This Day in History – 4 Kislev/November 26

In 3411/351 B.C.E., the last prophecy of the last Navi, Zechariah, was that the Jews should not mourn on Tishah B’Av during the era of the second BeisHamikdash.

In 5287/1526, the Jews of Pressburg were expelled by order of Maria of Hapsburg.

In 5503/1742, Empress Elizabeth ordered the expulsion of the Jews from Russia.

Yahrtzeiten

5566/1805, Harav Tzvi Hersh Margulies of Lublin, zt”l

5638/1877, Harav Yaakov Dovid Kalisch of Amshinov, zt”l

5715/1954, Harav Yakov Mordechai of Stretin, zt”l

5449/1688, Harav Eliyahu Kubo, zt”l

Harav Eliyahu Kubo was born c. 5388/1628. His father, Harav Yehudah, was killed al Kiddush Hashem in Salonika less than 10 years later, on Shabbos, 15 Elul 5397/1637, after fighting a decree of the government.

The Kubo family was well known among Salonika Jewry for disseminating Torah in the city for many hundreds of years. The family emigrated from Spain to Greece during geirush Sepharad. They were called “Kubo” after the city in northern Spain where they originated.

Rav Eliyahu married the daughter of Harav Moshe ben Rav Chaim Shabsi, the Mahar­chash. The Maharchash had become Chief Rabbi in Salonika in 5443/1683; during his tenure as Rav, many hundreds tragically converted to Islam together with Shabsai Tzvi, shem resha’im yirkav.

After his father-in-law, the Maharchash’s, petirah, Harav Eliyahu was appointed Rav of Salonika and Rosh Yeshivah of the local yeshivah gedolah. He taught hundreds of talmidim, notably Harav Tzvi Ashkenazi (the Chacham Tzvi) and Harav Shmuel Yitzchak Modielano.

Rav Eliyahu suffered a lot in his lifetime. Two of his sons succumbed to the epidemic in 5444/1685; a third son, Harav Yehudah, was niftar the same year that he was.

His daughter was married to Harav Yehoshua Chandali.

Harav Eliyahu was the mechaber of Aderes Eliyahu and Shnei HaMe’oros HaGedolim.

He was niftar on 4 Kislev 5449/1688 and buried in Salonika, Greece.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.

Nov. 26

In 1789, this was a day of thanksgiving set aside by President George Washington to observe the adoption of the Constitution of the United States.

In 1941, a Japanese naval task force consisting of six aircraft carriers left the Kuril Islands, headed toward Hawaii.

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered nationwide gasoline rationing, beginning Dec. 1.

In 1950, China entered the Korean War, launching a counteroffensive against soldiers from the United Nations, the U.S. and South Korea.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed a commission headed by former Senator John Tower to investigate his National Security Council staff in the wake of the Iran-Contra affair.