This Day in History – 29 Elul/September 24

The fifth day of Creation; Hashem created fish, all marine life, and birds.

Hashem also created the two sea giants, the Livyasan and his female counterpart. Since the world would not be able to contain them if they were to have offspring, Hashem slaughtered the female and salted it away to feed tzaddikim in a future era.

In 5551/1791, the Jews of France were emancipated.

In 5699/1939, Nazi Germany occupied Miclec, Poland, killing its entire Jewish population. Hy”d.

In 5702/1942, 8,000 Jews of the Stolin ghetto were killed in Stasino, about three miles from Stolin. Hy”d.

Yahrtzeiten

5493/1733, Harav Naftali Hertz, zt”l, Rav of Pintchov

5654/1894, Harav Rafael Landau, zt”l, son of Reb Avraham of Tchechenov

5665/1905 Harav Yerachmiel Yeshaya Minzberg, zt”l, Rav of Likow

5674/1914, Harav Eliezer Deutsh of Bonihad, zt”l

5682/1922, Harav Yaakov Halevi Lipschitz, zt”l, mechaber of Zichron Yaakov

5735/1975, Harav Yisrael Rabinowitz of Skolya-Kishinev, zt”l

1 Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah

The sixth day of Creation; Hashem created animals that walk and crawl on the earth; and He created Adam, the first human, and Chavah, the first woman. “Hashem formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Bereishis 2:7).

In 1656/2105 B.C.E., (according to Rabi Eliezer) Noach dispatched a dove from the teivah for the third time. When the dove did not return, Noach knew that the waters had completely drained from the earth. On that day Noach removed the roof of the teivah; but he, his family, and all the animals remained in the ark for another 57 days, until 27 Cheshvan.

In 1958/1804 B.C.E., Sarah Imeinu was born, according to some opinions. She was niftar on this day in 2086/1676 B.C.E.

In 2048/1714 B.C.E., Sarah Imeinu was blessed by the malach to have children.

In 2086, 1676, B.C.E., Yitzchak was bound on the mizbei’ach during the Akeidah. This prompted the petirah of his mother, Sarah Imeinu.

Sept. 24

In 1789, President George Washington signed a Judiciary Act establishing America’s federal court system and creating the post of attorney general.

In 1869, thousands of businessmen were ruined in a Wall Street panic known as “Black Friday” after financiers Jay Gould and James Fisk attempted to corner the gold market.

In 1929, Lt. James H. Doolittle guided a Consolidated NY-2 Biplane over Mitchel Field in New York in the first all-instrument flight.

In 1948, Mildred Gillars, accused of being Nazi wartime radio propagandist “Axis Sally,” pleaded not guilty in Washington, D.C., to charges of treason. (Gillars, later convicted, ended up serving 12 years in prison.)

In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while on vacation in Denver.

In 1960, the USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was launched at Newport News, Virginia.

In 1976, former hostage Patricia Hearst was sentenced to seven years in prison for her part in a 1974 bank robbery in San Francisco carried out by the Symbionese Liberation Army. (Hearst was released after 22 months after receiving clemency from President Jimmy Carter.)

In 1991, kidnappers in Lebanon freed hostage Jack Mann after holding him captive for over two years.

Sept. 24

In 1789, President George Washington signed a Judiciary Act establishing America’s federal court system and creating the post of attorney general.

In 1869, thousands of businessmen were ruined in a Wall Street panic known as “Black Friday” after financiers Jay Gould and James Fisk attempted to corner the gold market.

In 1929, Lt. James H. Doolittle guided a Consolidated NY-2 Biplane over Mitchel Field in New York in the first all-instrument flight.

In 1948, Mildred Gillars, accused of being Nazi wartime radio propagandist “Axis Sally,” pleaded not guilty in Washington, D.C., to charges of treason. (Gillars, later convicted, ended up serving 12 years in prison.)

In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while on vacation in Denver.

In 1960, the USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was launched at Newport News, Virginia.

In 1976, former hostage Patricia Hearst was sentenced to seven years in prison for her part in a 1974 bank robbery in San Francisco carried out by the Symbionese Liberation Army. (Hearst was released after 22 months after receiving clemency from President Jimmy Carter.)

In 1991, kidnappers in Lebanon freed hostage Jack Mann after holding him captive for over two years.