A talmid chacham and a posek, Reb Yosef Tzvi waged war against the Reform movement and the Neologue group in Hungary.

In 5681/1921 an only son, Yisrael Moshe, was born.

In Adar 5692/1932, Reb Yosef Tzvi visited Eretz Yisrael, where he was greeted with honor. When he visited Harav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld — who was ill at the time — Reb Yosef Chaim said, “The Chuster Rav will remain here.” Two days later, on 19 Adar, Reb Yosef Chaim was niftar.

After the levayah, the leaders of the community approached Reb Yosef Tzvi and asked him to remain there and take the post of Rav, seeing it was decreed from Heaven. Reb Yosef Tzvi settled in Eretz Yisrael on 7 Elul 5693/1933, upon his appointment as Gaavad of the Eidah Hachareidis.

He founded a yeshivah in Yerushalayim which was posthumously named after him, Beis Yosef Tzvi.

He established a community of Hungarian Jews in Yerushalayim affiliated with the Perushim section of the Eidah Hachareidis. This community later developed into a Chassidic dynasty, today headed by his grandson, the Dushinsky Rebbe, shlita, who was named after him.

Reb Yosef Tzvi was niftar on Erev Sukkos, 14 Tishrei 5709/1948. He was buried in the Shaare Zedek cemetery.

He was succeeded by Harav Zelig Reuven Bengis as Gaavad of the Eidah Hachareidis.

His only son, Harav Yisrael Moshe Dushinsky, also served later as Gaavad of the Eidah Hachareidis.

His Torah commentaries have been published in the Toras Maharitz series.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

Oct. 8

In 1869, the 14th president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, died in Concord, New Hampshire.

In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire erupted; fires also broke out in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and in several communities in Michigan.

In 1918, U.S. Army Cpl. Alvin C. York led an attack that killed 25 German soldiers and captured 132 others in the Argonne Forest in France.

In 1934, Bruno Hauptmann was indicted by a grand jury in New Jersey for murder in the death of the kidnapped son of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

In 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced that the secret of the atomic bomb would be shared only with Britain and Canada.

In 1982, all labor organizations in Poland, including Solidarity, were banned.