This Day In History 30 Av/August 22

In 2449/1312 B.C.E., Moshe Rabbeinu ascended Mount Sinai for the third time, taking with him the stone tablets he had hewn. Moshe remained on the mountain for 40 days, until the 10th of Tishrei (Yom Kippur), during which time he obtained Hashem’s forgiveness. Since then, the month of Elul is considered a time of rachamim and forgiveness. (According to some opinions, Moshe Rabbeinu ascended on 1 Elul. See further in the sefer Dvar Yom Beyomo.)

In 2489/1272 B.C.E., the 30-day period of mourning for Aharon Hakohen came to an end.

In 5252/1492, 252 ships carrying Jews fleeing the Inquisition arrived in Napoli, Italy, where they found a haven.

Yahrtzeiten

5333/1573, Harav Yehuda Leib Eibishitz, Rav of Lvov, zt”l

5711/1951, Harav Yisrael Friedman, Rebbe of Boyan-Leipzig, zt”l

5760/2000, Harav Meir Isaacson, zt”l, the Romaner Rebbe

5760/2000, Harav Meir Isaacson, zt”l, the Romaner Rebbe

Harav Meir Isaacson was born Chol Hamoed Pesach 5670/1910 in Roman, a large city in Romania. He was the son of Rav Shlomo and Rebbetzin Sima Reizel Isaacson.

Rav Meir married the daughter of Harav Issamar Rosenbaum of Nadvorna.

At just twenty-five, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of Foconi and Roman in Romania. For many years, he was also the official rabbi of the Romanian armed forces, and used his position to help Yidden in the whole country. He was much sought after as he was close to King Karol of Romania, who on occasion visited the Rebbe in his home.

The Rebbe was fluent in nine languages. He was consulted by poskim and laymen alike on myriad subjects. Non-Jewish clergymen enjoyed speaking with him about Judaism. The Rebbe was always focused on being mekarev other Yidden, and his vast knowledge of many different subjects allowed him to relate to highly educated people.

In 5709/1949 the Rebbe left Romania and moved to America, settling in New York. Within a year he was offered a prestigious post in Philadelphia, where he lived from 1951 to 1975. He eventually opened his own shul, Khal Beis Shlomo, where he taught Torah for many years. Rav Isaacson wrote Mevaser Tov (an acronym for his name and his father’s), a collection of she’eilos u’teshuvos. The first two volumes were published in his lifetime; the third was prepared for print by his children and grandchildren.

Together with his wife Rebbetzin Gittel Isaacson, he provided tzedakah, food and clothing to all who asked. It was known that if anyone needed a place to stay, the Rebbe’s home was open to all.

In 5735/1975, the Rebbe moved to Staten Island, where he had a shul until his petirah on 30 Av, the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5760/2000, at the age of ninety.

He was buried on Har Hazeisim, near his father-in-law Harav Issamar, the Nadvorna Rebbe, zt”l.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

August 22

In 1770, Australia was claimed under the British crown when Captain James Cook landed there.

In 1787, inventor John Fitch demonstrated his steamboat on the Delaware River to delegates from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

In 1846, Gen. Stephen W. Kearny proclaimed all of New Mexico a territory of the United States.

In 1865, a patent for liquid soap was issued to William Sheppard.

In 1910, Japan annexed Korea, which remained under Japanese control until the end of World War II.