This Day in History – 18 Cheshvan/November 11

In 5699/1938, Hermann Goering announced plans for Madagascar as a home for European Jewry.

In 5703/1942, 16,000 Jews were killed by the Nazis in Pinsk.

In 5751/1990, Rabbi Meir Kahane, Hy”d, was assassinated by a Palestinian attacker in New York.


Yahrtzeiten

5472/1711, Harav Naftali Hertz of Lvov, zt”l

5510/1749, Harav Avraham Dovid Moshe Ashkenazi, zt”l, of Ruhatin

5679/1908, Harav Shalom Horowitz, zt”l, of Chentchin

5717/1956, Harav Yaakov Friedman, zt”l, of Husyatin

5731/1970, Harav Rafael Baruch Toledano, zt”l, mechaber of the Sephardic Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

5747/1986, Harav Nachum Partzovitz, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Mir


 

5671/1910, Harav Yechezkel Rabinowitz, zt”l, the Knesses Yechezkel of Radomsk

Harav Yechezkel Hakohen Rabinowitz was the son of Harav Avraham Yissachar of Radomsk. He was born in 5623/1863.

Reb Yechezkel was Rav in Nobifolah, also known as Sdeh Chadash.

After the petirah of Reb Avraham Yissachar on 13 Elul 5652/1892, Reb Yechezkel (though he was the third son, not the oldest) was named Rebbe of Radomsk. His court attracted a huge crowd, numbering several thousands of Chassidim.

Reb Yechezkel refused to be supported by pidyonos from his Chassidim and maintained a partnership in a factory for the purpose of support.

Reb Yechezkel received Chassidim every morning after Shacharis, while still wrapped in his tallis and wearing Rabbeinu Tam tefillin.

Despite the fact that his own Chassidim numbered in the thousands, Reb Yechezkel traveled to other leading Rebbes of his day. He was especially close with Harav Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam of Shinev and Harav Dovid Moshe Friedman of Tchortkov.

In his great enthusiasm for avodas Hashem, Reb Yechezkel rose every day at 3:00 a.m. and learned until Shacharis.

He delivered his deep divrei Torah with fervor. They left a marked impression on all those who heard them. Everyone thought that they were directed at him specifically.

Reb Yechezkel was niftar on 18 Cheshvan 5671/1910 at 47 and buried in the ohel of the Rebbes in Radomsk.

He was succeeded as Rebbe in Radomsk by his son Harav Shlomo Chanoch, Hy”d, the last Radomsker Rebbe. His other son was Harav Elimelech Aryeh, Rav and Rebbe in Shidlov. His sons-in-law were Harav Elimelech Rabinowitz of Zhawirtzah; Harav Moshe Twersky of Krasna; Harav Dovid Halberstam of Zhemigrad; Harav Moshe Weiss; and Harav Yoel, son of Harav Yitzchak Nachum Twersky of Ravah-Ruskah.

His divrei Torah were published in the sefer Knesses Yechezkel on Torah and Yamim Tovim. The sefer was written by the Chassidim, but checked by Reb Yechezkel. He himself did not put any of his divrei Torah on paper.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.


 

Nov. 11

In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed a compact calling for a “body politick.”

In 1778, British redcoats, Tory rangers and Seneca Indians in central New York killed more than 40 people in the Cherry Valley Massacre.

In 1831, former slave Nat Turner, who’d led a violent insurrection, was executed in Jerusalem, Virginia.

In 1889, Washington became the 42nd state.

In 1909, President William Howard Taft accepted the recommendation of a joint Army-Navy board that Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands be made the principal U.S. naval station in the Pacific.

In 1918, fighting in World War I came to an end with the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany.

In 1942, during World War II, Germany completed its occupation of France.

In 1966, Gemini 12 blasted off from Cape Kennedy with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard.

In 1972, the U.S. Army turned over its base at Long Binh to the South Vietnamese, symbolizing the end of direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.

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