This Day In History 28 Tammuz/August 3

In 5213/1453, the church burned at the stake 41 Jews, Hy”d, in Breslau, Germany, and then expelled the remaining Jews.

In 5476/1716, the Jews of Brussels, Belgium, were given notice of expulsion.

In 5595/1835, Arabs rampaged against the Jews in Chevron, Hy”d.

In 5702/1942, the Nazis killed 5,000 Jews in Rovno, Ukraine. Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5601/1841, Harav Moshe Teitelbaum, the Yismach Moshe, zt”l

5646/1886, Harav Shlomo Gantzfried, zt”l, mechaber of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and other works

5664/1904, Harav Nachman Kahana of Spinka, zt”l, mechaber of Orchos Chaim

5746/1986, Harav Chaim Friedlander, zt”l, mashgiach of Yeshivas Ponevez

5566/1806, Harav Elazar of Lizhensk, zt”l

Harav Elazar Weissblum was the oldest son of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk.

It is related that Elazar was not studious as a boy, but at bar mitzvah he changed completely and became a serious, dedicated learner.

He married the daughter of Harav Yisrael Tzvi Hirsh, Rav of Grodzisk; his zivug sheini was the daughter of Harav Shmuel Melamed of Shinev.

He would journey to the Maggid of Kozhnitz and to the court of Reb Mordechai of Neshchiz.

Reb Elazar served as his father’s secretary; his father gave him much honor. After his father’s petirah (21 Adar 5546/1786), he undertook the publication of Noam Elimelech and other works of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech.

Reb Elazar succeeded his father as Rebbe in Lizhensk. In his humility, he turned down the suggestion of Rav Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz that he travel from city to city, for he felt that the people were honoring him only for his father’s sake, and he did not want to receive false honor.

He was niftar on 28 Tammuz 5566/1806, and buried in the outer room of his father’s tziyun in Lizhensk.

His sons were Reb Naftali of Lizhensk and Reb Menachem Yissachar Ber. His sons-in-law were Reb Moshe Elyakim Briyeh, the son of the Kozhnitzer Maggid; Reb Chaim Meir Yechiel of Mogelnitza; Reb Shmuel Zanvil Bindiger of Bariyov; Reb Elimelech of Rimanov, a grandson of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech; and another grandson of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech.

Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Aug. 3

In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, on a voyage that took him to the present-day Americas.

In 1958, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Nautilus became the first vessel to cross the North Pole underwater.

In 1972, the U.S. Senate ratified the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. (The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the treaty in 2002.)

In 1981, U.S. air traffic controllers went on strike, despite a warning from President Ronald Reagan they would be fired, which they were.