This Day in History – 21 Cheshvan/November 19

21 Cheshvan

In 5699/1938, following Kristallnacht, Jewish children were expelled from German schools and universities.

Yahrtzeiten

5334/1573, Rabbeinu Dovid ben Zimra, zt”l, the Radbaz

5605/1844, Harav Yissochor Ber of Podheitz, zt”l, son of the Pnei Yehoshua

5673/1912, Harav Moshe Gitterman, Rebbe of Chechelnik, zt”l

5749/1988, Harav Betzalel Stern, zt”l, mechaber of Teshuvos Betzeil Hachachmah, brother of Harav Moshe Stern, the Debrecener Rav, zt”l.

5642/1881

Harav Elazar Hakohen, Rav of Poltosk, Zt”l

Harav Elazar was a son of the wealthy Reb Zev Leipziger and son-in-law of Harav Yaakov Luberbaum, zt”l, Rav of Lisa and mechaber of the Chavas Daas and Nesivos Hamishpat.

Rav Elazar was a devoted talmid of Harav Simchah Bunim of Peshischa, Harav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, and the Chiddushei Harim of Ger, zechusam yagein aleinu. After the petirah of the Chiddushei Harim, he was among those who did not transfer his allegiance to Harav Chanoch Henoch of Alexander, zy”a, but instead followed Harav Avraham Landau of Tchechnov, zy”a.

Rav Elazar considered Harav Zev Wolf Hakohen of Lask, zt”l, his main Torah teacher, and he also studied under his renowned father-in-law. Raised in great wealth, he did not accept a rabbanus until his vast business dealings failed; then he became Rav in Makov.

He served as Rav there twice. He also served in Sochotchov, and twice in Poltosk, and his Chassidim referred to him by that name. Twelve years before his petirah he returned to Sochotchov, where he was niftar at the age of 90.

He was eulogized by Harav Yisrael Yehoshua Trunk of Kutna, zt”l, and Harav Chaim Eliezer Waks of Pietrokov-Kalish, zt”l.

He wrote numerous sefarim, including Chiddushei Maharach on the Shulchan Aruch; a commentary on Pirkei Avos; Zecher Tzaddik v’Yesod Olam, a eulogy on the Chiddushei Harim; and Zichron Nifla’os on the Pesach Haggadah.

His two sons were Harav Avraham, zt”l, a Dayan in Warsaw, and Harav Tzvi Hirsch, zt”l, an Av Beis Din in Zgierzh. His son-in-law was Harav Dovid Dov Meislish, zt”l, Av Beis Din of Lask.

Nov. 19

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln dedicated a national cemetery at the site of the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

In 1919, the Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles by a vote of 55-39.

In 1959, Ford Motor Co. announced it was halting production of the unpopular Edsel.

In 1969, Apollo 12 astronauts Charles Conrad and Alan Bean made the second manned landing on the moon.

In 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the first Arab leader to visit Israel.

In 1985, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev met for the first time as they began their summit in Geneva.