This Day In History 17 Tammuz/July 11

Today is a fast day, declared by the Neviim, that marks the beginning of the Three Weeks of mourning the Churban.

Yahrtzeiten

5515/1755, Harav Yitzchak Hakohen Rappaport, zt”l, mechaber of Batei Kehunah

5727/1967, Harav Yaakov Yosef Herman, zt”l

5759/1999, Harav Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Baltimore

5646/1886, Harav Chaim Tzvi Mannheimer, Zt”l, Rav of Ungvar and Mechaber of Ein Habdolach

Harav Chaim Tzvi was born in 5574/1814 to Harav Dovid Leib Mannheimer and Rebbetzin Sheindel.

In his youth, Reb Chaim Tzvi learned under Harav Yaakov Koppel Altenkonstanst, also known as Reb Koppel Charif, mechaber of Chiddushei Yaavetz. From this yeshivah, Reb Chaim Tzvi went on to Toplatchon, to the yeshivah of Harav Binyamin Zev Lev, the author of Shaarei Torah. After that, Reb Chaim Tzvi moved on to the yeshivah of the Chasam Sofer — all before he became bar mitzvah!

The Chasam Sofer arranged a shidduch for him with the daughter of a naggid from Grupe who was willing to support a chassan dedicated to learning. Following his wedding to Gittel in 5592/1832, Rav Chaim Tzvi settled near his father-in-law.

A few years later, the Chasam Sofer told him that the time had come to not rely fully on his father-in-law and advised him to take up a Rabbinic position. Reb Chaim Tzvi said he did not feel worthy. The Chasam Sofer told Reb Chaim Tzvi that if he wouldn’t take the Rabbanus by choice, it would fall on him anyway.

Reb Chaim Tzvi went to work for his father-in-law by day and dedicated the nights to Torah learning. Once, on a business trip, he was robbed and badly hurt. When he returned home, he saw a letter from the Chasam Sofer. “I told you to take up a Rabbinic post by choice…” It was then that Reb Chaim Tzvi finally agreed to become a Rav. He accepted an offer from Shutelsdorf, the first kehillah that offered him a position.

Since the city was relatively small, Reb Chaim Tzvi found time for learning and opened a small yeshivah in the city as well. Later, he became Rav in Verboi, after their Rav, Harav Shmuel Zomer, moved to Pupa. In Verboi, Reb Chaim Tzvi also opened a yeshivah.

After the petirah of Harav Meir Asch, the city of Ungvar was without a Rav, and the Haskalah movement was making inroads there. The leaders of the Torah community of the city all agreed that the best person to fill the post was Reb Chaim Tzvi. Thus he became Rav in Ungvar in 5621/1861. Reb Chaim Tzvi also had an impressive yeshivah in Ungvar.

Rav Chaim Tzvi was niftar on 17 Tammuz 5646/1886 and was buried in Ungvar.

A few years before the outbreak of World War II, his talmidim published some of his responsa in Shu”t Ein Habdolach.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

July 11

In 1798, the U.S. Marine Corps was formally re-established by a congressional act that also created the U.S. Marine Band.

In 1955, the U.S. Air Force Academy swore in its first class of cadets at its temporary quarters at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado.

In 1977, the Presidential Medal of Freedom was presented to polio vaccine pioneer Dr. Jonas Salk and (posthumously) to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by President Jimmy Carter.

In 1979, the abandoned U.S. space station Skylab made a spectacular return to Earth, burning up in the atmosphere and showering debris over the Indian Ocean and Australia.