This Day in History – 20 Av/August 1

In 5318/1558, the first printed edition of the Zohar was published.

In 5643/1883, anti-Jewish riots erupted in Zola-Egerszeg, Hungary.


Yahrtzeiten

5536/1776, Harav Yosef Steinhart of Fuerth, zt”l, mechaber of She’eilos Uteshuvos Zichron Yosef

5625/1865, Harav Eliezer of Azipalle, zt”l, youngest son of Harav Yehuda Tzvi of Stretin, zy”a, and grandson of Harav Uri of Strelisk, zy”a

5677/1917, Harav Aharon Twersky, Rebbe of Skver-Kiev, zy”a

5704/1944, Harav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, zt”l, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Harav Menachem Mendel, zt”l, Rav of Yekaterinoslav. He was arrested by the Stalinist regime and exiled to Kazakhstan, where he was niftar.


Sifra with the commentary of the Rash of Shantz.

5623/1863, Harav Yaakov David Biderman, Zy”a, Rav of Vishograd

Harav Yaakov David Biderman was born in 5568/1808. His father Harav Yisrael Isser, zy”a, a talmid of the Yid Hakadosh, zy”a, lived in Mezritch.

Rav Yaakov David was a Chassid of Harav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, Harav Shlomo Leib of Lentchna and the Chiddushei Harim of Ger, zechusam yagen aleinu. When Rav Yaakov David was in his early 30s, Harav Shlomo Leib of Lentchna, zy”a, remarked about him to Harav Yitzchak of Vorka, zy”a, “This yungerman is like a cupboard full of sefarim.”

He was a Dayan in Mezritch from about 5591/1831, later becoming Rav in Kozhnitz and finally in Vishograd.

Harav Yaakov David was always mekabel Shabbos at chatzos on Friday.

Niftar on 20 Av, 5623/1863, at the age of 55, he was buried in Warsaw.

After his petirah, his sons found among his effects the Sifra with the commentary of the Rash of Shantz, with his own thoughts in the margins. These comments were published under the name Hagahos Maharid.

Rav Yaakov David was survived by his sons, Rav Yechezkel, zy”a, who succeeded him as Rav in Vishograd; Rav Nosson Shlomo Betzalel, Rav in Bizon and Loivitch, and father of Harav Yaakov Meir Biderman, zy”a, son-in-law of the Sfas Emes of Ger; and Harav Chaim Yehoshua, zy”a, Rav of Lentchna.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.


The Elk Mountains near Aspen, Colorado

August 1

In 1790, the first United States census was completed, showing a population of nearly 4 million people.

In 1876, Colorado was admitted as the 38th state.

In 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps established an aeronautical division, the forerunner of the U.S. Air Force.

In 1957, the United States and Canada announced they had agreed to create the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD).

In 1975, a 35-nation summit in Finland concluded with the signing of a declaration known as the Helsinki Accords dealing with European security, human rights and East-West contacts.

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