This Day In History 18 Av/August 22

18 Av

In 5689/1929, Arabs rampaged throughout Eretz Yisrael, killing 133 Jews and injuring and maiming hundreds of others, most of them in a massacre in Yeshivas Chevron, Hy”d. They also burned down many homes, and burned and damaged sifrei Torah and tashmishei kedushah. The surviving Jews fled to Yerushalayim. The Kaf Hachaim records that without rachamei Shamayim the Arabs would have killed all the Jews in Israel.

Yahrtzeiten

5532/1772, Harav Chaim Refael Asher, zt”l, the Rishon LeTzion of Yerushalayim

5645/1885, Harav Avraham Korkidi, zt”l, mechaber of Vayikach Avraham

5702/1942, Harav Shlomo Chanoch Rabinowitz, the Radomsker Rebbe, Hy”d; and his son-in-law, Harav Dovid Moshe Rabinowitz, Hy”d

5757/1997, Harav Dov Ber Eliezrov, zt”l, Rav of Katamon, Yerushalayim

5689/1929

Harav Chanoch Chasson, Rav of Chevron, zt”l

Harav Chanoch Chasson was born on 17 Iyar 5627/1867 in Chevron. His father, Reb Mordechai, was a successful businessman and one of the prominent residents of the city.

As a young boy, Chanoch was educated in the local Talmud Torah of the Sephardim, and at the age of 15 he was already known for his excellence in learning.

In 5647/1887, at the age of 20, Rav Chanoch married Clara, the daughter of Harav Rachamim Yosef Franco of Yerushalayim. The family later moved to Chevron, where Rav Rachamim was appointed Rav.

For a number of years, Rav Chanoch was a melamed in the Sephardic Talmud Torah. In 5660/1900, he was sent overseas to collect funds for the mosdos.

In the meantime, Rav Chanoch’s father-in-law had passed away, and Harav Chaim Chizkiyah Medini, the Sdeh Chemed, who had then arrived in Eretz Yisrael, became Rav of the Sephardic community. Rav Chanoch was appointed to the beis din, becoming the right-hand man of the Sdeh Chemed. He also edited the last volumes of the Sdeh Chemed.

After the petirah of the Sdeh Chemed, Rav Chanoch was appointed Rav of the Sephardic kehillah. Rav Chanoch did much to help strengthen and fortify the community in Chevron materially and spiritually.

In his later years, Rav Chanoch’s children tried to persuade him to live in Yerushalayim. Rav Chanoch refused, saying that this would weaken the yishuv in Chevron.

During the summer of 5689/1929, his wife spent many months in Yerushalayim; however, sensing the tension, she returned to Chevron in Tammuz. She implored her husband to come back with her to Yerushalayim. But he remained adamant in his refusal to desert the city.

On Shabbos Parashas Eikev, 18 Av, the infamous day of the Arab massacre in the Chevron yeshivah, Rav Chanoch and his wife were among those who were mercilessly murdered. In the fire that raged after the massacre, Rav Chanoch’s many chiddushei Torah were tragically burned.

Hashem yinkom damam.

Aug. 22

In 1787, inventor John Fitch demonstrated his steamboat on the Delaware River to delegates from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

In 1846, Gen. Stephen W. Kearny proclaimed all of New Mexico a territory of the United States.

In 1910, Japan annexed Korea, which remained under Japanese control until the end of World War II.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed welfare legislation ending guaranteed cash payments to the poor and demanding work from recipients.