This Day In History 25 Av/August 17

In 5567/1807, many Jews of Copenhagen were killed, Hy”d, when the British bombarded the city during the Anglo-Russian War that raged between 1807 and 1812.

In 5704/1944, the Amsterdam hideout which housed Anne Frank, Hy”d, was discovered by the Nazis.

Yahrtzeiten

5359/1599, Harav Yeshayahu Menachem of Cracow, zt”l, mechaber of Be’urim Kabdu Es Hashem.

5555/1795, Harav Yissochor Dov, zt”l, Rav of Zlotchov, mechaber of
Mevaser Tzedek and Bas Eini

5599/1839, Harav Yaakov Meshulem Orenstein, zt”l, mechaber of Yeshuos Yaakov

5739/1979, Harav Shmuel Baruch Eliezrov, zt”l, mechaber of Dvar Shmuel

5754/1994, Harav Moshe Hager, Rebbe of Antiniya-Bnei Brak, zy”a

5591/1831, Harav Avraham Chaim Horowitz, Rav of Linsk, zt”l

Reb Avraham Chaim Horowitz was the oldest son of Reb Naftali Tzvi, the Ropshitzer Rav, zy”a. He was born in 5549/1789. Reb Avraham Chaim married the daughter of his uncle, Harav Shmuel Shmelke Horowitz.

Following the petirah of his father on 11 Iyar 5587/1827, Reb Avraham Chaim was appointed Rav and Rebbe in Linsk, the city in which his paternal grandfather, Reb Menachem Mendel, had served as Rav. Sadly, Reb Avraham Chaim was Rebbe for just over four years; he was niftar on 25 Av 5591/1831, at the age of 42.

The Sar Shalom of Belz, who held Reb Avraham Chaim in high esteem, would send Chassidim to daven at the kever of Reb Avraham Chaim, saying that after davening there, “one’s yeshuah is close at hand.”

Rav Avraham Chaim’s son, Rav Menachem Mendel, replaced him as Rebbe in Linsk.

His sons-in-law were: Harav Avigdor Halberstam, Rebbe of Dukla; Harav Meshulam Zalman Yonason Lifshitz of Brigel; Harav Moshe Chaim Efraim, Rav of Blugrad; Harav Yisrael Horowitz, Rav of Barnov; Harav Tzvi Hirsh Hager of Patshinzin; and Harav Mendel Weinfeld of Gorlitz.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

August 17

In 1807, Robert Fulton’s North River Steamboat began heading up the Hudson River on its successful round trip between New York and Albany.

In 1863, Federal batteries and ships began bombarding Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor during the Civil War, but the Confederates managed to hold on despite several days of pounding.

In 1978, the first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight ended as Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman landed their Double Eagle II outside Paris.

In 1985, more than 1,400 meatpackers walked off the job at the Geo. A. Hormel and Co.’s main plant in Austin, Minnesota, in a bitter strike that lasted just over a year.