This Day In History 24 Nisan/April 20

In 2448/1312 B.C.E., Bnei Yisrael paused at Marah after they crossed the Yam Suf. The Gemara in Sanhedrin 56b relates: In Marah, Hashem commanded the Jews to observe 10 mitzvos: the seven Mitzvos Bnei Noach, plus monetary laws, Shabbos, and kibbud av va’em.

Yahrtzeiten

5366/1606, Harav Moshe of Premishel, zt”l, mechaber of Mateh Moshe

5673/1913, Harav Yosef Friedman of Rimanov, zy”a

5677/1917, Harav Eliyahu Akiva Rabinowitz of Poltava, zt”l

5755/1995, Reb Chaim Yitzchak Chaikin, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Aix-les-Bains, France.

5653/1893, Harav Chaim Menachem Heschel of Zhinkov, zy”a

Harav Chaim Menachem, born in 5597/1837 in Zhinkov, was the son of Harav Meshulam Zusya of Zhinkov (grandson of the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, zy”a).

Reb Chaim Menachem was the son-in-law of Harav Dovid of Tolna; and in his second marriage, of Harav Shmuel of Hashyuka.

After the petirah of his father on 3 Elul 5624/1864, he became Rebbe, and expanded the Chassidus greatly. Reb Chaim Menachem was considered one of the greatest and most influential Rebbes of the time in Russia. There were many Zhinkover shtieblach scattered over Ukraine, Russia, and Serbia.

Harav Aharon of Karlin called the Zhinkover Rebbe “Gevurah Shebigevurah,” indicating his great power and influence on his Chassidim, and his fiery avodas Hashem.

Reb Chaim Menachem left behind over 1,000 pages of divrei Torah in manuscript. Unfortunately, little of it was ever printed. Some of his divrei Torah are found in the sefer Shemuos Tovos.

His sons were Harav Moshe and Harav Pinchas; his sons-in-law were Harav Yeshayahu of Makarov and Harav Feivush of Zelitschek.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

April 20

In 1653, in England, Oliver Cromwell expelled the Long Parliament for trying to pass the Perpetuation Bill that would have kept Parliament in the hands of only a few members.

In 1792, France declared war on Austria, Prussia and Sardinia. It was the start of the French Revolutionary Wars.

In 1832, Hot Springs National Park was established by an act of Congress. It was the first national park in the U.S.

In 1865, safety matches were first advertised.

In 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev became the first Soviet head of state to visit South Korea.