This Day In History 15 Av/August 19

The Mishnah in Masechta Taanis (Perek 4, Mishnah 8) enumerates a number of significant events that occurred on this day:

In 2488/1273 B.C.E., the decree of death for the Dor Hamidbar came to an end; no more died after this day.

In 3187/574 B.C.E., Hoshea removed the roadblocks installed by Yeravam Hamelech, which had prevented the Jews of Israel from making pilgrimages to Yerushalayim.

In 5446/1686, Jews of Cochin, India, received a large shipment of sifrei Torah and other tashmishei kedushah from Amsterdam. The day was celebrated as an annual Yom Tov.

Yahrtzeiten

5348/1588, Harav Shimon ibn Lavi of Tripoli, zt”l, mechaber of Kesem Paz and composer of the piyut Bar Yochai

5678/1918, Harav Tzvi Hirsch Halberstam, zt”l, Rav of Rudnik

5722/1962, Harav Ben Tzion Yadler, zt”l, the Maggid of Yerushalayim and mechaber of B’tuv Yerushalayim

5760/2000, Harav Chanoch Henach Padwa, zt”l, Rav of London

5638/1878, Harav Yaakov Leiner, zy”a, The Beis Yaakov of Izhbitza-Radzin

Harav Yaakov Leiner was the son of Harav Mordechai Yosef, the Tiferes Yosef. He was born while his father lived in Tomashov.

He was a talmid of his father and of Harav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. As a young child, he traveled with his father to the courts of Peshischa and Kotzk.

He was known for his hasmadah and devotion to learning, despite hunger and poverty.

Reb Yaakov was married young to the daughter of Harav Dovid of Tishibitz, a Chassid of the Rebbe Reb Bunim of Peshischa. He lived at first near his father-in-law, but when his father opened his own court and settled in Izhbitza, Reb Yaakov moved there. As the oldest son, he was his father’s right-hand.

On 7 Shevat 5614/1854, Reb Mordechai Yosef was niftar. The vast majority of the Izhbitza Chassidim appointed Reb Yaakov as their new Rebbe. The court in Izhbitza grew under the leadership of Reb Yaakov, but the principles remained the same.

Reb Yaakov was very warm to the Chassidim, and would discuss everything with them, both relating to avodas Hashem and personal matters.

At one point Reb Yaakov abruptly left Izhbitza and moved his court to Radzin. He didn’t explain the reason for the move, which bewildered the Chassidim. He lived in Radzin for the last 13 years of his life, and the dynasty thrived until World War II.

On the last Rosh Hashanah of his life, in 5638/1877, Reb Yaakov’s tallis fell off his shoulders during Mussaf; the Chassidim took this as an ominous sign from Heaven. During the winter he got sick, and a few weeks after Shavuos he went to Droznick in Lithuanian Poland, where he was niftar on 15 Av 5638/1878. He was buried in Rotnica, Lithuania; an ohel was built over his kever.

Reb Yaakov’s divrei Torah, written down mainly by his son and successor, Harav Gershon Henach, were published under the name Beis Yaakov.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Aug. 19

In 1934, a plebiscite in Germany approved the vesting of sole executive power in Adolf Hitler.

In 1991, Soviet hard-liners stunned the world by announcing that President Mikhail S. Gorbachev had been removed from power. (The coup attempt collapsed two days later.)

In 1991, rioting erupted in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, after a black seven-year-old, Gavin Cato, was struck and killed by a Jewish driver; three hours later, a group of African-Americans fatally stabbed Yankel Rosenbaum, a Rabbinical student.