This Day in History – 23 Elul/September 3

23 Elul

In 1656, Noach opened the window of the teivah and dispatched the dove for the second time. “The dove came in to him in the evening, and in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off; and Noach knew that the waters were abated from the earth (Bereishis 8:11)” (according to Rabi Eliezer).

In 5313/1553, a monk who converted to Judaism was burned at the stake in Rome, Hy”d.

In 5703/1943, the Vilna Ghetto was liquidated.

Yahrtzeiten

5578/1818, Harav Yisrael of Pikov, zt”l, son of Harav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev

5586/1826, Harav Uri, the Saraf of Strelisk, zt”l

5634/1874, Harav Yosef Babad, zt”l, Rav of Tarnopol and mechaber of Minchas Chinuch

5703/1943, Harav Moshe Betzalel Alter, Hy”d

5741/1981, Harav Yaakov Yitzchak Biderman of Lelov-Yerushalayim, zt”l

5702/1942

Harav Yitzchak Menachem Danziger of Aleksander, the Akeidas Yitzchak, Hy”d

Harav Yitzchak Menachem Danziger was born in 5640/1880. He was the son of Harav Shmuel Tzvi of Aleksander, zy”a, the Tiferes Shmuel, and grandson of Harav Yechiel, zy”a, the first Aleksander Rebbe.

He grew up and was educated in the court of Aleksander under his grandfather, his uncle Harav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchak, zy”a, (the Yismach Yisrael) and his father.

Following the petirah of his father on 29 Tishrei 5684/1923, thousands of Aleksander Chassidim — Aleksander was the second largest Chassidic court in Poland — appointed Harav Yitzchak Menachem as their Rebbe.

Rav Yitzchak Menachem led his Chassidim with ahavas Yisrael, receiving everyone warmly. His answers to the Chassidim were known for their brevity and clarity.

He founded a yeshivah in Aleksander which grew into a chain of yeshivos across Poland, named Beis Yisrael in memory of his uncle, the Yismach Yisrael.

When the Nazi regime overtook Poland, Rav Yitzchak Menachem fled Aleksander to nearby Lodz, where the majority of his Chassidim lived. From there he fled to the Warsaw ghetto, where he lived for the next two years, working in the shoe factory of Reb Avraham Hendel with many other Rebbes.

The Rebbe received a certificate and the right to travel to Eretz Yisrael through the Italian consul, but he refused to desert his Chassidim and save himself.

In the middle of Elul 5702/1942, the Rebbe was taken out of the factory and put on a train to Treblinka. Reb Avraham Hendel begged the Nazi directing the transport to let the Rebbe stay, explaining that he was one of the better workers in the factory and was needed to help make boots for the Nazis. The SS officer slapped Reb Avraham across his back, knocking him to the ground.

The Rebbe reached Treblinka on 23 Elul, on the same train as his only son, Rav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchak. The Rebbe wrapped himself in tachrichim and began reciting Viduy. He was killed that day. All eight of his children and numerous grandchildren were killed in the war. Hashem yinkom damam.

Some of Rav Yitzchak Menachem’s divrei Torah appear in a sefer aptly named Akeidas Yitzchak.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Sept. 3

In 1783, representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War.

In 1838, Frederick Douglass, orator, writer and former slave, boarded a train in Maryland to freedom.

In 1943, Allied forces invaded Italy. The same day, Italian officials signed a secret armistice with the Allies.

In 1976, America’s Viking 2 lander touched down on Mars to take the first close-up color photographs of the red planet’s surface.