This Day In History 26 Tishrei/October 28

Yahrtzeiten

5577/1816, Harav Aharon of Zhitomir, zt”l, mechaber of Toldos Aharon

5587/1826, Harav Asher of Stolin, zt”l, son of the Bais Aharon

5693/1932, Harav Dovid Shapiro of Sanok-Dinov, zt”l

Born in 5637/1877, Harav Dovid Shapiro was the son of Harav Yosef of Dinov, who was also his first teacher.

He married a relative, the daughter of Harav Yehudah Meir Shapiro of Bukovsk.

While his father reigned in Dinov, Reb Dovid held court in Sanok. His court attracted many Chassidim, even those who weren’t close with the Dinover court.

He was renowned for greatness in Torah and fine middos. With his powerful voice, his tefillos were rousing and inspiring.

In the winter of 5692/1931, Reb Dovid was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. As was the custom in those days, he went to Vienna for a surgical procedure. During his stay in Vienna, his father was niftar, and Reb Dovid was appointed Rebbe in Dinov.

Reb Dovid was warmly welcomed to the city. He was still weak, but managed to daven the selichos of Erev Rosh Hashanah at the amud. Later, he collapsed and returned to Sanok.

Reb Dovid was niftar less than a month later, on 26 Tishrei 5693/1932, at age 55. Harav Meir Shapiro of Lublin came to deliver a hesped.

Reb Dovid’s three sons, Rav Menachem Mendel, Rav of Dinov; Rav Elazar, Rebbe of Dinov-Sanok; and Rav Yisrael all perished in the War. Hashem yinkom damam.

The divrei Torah of Reb Dovid published in 5699/1939 were all destroyed or lost during the war.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

October 28

In 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.

In 1918, the Republic of Czechoslovakia proclaimed its independence.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rededicated the Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary.

In 1962, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the United States that he had ordered the dismantling of missile bases in Cuba.