This Day In History 17 Av/August 9

In 5649/1889, 120 Jewish families arrived in Buenos Aires, thus establishing the Jewish community there.

Yahrtzeiten

5485/1725, Harav Shimshon Wertheimer, zt”l, of Vienna

5564/1804, Harav Asher, zt”l, author of Mayim Adirim

5584/1824, Harav Avraham Mordechai Horowitz, zt”l, of Pintchov

5622/1862, Harav Shlomo Chaim Perlow of Koidenov, Zy”a

Harav Shlomo Chaim was the son of Harav Aharon of Lechovitch. His mother was Rebbetzin Perel, a daughter of Harav Asher of Stolin.

Harav Aharon, Rav Shlomo Chaim’s father, was tragically niftar when Shlomo Chaim was 10 years old, and he grew up in the home of his grandfather Harav Asher of Stolin. He assumed his maternal grandfather’s name, Perlow.

Despite advanced age, his paternal grandfather, Harav Mordechai of Lechovitch, attended Harav Shlomo Chaim’s wedding to the granddaughter of Harav Shlomo of Karlin. He was niftar a few days later and buried in Stolin.

Harav Shlomo Chaim was supported by his Stoliner grandfather for about eight years.

At the age of 20, at the behest of his grandfather, he became Rav in Stolin, and after a few years there he became the Rav of Torov.

When his uncle Harav Noach of Lechovitch was niftar, Harav Shlomo Chaim established a court in Koidenov (currently Dzyarzhynsk, Belarus).

Harav Shlomo Chaim encouraged his followers to dedicate their lives to avodas Hashem and never to waste a moment.

The Rebbe’s sichos and shmuessen drew Chassidim like a magnet. He would often quote the Chazal, “Yafeh sichasan shel avdei avos, mitorasan shel banim,” and would comment, “The reason that the seemingly mundane talk of the slaves of the forefathers is so beloved is that every word of theirs was steeped in Torah.”

The Koidenover Rebbe loved every single Yid; he would go out of his way for any Jew at any time. In his tzavaah, he warns to shun machlokes and urges the promotion of peace and harmony. He also urges staying away from haughtiness and anger, as they lead to machlokes.

At the time of his yetzias neshamah, it was morning, 17 Av, and he was reciting the Birchos Hashachar. He began reciting Ana B’koach with all his might and that is how his neshamah departed. He requested not to be eulogized and that no titles be engraved on his matzeivah.

One of Harav Shlomo Chaim’s sons-in-law was Harav Shimon of Zavochist, whose son, Harav Yaakov, was the founder of the Novominsker dynasty.

His brother Harav Shalom of Brahin published Divrei Shalom, in which many of Harav Shlomo Chaim’s divrei Torah are collected. Additional chiddushim are found in Erez BaLevanon, and in the Koidenover Siddur Ohr Hayashar, which was just recently reprinted. The Koidenover Rebbe, Harav Yaakov Tzvi Meir Erlich, published Haggadah shel Pesach Siach Avos, a collection of divrei Torah of all the Koidenover Rebbes.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

August 9

In 1892, Thomas Edison received a patent for a two-way telegraph.

In 1910, A.J. Fisher received a patent for the electric washing machine.

In 1965, Singapore proclaimed its independence from the Malaysian Federation.

In 1974, Vice President Gerald R. Ford became the nation’s 38th chief executive as President Richard Nixon’s resignation took effect.