This Day in History – 18 Kislev/November 26

18 Kislev

In 5554/1793, the Jews of Strasbourg, France, were forbidden to circumcise their infants, to wear beards, or to own Hebrew books.

In 5679/1918, Polish forces attacked the Jews of Lvov.

Yahrtzeiten

4998/1237, Rabbeinu Avraham Ben HaRambam, zt”l, mechaber of Hamaspik L’Ovdei Hashem.

5497/1736, Harav Aryeh Leib Darshan of Posen, zt”l

5572/1811, Harav Baruch, Rebbe of Mezhibuzh, zy”a

5622/1861, Harav Yekusiel Shmuel Shmelke, Rebbe of Sassov, zy”a

5636/1875, Harav Yosef Yitzchok of Ovritch, zt”l, son of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch

5650/1889, Harav Mordechai Alishberg of Boisk, zt”l

5697/1936, Harav Chaim Tzvi Ehrenreich, zt”l, Rav of Mahd and author of Kav Chaim and other sefarim.

5770/2009, Harav Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, Bostoner Rebbe of Boston and Har Nof, zy”a

5759/1998

Harav Eliezer Zev Rosenbaum Rebbe of Rachov, Zy”a

Harav Eliezer Zev Rosenbaum was the son of Harav Yitzchak of Rachov, zy”a, a scion of the Nadvorna dynasty. He was born in Rachov in 5689/1929.

As a young child, his melamed — seeing his amazing potential — called him “Rosh Yeshivah.”

At 15, he went through the horrors of World War II, losing his entire family except for one sister.

Rav Eliezer Zev himself had a close escape from death; as he was being taken out to be shot, with 500 other Jews, he managed to run away.

Following the end of the war, Rav Eliezer Zev remained in Europe for another year and then reached Eretz Yisrael.

He married the daughter of his cousin, Harav Chaim Mordechai of Nadvorna, zy”a.

At the instruction of Harav Aharon of Belz, zy”a, Reb Eliezer Zev began to lead Rachover Chassidus, in 5711/1951, initially in Ramlah and later in Ramat Gan.

Rav Eliezer Zev was renowned for his avodah in tefillah and for his acts of chessed.

He was niftar on 18 Kislev 5759/1998 and succeeded by his son Harav Yechiel Meir Rosenbaum, shlita, Rachover Rebbe. Another son is Harav Yitzchak Rosenbaum.

His sons-in-law are Harav Shlomo Kahana, Rebbe of Spinka, shlita; Harav Yehudah Rosenbaum, Linsker Rebbe, shlita; Harav Gedaliah Moshe Roth, Shomrei Emunim Rebbe of Ashdod, shlita; and Harav Yitzchak Eizik Kahana, son of Harav Moshe Nachman Kahana, Spinka Rebbe of Bnei Brak, shlita.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Nov. 26

In 1789, Americans observed a day of thanksgiving set aside by President George Washington to mark the adoption of the Constitution of the United States.

In 1941, U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull delivered a note to Japan’s ambassador to the United States, Kichisaburo Nomura, setting forth U.S. demands for “lasting and extensive peace throughout the Pacific area.” The same day, a Japanese naval task force consisting of six aircraft carriers left the Kuril Islands, headed toward Hawaii.

In 1950, China entered the Korean War, launching a counteroffensive against soldiers from the United Nations, the U.S. and South Korea.

In 1992, the British government announced that Queen Elizabeth II had volunteered to start paying taxes on her personal income, and would take her children off the public payroll.