This Day in History – 28 Kislev/December 6

28 Kislev

Yahrtzeiten

5509/1748, Harav Mordechai Tzahalon of Livorno, zt”l

5546/1785, Harav Uziel Meizlish, zt”l

5645/1884, Harav Anshel Lichtenstein of Starnard, zt”l

5686/1925, Harav Baruch Dovid Twersky, Rebbe of Klinkowitz, zy”a, mechaber of Vayevarech Dovid

5657/1896

Harav Yaakov Tannenbaum, Zt”l, Rav of Putnack and Author of Sheilos U’Teshuvos Naharei Afarsemon

Harav Yaakov Tannenbaum was born on 17 Tammuz, 5592/1832. His father was Harav Zev Wolf, zt”l, Rav of Werfeled, author of Rechovos Hanahar on the Torah; his mother was the daughter of Harav Shraga Feivel Frenkel, zt”l, Rav of Ruska.

In 5618/1858, Rav Yaakov was appointed Rav in Talia, and 11 years later, in 5629/1869, in Tshata.

In 5633/1873, he became Rav of Putnack, Hungary, where he served for the rest of his life, and he is called by the name of that city.

Rav Yaakov, considered a gaon, headed a large yeshivah in the city, disseminating Torah to large numbers of bachurim. Many of his talmidim went on to become Gedolim in their own right.

He fought all his life on behalf of the Torah community and their principles, and against the changes of the times.

Rav Yaakov wrote She’eilos U’Teshuvos Naharei Afarsemon, and Shemen Afarsemon on the Torah.

He was niftar on 28 Kislev, the fourth day of Chanukah, 5657/1896.

Rav Yaakov had two sons: Harav Meir, zt”l, who succeeded him as Rav of Putnack, and Rav Menachem Mendel, zt”l, Rav of Turna.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

Dec. 6

In 1790, Congress moved to Philadelphia from New York.

In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery, was ratified as Georgia became the 27th state to endorse it.

In 1884, Army engineers completed construction of the Washington Monument by setting an aluminum capstone atop the obelisk.

In 1947, Everglades National Park in Florida was dedicated by President Harry S. Truman.

In 1957, America’s first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed as Vanguard TV3 rose about four feet off a Cape Canaveral launch pad before crashing down and exploding.