This Day in History – 2 Kislev/November 24

In 5488/1727, Jews of New York were allowed to take an official oath without reference to Christianity.

In 5704/1943, Hitler’s soldiers were chased out of Casablanca, prompting the celebration of “Purim of Casablanca.”

Yahrtzeiten

5536/1775, Harav Shmaryahu Varchovker, zt”l, talmid of the Baal Shem Tov

5555/1794, Harav Meshulam Feish Halevi Heller of Zhabrizh, the Yosher Divrei Emes, zt”l

5646/1885, Harav Avraham Hakohen of Salonika, zt”l, mechaber of Taharas Mayim

5700/1939, Harav Nachum Weidenfeld of Dombrova, Hy”d, mechaber of Chazon Nachum

5720/1959, Harav Akiva Sofer, zt”l, the Daas Sofer of Pressburg

5723/1962, Harav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, founder and Rosh Yeshivah of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood

5759/1998, Harav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel, zt”l, Mashgiach of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood

5618/1857, Harav Yisrael Yitzchak Baron of Radoshitz,zt”l

Born in 5570/1810, Harav Yisrael Yitzchak Baron was the son of Harav Yissachar Dov, the Saba Kadisha of Radoshitz.

While he was a talmid and a chassid of his father, he also traveled to Harav Yisrael of Ruzhin, Harav Yechezkel of Kuzmir, Harav Chaim Meir Yechiel of Mogelnitza and Harav Eliezer of Dzikov.

He married the daughter of Harav Yehudah Leib Horowitz, son of Harav Reuven of Zharnovtza, mechaber of Duda’im Basadeh.

Following the petirah of his father on 18 Sivan 5603/1843, the Chassidim compelled him to serve as their Rebbe. In his humility, Reb Yisrael Yitzchak refused to don the garment of a Rebbe, and his conduct continued to be simple.

Many stories of mofsim were related about Reb Yisrael Yitzchak, as they were about his father.

He was close with many of the generation’s other Rebbes, among them the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, the Chiddushei Harim of Ger and Harav Yitzchak of Vorka.

At the age of 48 Reb Yisrael Yitzchak became ill and was sent to a hospital in Warsaw. He was niftar there on 2 Kislev, 5618/1857.

Of his sons, Harav Yaakov Dovid of Radoshitz and Harav Eliezer Yerucham (son-in-law of Harav Chaim of Sanz) served as Rebbes.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Nov. 24

In 1784, Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, was born in Orange County, Virginia.

In 1939, British Overseas Airways Corp. (BOAC) was formally established.

In 1944, during World War II, U.S. bombers based on Saipan attacked Tokyo in the first raid against the Japanese capital by land-based planes.

In 1963, Jack Ruby shot and mortally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy.

In 1969, Apollo 12 splashed down safely in the Pacific.

In 1971, a hijacker calling himself “Dan Cooper” parachuted from a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 over the Pacific Northwest after receiving $200,000 dollars in ransom. His fate remains unknown.

In 1989, Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu was unanimously re-elected Communist Party chief. (Within a month, he was overthrown in a popular uprising and executed along with his wife on Dec. 25.)